chandler101

Hey all, first time poster here. I have been recently looking into getting a Surly Steamroller, but it looks like it is a fixed gear. Is there any way to turn it into a single speed?

Thanks in advance!

dayvan cowboy

put a ss freewheel on the hub. easy as hell to do.

PistaRider311

It has a flip flop rear hub which means it comes with a fixed cog on one side, and on the other you can thread on a freewheel cog. Just flip the wheel around to change it from a fixed gear to a singlespeed.

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...Freewheel.aspx

louderthangod

Mine didn't come with a flip-flop and I bought it as a stock complete.

dayvan cowboy

i'm pretty sure you can thread a freewheel onto the fixed side o a hub, at least thats what I've heard never done it myself.

chandler101

Thanks for the speedy reply. Could you please link me to an online store that sells them? Would I need to put this on just the back hub or both the front and the back hubs?

EDIT: woops, sorry I missed the previous posts. So if I bought the current model, all I would do it take both wheels off, and flip it around?

dayvan cowboy

it'd just be on the rear hub.

chandler101

Wow. I love this forum, such speedy replies. Thanks so much!

dayvan cowboy

just be thankful it was an easy question and I'm so bored I keep refreshing the forum every 30 seconds hoping to read something new.

chandler101

I have one more question, I might as wells ask it here. Do you think that the Steamroller would be a good commuter? I live in a flat area with some small hills. Also, is the steamroller made in the US?

dayvan cowboy

the frame is made in tawain i think. most of the bikes in this price range are tawainase made.

The steamroller is an excellent commuter bike. Room for wider tires. fender and rack mounts would make nice features for a commuter but you win some you lose some.

chandler101

Sweet. Thanks. And let me clear one thing up, when you say you flip the hub around, you just take the back wheel off and switch it around. thats all?

Understanding

may i ask why you want to run it in single speed?

chandler101

Coasting.

dayvan cowboy

a flip flop hub(at least most) will have threading on both sides. one side has threading that is all going the same way so you can screw on a single speed freewheel. the other side has a set of threads that are slightly smaller and reverse, so you can put a fixed cog and a lockring. just flip whichever side you want to the drive side of the bike.

Understanding

well, duh, but it's only set up for one brake, i guess you can get those removable cable guides, but why the steamroller for a singlespeed?

bnhoang86

I've had no problems with riding a single speed with one front brake. That's where most of the stopping power is at least.

chandler101

Well, give me your thoughts on a good single speed.

bnhoang86

I HAVE a wheelset that came off a Surly Steamroller and it DOES have a flip flop Surly hub. Just toss on a freewheel on the other side and call it a day

Understanding

is the steamroller even drilled for a rear brake?

i mean, running a freewheel with only one brake seems like a bad idea...

iwegian

unless you're riding in bad weather, and rear brake works better for the situation, a front brake will do just fine. just learn modualtion so you don't flip forward

dayvan cowboy

i think a steamroller is drilled for a rear brake.

supercub

many budget bikes in the same general price range as the steamroller come with a rear brake and freewheel already installed. It might make more sense to get a different bike unless you're in love with surly.

supercub

like a san jose or a one way.

cc700

both great choices^