Chain tension for Vertical Dropout
 

Hey all',

Picked up a Columbus Zonal frame for $150US....wanted to turn it into a fixed gear. Just wondering except Eno hub..is there any other way to deal with chain tension??

Cheer,
Dub.

Find the right gearing and chain length to make it perfect.

Ohh never thought of that....have anyone tried it before??

I am soo tight on budget at the moment.

tried it, it works if you measure carefully (do it a few times and take an average). here's the calculator.

your chain will stretch and you'll have to replace it much more often. this is also why it's a good idea to run a brake with a magic gear.

Here's a calculator. Keep in mind you can use half links to better your chances of a proper fit.

http://eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

Yes, do think of that. I have done it on an old Trek 700. I had to use a half link with its original, stretched- out, chain. I works wonderfully. It's quiet, too. Good luck.

Oh buddy thanks alot...!!! Yep I always run brake. And this bike wouldnt be my daily anyways....just riding within my uni campus.

Cheer,
Dub.

I would get a new chain vs old + half link...

Using a stretched one with magic gear is not a good idea

I was wondering why my chain had that much slack, when I checked for wear, it was over 1% stretched lol

Shadow Conspiracy makes a full half-link chain that looks cool. You really only need one half-link, though. My friend used a gear calculator, bought the suggested set-up, and it put the axles a fraction of a centimeter in front of the drop-out. With a little prompting, it slid in. The chain deflected about a full centimeter on top and bottom, and the ride is perfect.

you can use the floating chainring method. It looks really cool.

from the Wik - A "Ghost" or "floating" chainring. An additional chainring placed in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain.

the floating chainring thing doesn't work on road/track bikes because the chainstay is in teh way. It only really works on cruisers.
get one of these:
http://www.webcyclery.com/product.ph...cat=405&page=1

that will not work if he wants it fixed.

FWIW, the ghost chainring will work... even if you couldn't get it to :rolleyes:

Sell it and buy a frame with horizontal dropouts. Save yourself some money and grief.

Hahaaaa yer I might sell it...but It such a stiff and light frame.

For the magical gear...u need to measure the lenght of the chainstay...how do u do that??? Is it from the centre of the drop out to BB??

Cheer,
Fred.

^yes. center of the axle to the center of the bb spindle. it's easiest to do with a bb in there. if you don't have one just measure to the close side of the bb shell, then the far side and it's
halfway in between.

you gotta get it perfect for good chain tension!