Converting a touring bike into a single speed?

Why you might ask?

For commuting.

I am thinking of buying a Fuji touring bike at my LBS and having them make it a single speed. NB, that this touring bike has horizontal rear dropouts (not very long so it wouldn't have enough travel for a flip flop but one ss would work, we think).

It would provide

Stable geometry.

comfy ride (steel frame)

fenders

and wouldn't have to worry about pannier/heel clearance.

and prevent toe overlap.

The other ss options would be to buy a San Jose or build up a Surly Cross Check.

I love SS riding but need a road worthy foul weather set up

Thanks

NO but I am on it. Sounds like a good idea.

I think it is pretty common actually. Unless the commute is hilly, it really makes sense to simplify the bike as much as possible to increase its reliability.

And, even with short dropouts you can probably still get away with a one or two tooth difference on each side of a flip-flop. Each tooth adds 1/2 inch of chain. Half on the top half of the loop, half on the bottom, so each tooth requires 1/4 inch of drop. I bet your drops are longer than 1/4 inch.

jim

This is pretty much what any old road frame conversion is going to be as well. Assuming it has all the eyelets/stuff that makes a commuter a commuter.

Your best case scenario assumes that the axle is all they way forward or back, in one of the positions for your 1/4" calculation. This is obviously not going to be the case for 99% of the gearing setups out there.