Converted to Single Speed
 

Maybe this isn't exactly a SoCal post, but I'm most inspired by the goings on in the SoCal forum, so here goes. After a couple of months of collecting parts and preparing the frame, I finished my first Single Speed conversion. It all starts with an ad on craigslist that so happened to be from our very own Billy (oleanshoebox). He was selling a Univega 10-speed. With my wife's blessing to make this my project bike, I bought it from him and got to work.

First I pulled everything apart and evaluated what I would keep and what I would change. I would keep the frame, the fork, the handlebars and the pedals. (By the end of the project, I'm left with just frame and handlebars). I would convert from 27" wheels to 700c, which meant converting the brakes to ones that would reach the rim safely. And biggest of all, I would refinish the frame.

The idea for the finish was inspired by my buddy Marcus, who decided to repaint his battered frame when I did some equipment upgrades for him for his birthday. He used to own a body shop and is a whiz with a spray gun. He agreed to help me spray an automotive-quality finish on the project bike. I traded him for a Brooks saddle. Anyway, when he was repainting his bike, I helped sand (because I have an unnatural love of sanding). He joked that we should just shoot clear coat over the bare steel. Hmmm. My wheels went into motion.

The idea for the SS was to go with blue and steel. So I sanded down to bare steel, polished the parts that I wanted to leave exposed, and whacked the frame back into shape -- the top tube had a slight dip to it -- but again, friends who run body shops are useful sources of information and tools.

The sanding and frame preparation happened while I searched for components in my budget. I told the wife $400, but I think I ran over (shhhh, don't let on). I ended up with a pile consisting of the following:

• Origin 8 Crank (46t) & matching bottom bracket
• Brooks B-17 Standard in black
• Xero Lite wheels
• Michelin Megamium tires in blue
• Conversion kit with 16t and 18t gears
• Blue single speed chain
• Crank Brothers Candy pedals in blue
• Nashbar long reach brakes
• (Recycled) Shimano 105 brake levers
• Pyramid (cheap!) stem and seat tube

I didn't intend to get a new fork, but it turned out that the original fork had a bend that I wasn't about to try to fix. Plus I found a 27" replacement for $22.

Friday morning we painted it and I learned a ton about spraying automotive finishes, while inhaling only slight amounts of chemicals known to the state of California to.... what was I saying? Friday night I just couldn't wait so I put it all together. I originally went with the 18t gear, because I thought I'd have trouble getting things started. I was wrong; I think that the 35 pound touring bike has done more for me than I realize. I swapped out for the 16t gear immediately. In sum, it looks a little something like this:

http://www.thebluesmokeband.com/images/_singlespeed.jpg

I tried to get it into proper BF position for a picture, but I don't have a white garage door. You'll have to live with my fireplace.

Today I did my first commute on it. It's only about 4 miles round trip, but I can already love the feeling of it. The cockpit is quite a bit more compact than on my Fuji Touring, which I've been commuting on for a year and a half. It's going to take a little time to find my comfort zone as far as the handling goes. But I'm hooked! Hats off to BikeForums for both inspiring me and for providing endless amounts of information about how to pull this off.

Love the blue chain - sweet build!! I'm contemplating converting my first road bike into a SS as well - thanks for the inspiration as I continue to mull it over!

That looks pretty sweet.

Now just come over to the dark side, and put a fixed cog on there. ;).

Is it at least a flip-flop hub so you can *try* fixed, or is it the original hub with spacers?

It's funny how a "budget" project can rise quickly. I spent over $600 on my SS, and I don't think I am done yet.

I was looking at the flip flop hubs but they were out of budget on this project. I got a rock bottom deal from the LBS on those wheels, so I couldn't pass it up -- just a regular hub with spacers. Next project is to build a fixed wheel, so don't worry: I'm on my way to the dark side :) Of course, if you can recommend a sweet hub, I'm all ears....

If you are running an old threaded style hub (freewheel hub) as opposed to a freehub you can spin on a fixed cog instead. We call this setup a 'suicide hub'..... but should be fine since you're running brakes...:D

I have a set of 27" wheels and Bontrager Tires, with Freewheels hubs. They have maybe 50 miles on them if you are interested PM me I will let them go CHEAP.

No mulling. Just do it! *swoosh*

I've got quite a few miles on a set of IRO hubs that seem to be holding up well.

They're pretty cheap too.

http://www.irofixedgear.com/index.as...&Category=9com

My fixed gear project ended up costing about $1k. I even did my best to skimp where i could (like getting a shimano 105 front brake for like $12). Except on the wheels... And the pedals... Those cost me about $300 and $120 respectively... And the tires... Krylion Carbons aren't exactly cheap.

IRO flip-flop hubs are rebadged Formula hubs and are reputed to be one of the best values out there (Harris Cyclery flip-flop hubs are also rebadged Formulas).

Thanks everyone for the feedback and continued inspiration :D

roadfix: I'm not mentally prepared for no brakes and a fixie. Baby steps here....

Trevor: thanks for the link. I'll definitely keep those in mind when the next project budget gets approved. It will likely be a full on fixie -- you know, once I've gotten over the idea that shifting is a worthwhile pursuit and once the dust of my over-budget single speed project settles.

Luwin: definitely build. It's so much fun.

Nice bike, I'm trying to convince the wife I need a SS for our rides together but it's not working out too well :(

I'll keep an eye out for you on SART, I'm usually there weekdays around 6pm to 8pm from S.B. to the abandoned road and back.

I love my single-speed for recovery rides! I geared it 42t x 16t, so it encourages me to work on my spin.

Did it cheap since I convered my old ('77) MASI Gran Criterium. Same wheels, just took off the Regina 6-Speed and threaded on a BMX (3/32) 16t freewheel. Took off the big chainring, brought the 42t to the outside, removed derailluers, shortened the Regina chain, cut off bars and put on cyclo-cross brake levers.

So, a few bucks for the BMX freewheel and cyclo-cross brake levers, otherwise (mostly!) free.

Rick / OCRR

http://www.geocities.com/alicestrong.../_newbike1.jpgHey I'm converting this to a fixie. It's a budget project. So far it cost $15 for the bike...it needs some work.

http://http://www.geocities.com/alic.../_newbike1.jpg

Where do you find $15 project bikes?

I do well in thrift stores and yard sales. I got very lucky with this one. It was in the yard of one of those guys who have a pile of old bikes for sale all the time. Mostly they are department store specials but sometimes there's a diamond in the rough like this bike.

that $15 bike has the wrong dropouts.

What makes you say that?

It apperas to have vertical dropouts which makes it difficult to get your chain properly tensioned. But that's where an ENO hub comes in handy. :D (which is also somewhat expensive...)

Edit: on second thought, it may have horizontal dropouts, hard to tell in the picture... if they are horizontal, you'll have no problem making it a fixed gear.

The dropouts are horizontal. I have a close-up pix somewhere...but they are..

What I don't like are the brazed on cable guides along the top and the way the shifters are mounted...

I have another really nice frame without all that but it's on a nice all-original bike that I'd rather leave "as-is"...

I like the $15 bike, braze-ons and all. They're easy enough to remove if you decide either to not run brakes or to route the cables differently. If I were you, I'd sand it down and give it a fresh paint job -- it's such a beautiful frame that it deserves all that attention. I think it's clear from the picture that the drop outs are horizontal -- they just aren't very deep. That might make it tricky to tension the chain, but there are ways around it, including tensioners and filing out the drop outs to make them deeper (keeping enough material to retain strength of course).

With differing gear ratios and half-links -- not even going into special hubs like the ENO -- there's no such thing as the "wrong" dropouts. Some might be more ideal than others, but any style of dropout can be used for fixed gear.

if there arent track dropouts or whatever they are called, you better be using a brake and not skid-stopping.

Don't get me wrong....I always run a brake(s). :)
I would never ride brakeless.