Phyoomz

Hey folks,

A little background:

I'm trying to fix up my old fully rigid 26er mtb, literally. It's been in my basement collecting dust for the last few years, and I want to make it a fixed gear (it has horizontal dropouts and a pretty high bb shell).

Since this is just gonna to be a beater project bike, I'm not trying to put a lot of money into it. So buying a specially made fixed or flip-flop 26" wheel is out of the question, these guys want like $80+ for one of those.

I currently have a freewheel hub on my rear wheel that is almost symmetrically dished. Lucky me, I guess.

So here's the question:

Aside from the smaller left-hand threaded part for the lockring on track hubs, is there a real difference between a track hub and a freewheel hub? Just the hub, I'm asking about. I know the multispeeds tend to be dished funny when they're built up.

Meaning, would just moving/exchanging spacers on whatever side needs it, and centering the axle make a freewheel hub usable for a fixed gear?

I figure I would need something to keep the cog from unscrewing when applying backward pressure (super glue?), but I definitely do not plan on riding backwards, or intentionally skidding, or anything extra like that.

As always, your comments and advice are appreciated.

ThimbleSmash

You may want to read up on what is referred to as a "Suicide hub" and see if you still want to go with the conversion. I personally would just go with a freewheel since it is heavily suggested to have both front and rear brake when running a suicide hub anyway. Though read up on and make your decision on where you want to go with it.

Phyoomz

WOW

I can't believe I've never heard of this.

All things considered, I think I'll go ahead with it, but I'll def. be running both brakes and this Loctite bottom bracket lock ring (or maybe 2?) thing.

And who knows, if I like it, I might spring for a proper rear wheel.

Thanks so much.

GromCake

Does it happen to have disc brakes? There are fixed cogs that mount to disc hubs.

Steev

Highly unlikely on a mountain bike old enough to have have horizontal dropouts.
A more important question is whether he has a freewheel or freehub.
https://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

Phyoomz

Nah, no disc brakes. I currently have a threaded/quill/canti's set-up.

Do threaded disc forks even exist? I would definitely consider it.