I found a Trek 800 on Craigslist and I have a $300 or so budget to build a SS bike. Is this a possible build? Oh by the way I am a clyde =(

i can't tell from the picture, does it have horizontal or vertical dropouts? As long as you're not riding fixed you can use a tensioner if it has vertical drops.

The drop out are verticle and a tensioner will be used which is better push chain up or down?

I had a similar Trek years ago. I'm sure mine had vertical dropouts. That makes it a less than ideal candidate, though as mentioned above it can work for SS with a tensioner. I think you can probably find better candidates. Look for 80s road bikes with horizontal dropouts. There are plenty out there at good prices.

if you don't want to go fixed, it's fine to run with a chain tensioner. Use it pushing up if at all possible.

Yeah, and you might even be able to make a tensioner out of the derailleur if you want to keep it on the supercheap.

i think there are better options for $300

I'd find another bike. Tensioners suck. In push down setup you're going to have the chain skip when you pedal hard, and in push up configuration you can only take up so little slack that if your chain fits well enough to use a tensioner in that configuration you probably don't need one in the first place.

Get a bike with horizontal dropouts. It's a far better option

I guess a lot depends on geography, but those bikes can e found around here for less than $100.

Advise on what to look for used or even new
https://cycopath.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=47047

Redline Monocog 29er at that link? But its a 21" frame only and I am just 6' tall

I think that should be the right size bike for you, MTB sizing is different than road though so i could be wrong

1) Conversions are not always economical.
2) Conversions are nice when you ALREADY have a bike and like to switch it up. It makes no sense whatsoever to have cash, buy a geared bike, then convert it. Just buy a used SS.

Just because it's on CL and it's old doesn't make it a good deal. $300 is too much for that bike. I'd pass altogether. With $300 + the money you'd spend converting it you could have a NEW SS MTB.

I'd hold out and save up for a used Bianchi S.A.S.S or P.U.S.S or something similar. One of those (can't remember which) was $750 new, so used would be close to $300.

There are LOTS of single speed MTBs out there. The SS MTB thing has been around longer than SS road bikes.

+1

This illustrates my point exactly!

Thanks, Pete.