Has anyone here built a two speed bike using the White Industries double freewheel 16-19 and a double crank with 36x39 chain rings. I am in the process of doing this and plan on using a XD 300 crank (modified) and Surly steel rings. Still trying to figure the bottom bracket width and I will have to re-dish the rear wheel for alignment. I should end up with about a 50 and 65 inch gear. Wanted to use this for winter in the rain and am hoping I'll get it right the first time. Any tips would be appreciated.

i got the freewheel but not the cranks. all i can say is that it's great. good luck on the double double.

no but im calling out 700cc on this. i saw he posted about this in the picture thread a few days ago.

*gives bat call type thing to 700cc*

My mechanic was suggesting this to me when I was building a SS. You would use the RD to give some slack, and when you wanted to change gears, you hand to do it manually. Dirty, but you get two gears .

- whew! pricey stuff!

(see sig for my 'two speed ss')

Im not a fixy guy.
What if you went old school and laced in an old Schwinn/Bendex 2 speed kick back?
You could still maintain your fixed look without a RD.

what about retro direct drive dood check it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro-Direct

I'm doing exactly what the OP describes on my Bianchi San Jose commuter with a Dos ENO freewheel. The bike has full fenders, so flipping the rear wheel is a PITA. My commute is a straight line from work, ~7 miles, and at certain times of the year we get inconsistent 20mph headwinds, so sometimes I need a lower gear. I'm using 42-40 on the front and 17-19 on the rear. A quick look at the nat'l weather service site before I leave work and I know if I need to gear down before I leave.

(Yeah, the gearing is lower than most people run here, but I'm a borderline Clyde and 20 years past my cycling prime.)

Have a look. https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php...t=langster+56k

You want the tooth differential to be the same on your front chainring as your freewheel. I run a 16/19 x 42/45. This will ensure that your rear wheel position stays the same on the rear forks/dropouts. Important because you need your brakes to work.

I have a second wheel that has a 16/18T configuration and use the same chainring setup with no issues. The brakes pads don't line up perfectly when running the 18T but not bad enough to make it unridable.

I use a Campy Chorus 102mm bb and a Campy Record road crankset and my chainline is great. I can post pics and measure if you want. I use a old superbe pro rear hub and have it spaced so that I have almost no dish in the rear wheel.

LMK if I can help in any way.

I did this to my karate monkey I just built up. I used a cassette back wheel with spacers and used 1/8th bmx cogs- a 14 and a 16 spaced directly to either side of the front single sprocket which is a 25 now, I may switch to a 28t front.

Dude, that only works with *sheldon brown*.

I figure on making a tool device that will pick up the chain, keeping my hands off.
I read about one somewhere that a guy used and figure I can fabricate something.

that's like the surly dingle cog.

I can relate to the Clyde part and since I just turned 49 last month I am past my prime too. I would like to know how this setup works for you with the "digital" gear changing and all. I run fenders now with my bike as a single geared freewheel bike (60 inch) and so far, its been good enough for flat and rolling hills but it is a little frustrating in headwinds or when I am tired. I like the idea of a slightly taller flat gear and the "low" for climbing. I originally wanted a Rivendell Quickbeam but my current project will work nearly as well. I plan to modify another old lugged frame with long dropouts later for a flip flop option of a higher or lower gear depending on the terrain. I find I usually only use two or three ratios most of the time and the only time I really need a super low is long steep climbs, where I can walk the same speed. Pedaling down steep hills is a waste of effort after about 35 mph anyway, so why do it at all. I hit 49 mph on my recumbent in a 125 inch gear but I could have coasted nearly as fast. I like the simplicity of no dérailleurs and my current bike only weighs 21 pounds with tool bag and water. It's groovy baby .....yea!

my bikes my page:
https://www.myspace.com/eccentriccyclistcharlie

Fixed gear would have been a much better way to go, say with a Surly Dingle double sprocket. Fixed gear is THE hot ticket for riding in dicey traction conditions. My own snow bike uses 28/15, works great. https://sheldonbrown.org/bicycle.html#cb3



See also: https://sheldonbrown.com/chainline and https://sheldonbrown.com/bbsize

You can't shift a derailer manually, needs a lever and cable. If you are using a derailer as a _singlespeed_ chain tensioner, you can just set the high-gear limit stop screw to line it up with the single rear sprocket.

Sheldon "Fixed Is More Fun" Brown

Totally works.

what about a friction shifter they work just as well for this shift up shift down hey that was easy no hand made tool no grease allover self

A multi-speed single speed??? Why? I mean, I know the answer, it was mentioned in previous posts, but if that's what you're after, get a wheel with a cassette or freewheel on it, and use an old derailleur as a tensioner. You can get some adjustment just out of the hi-lo adjustment screws. Go a step further and use about a 4" length of shift cable with the lead stop in the derailleur adjuster screw. That will give you two or three gears just by manipulating the barrel adjuster, more if you bring a wrench along to adjust the cable length. Or another step up, rig an old friction shifter off one of your fender/rack eyelets out back, for full use of the entire cog stack. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...i+speed+single Any of which would be cheaper than even just the double freewheel you need for a 2-speed. Maybe not as clean looking as a double, and how horrible would it be for the other monogear cognoscente to mistake your bike for a *shudder* true shifting bike? If it's the looks you're after, then maybe a hub geared wheel/bike for those days with inclement weather?

I can see the appeal of a double chainring/cog setup for a fixed gear bike in certain circumstances, but will never understand why anyone would pay an upcharge for multiple gears on a "single speed," when there are other, cheaper multiple-gear solutions out there...

https://maine.craigslist.org/bik/447045794.html

vs.

https://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1555

Who says that we are all looking for a cheaper alternative? I literally look for ways to spend money on my bike. Call it a sickness, but I enjoy buying bike stuff nearly as much as I enjoy riding my bike. SS and FG bikes are not just for starving college students.

It works really well for me, but like I said, my commute is entirely one direction (except for maybe 1/4 mile out of a 7 mile ride). Wind is the big problem for me and if it's blowing the wrong way I can gear down before I leave work. If my commute wasn't direct like that, I might re-think it since the compromise wouldn't work out the same. On my ride there aren't any hills to speak of, either.

I may consider a Surly Dingle at some point.

multi geared single speed? did somebody say 3 speed internal hub? what?! madness

might be an easier solution. but if you want to tempt the gods, go for it

Gee wizz! my whole bike, gears and all, will only have cost me $300 by the time I am done with it. I like building stuff and two gears is all I need on my daily 9 mile exercise route. I don't want to subject my nice geared bikes to rain and slush all year. If I use it every day, I want good parts and may be building a steel frame this winter also. I could care less about image, I'm 49 and fat with a bad knee. I like the simplicity of a derailleurless bike. Cost?......I'm gonna die someday!

My page my bikes

https://www.myspace.com/eccentriccyclistcharlie

I may try fixed when I build a set of wheels. Eventually I plan on a really nice set of hubs and may get one threaded for a fixed gear on one side so I can get a higher gear for the Seattle to Portland ride I keep telling myself I am going to do someday. Its fairly flat and a two or three ratio SS/FG might be kind of fun to do it on. I did ride a tricycle as a youngster but I'm beginning to become feeble minded so I worry about forgetting to keep pedaling and getting jacked up and blowing my knee out. I don't ride in snow much but it may be a cold this winter so we may get more than usual.

just so you know, my knee problems have gotten better the more i ride my fixed gear.

See: https://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-knees.html

Sheldon "Beneficial?" Brown