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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

left side chain drive

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Old 02-27-08 | 02:30 PM
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From: lakeland

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left side chain drive

has anyone done it and how does it work ?
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:41 PM
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There's a thread "show us your black bikes" where there's images of someones LSD fixed gear - my buddy also did the same (thinking he was original at the time, and somewhat so) - he had to get his pedal axles changed and his cranks are basically on 'til the end of their life through excessive loctite due to the initial pedal problem pre-axle swap. He got the drivetrain aligned by Smoky at our local co-op place (CBN) and all was well. It works out fine, only the bike balance is off due to the frame wanting drive on the right - not something he notices unless doing tricks.

The only problem he has had was his first day on the job as messenger and having one of his pedals come loose and fall off, lots of loctite later, he then had the axles swapped over and all was spiffy. Other than that, works just the same.

Last edited by Flimflam; 03-01-08 at 12:17 AM.
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:42 PM
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Back in the day in Australia thats how they used to rock all their whips.
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:44 PM
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I've thought about doing this, just for the hell of it.
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by EivlEvo
Back in the day in Australia thats how they used to rock all their whips.
For realsies? How bizarre...
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:46 PM
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I've seen it and I would guess it causes lots of stress on the lockring. And your pedals might fall off. It'd be fine if it weren't for threading.

Here's a double chain drive. Only his left side stuff would be expected to fall off.

Sorry about the giant pic, it ain't mine.
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:48 PM
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I'm so different and whacky!
 
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by NitroPye
I'm so different and whacky!
unique snowflake...
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Old 02-27-08 | 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Straws
unique snowflake...
Ya like that!

I'm so whacky I just do stuff! You know like stuff! Heck, I'll just put my drivetrain on the left! I'm so whacky!
 
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:04 PM
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You can get a left side drive crank for tandems. A fixed hub would tend to put a lot of extra stress on the lockring, but not more-so than the chronic skidders do. LHD is actually relatively common on BMX bikes, so it's easy to get a LHD ss hub and freewheel. In fact I can lay hands on a LHD BMX wheel with a freewheel on it. PM me if you'd like to trade the hub and FW from some random bike bits.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:06 PM
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Speaking of strange bikes, here's something neat..

https://www.myoldbicycle.com/bikes/2
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Flimflam
It works out fine, only the bike balance is off due to the frame wanting drive on the right -
lol, WTF are you talking about?
I wish dutret were here...this would be great.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by hudsong
Speaking of strange bikes, here's something neat..[/url]
definitely a cool piece of machinery that looks fun for cruising around. probably terrible for going at anything higher than moderate speeds.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by deathhare
lol, WTF are you talking about?
I wish dutret were here...this would be great.
no no you see bikes are built cooked to compensate for the stuff to be on the normal side. i heard it has something to do with wheel dishes.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by deathhare
I wish dutret were here...this would be great.

+1
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by jamiek
has anyone done it and how does it work ?
step 1: take off cranks
step 2: put drive side crank on left side
step 3: put non drive side crank on right side
done

=P
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:25 PM
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Also look at your chainstay, does it have a indention for the chainring?

Now look at the otherside... no indention = have to use smaller ring in some cases.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:26 PM
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From: duluth

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Originally Posted by jdms mvp
step 1: take off cranks
step 2: put drive side crank on left side
step 3: put non drive side crank on right side
done

=P
and flip wheel - install chain on other side

done.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:26 PM
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^ Then watch and laugh as your pedals fall off.
 
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:28 PM
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From: duluth

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Originally Posted by NitroPye
^ Then watch and laugh as your pedals fall off.
that is why you have to cross thread them in real tight-like.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by curiousincident
no no you see bikes are built cooked to compensate for the stuff to be on the normal side. i heard it has something to do with wheel dishes.
Well, it has to accomodate the crankset pots and pans too though, making is symmetrical again.

Dish is what compensates, not frame assymetry.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:41 PM
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Sounds like fun wear and tear that I would love to expose my fancy shmancy parts to all in the name of originality.
 
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:43 PM
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From: Van BC
Originally Posted by ianjk
that is why you have to cross thread them in real tight-like.
No, no, no. You just switch the pedals to the other side so the threads match up. Boom,problem solved.
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:43 PM
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Bikes: looks like a specialized crux now

i almost ran a left side drive, but my frame is chromed on right chain stay
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Old 02-27-08 | 03:45 PM
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I summon you Dutret!

FIGHT!
 
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