cave12man

I have an older Motobecane Mirage that I'm trying to convert to singlespeed. Anyone use a chain tensioner for their vertical dropouts? From what I can find if you can't find the "Magic Gear" then a chain tensioner is the way to go. What brand do you use? I've been looking at:

Cyclists Choice

DMR STS

Rennen

Gusset Bachelor

Even one DIY version

Any thoughts? Have one that works? If so is it better to have it in the pushup mode or pushdown mode?

Syscrush

Plenty of people in your situation use a tensioner.

I assume that you prefer not to go with an eccentric BB?

wearyourtruth

all of those would probably work *okay*

i've used my share of chain tensioners, and i prefer push down to push up. the ones that push up just seem to have weird problems, whereas the ones that push down are essentially a simplified derailler.

i also highly recommend the surly singleator https://surlybikes.com/parts/singleator/

you will probably have to shell out a little extra (maybe $35-40?) but it is the only one i've ever used that hasn't given me any problems. i actually use one right now on my trials bike. i've beat the **** out of it repeatedly and it still works like a champ.

wearyourtruth

and syscrush, i assume you mean eccentric hub and not BB, as he already has the frame?

cave12man

Just getting into the whole scene so honestly I've never heard of eccentric BB's or hubs. I'm going to tonight to pick up a rear wheel from someone that already has a freewheel hub on it so I was hoping to not spend too much money and go with the tensioner. I have a feeling that either a new hub or BB would run me more than I'm willing to spend. At least for now. The bike currently has gears on it with the chain shortened and derailleurs removed, but I know thats a horrible way to do things. My plan was to get this rim with the freewheel, buy a cog that suits me, and then lengthen the chain and use a tensioner to take up the slack. That sounds about right? If it weren't just my commuter I would be more apt to spend the money for a BB or new hub.

cave12man

After talking to my LBS last night for a quite a while I figured out some areas that I was a little lost on. Ill be checking out Singulator this weekend. Apparently I need a new rim with freewheel hub since mine won't accept a conversion kit, a new chain, chain tensioner and just for the hell of it, new tires and tubes. Thanks for the help guys.

shubonker

I have the DMR STS and it's quite good, have not had any problems with it.

wearyourtruth

i will first say that a picture would totally help.

there are very few wheels that won't accept a SS option. there are 2 kinds of rear wheels, freewheels and freehubs. if it's a freewheel hub, then the cassette can unthread from the hub, and you can thread a BMX freewheel on, redish/respace the hub if necessary and there you go. if it's a freehub, take the cassette off, put on spacers and a cog and you are good to go.

i could only foresee you having a problem if you have some old, outdated and proprietary cassette mechanism (i've seen it before), but i feel that it's more likely that the LBS is trying to screw you over or the person who helped you doesn't know what they are talking about than you have one of those wheels (maybe 50-50?)

Syscrush

If you just wanna have fun running a single speed, then why not get some spacers that will replace the cassette with a single cog, like these:



It would allow you to keep your existing wheel, hub, tire, etc.