Last weekend I tried to install a fixed hub on my bike and, through my own incompetence, I stripped the holy hell out of it. I later put on my old cassette hub as a half-assed single speed. I think it's geared for 52/16 or thereabouts. This works great for me when I'm on even pavement, with the wind. Not so great otherwise as my puny legs won't pump like they should... Anyway, I'm getting off track.

This weekend, I'm going to go back to my LBS to see if they have any more fixed hubs I can destroy, errr, install. He'll probably have to lace on a new hub since I got the only hub/wheel he had in stock last week (this is all used equipment, by the way).

But, if that fails - or is too expensive, I'm going to get me a chainwhip and convert my cassette hub to a single speed and put on a more forgiving chain ring (maybe even replace the entire crank if I can find one in decent shape for cheap). I'm going to use 1 1/4" PVC for a spacer. I understand the basic idea, but I've never disassembled a gear cassette before and am looking for any tips you guys might have. Anything I should look out for? What tools should I have to do this properly? Should I get some spacers instead of the PVC. I don't really have anything to cut the pvc perfectly straight, but I can compensate by fine-tuning it with a file.

Is there anything else I'm forgetting?



On a side note: Have any suggestions about cleaning the sides of my rims of the old rubber left by my crappy, worn-out brake pads that I'm replacing this weekend? Would rubbing alcohol or acetone get this off? I'd take off my tires before applying any solvent.

Another side note: I tend to ramble. Sorry.

Last side note: I also use parentheses too much (right?).

How did you strip the hub??? I'm no genius either, but had no problem building a sturdy fixie rear wheel on my first try. I've heard that crappy fixed gear cogs can do this, and consequently avoided them when buying my parts.

For the brakes rubbing alcohol or the flatlander's favorite simple green. I use both for cleaning my chrome bmx rims that I need to be totally clean for maximum stopping power.

I don't know much about the cog other than it's steel. What I think happened was that I didn't have my lock ring tight enough when I tried to skid. At least that's when I first noticed that it was stripped. Could be a crappy hub, too.

Cool. Thanks.

Oh, and does anyone here have anything good or bad to say about Iro track hubs?

iro hubs are forumal hubs which are great...

I chose an IRO hub for my bike because (a) they're cheap, (b) everyone who uses them seems to love them and the company too, and (c) I couldn't find ANYONE saying ANYTHING bad about them on bikeforums

Yeah, that's the trend I'm also noticing with IRO.

I might just scrap my goofy project and *gasp* lay down some money on a decent set up hubs and rims. Only downside would be having such a nice wheelset on such a crappy frame.

What I did was be an ultra-cheapskate and JUST got new IRO rear hub and spokes, rebuilt the wheel with the old rim. It works great and looks ugly enough to survive the DC thieves