Hi all,

I'm trying to convert my 10speed to a single speed, and have some questions. I have a Motobecane Orly Tour de France, it's pretty old. Can I just take the rear wheel off, yank the 5 gears off, and put in some spacers and a new cog? or do I need to buy a singlespeed freewheel?
Pic:


Thanks!

1 second google search
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

With most 5-speed freewheels (Shimano, Suntour, and I think maybe Campy) you should be able to unscrew the outermost gear and take off the rest. Strip it down, add some spacers, and get a threaded ring for the end. The freewheel is a straight piece so you can put whichever cog you want close to the hub end which should give you a decent chain line.

HOWEVER, unscrewing that first cog will take either two chainwhips or a chainwhip and some chain in a vise. As it's been pedaled a lot the cog will be extremely tight. It may be worthwhile to spring for a cheap single-speed freewheel and a couple spacers instead, either because it will end up costing you less than tools or just to avoid trying to put eleventy-billion ft-lbs of pressure on the cog to get it loose.