Fixed Gear/Single Speed Conversion
Thread started by
em at 07.15.08 - 9:24 am
Ok. So I've been riding for about 2 years on a beat-up old NIshiki that I've put many miles on, many rides on, and patched up a couple times at the Bicycle Kitchen. Being that I hardly change gears given my riding patterns, and my rattling chain, I've decided to check out the single-speed/fixed gear set-up and brought my bike to El Maestro in downtown, which is the closest shop to me. I figure, I'll just build a nicer geared road bike when I have money.
Anyways, they're about to strip it today, and set it up with two new vuelta rims and a new chain, and what have you . If I had time, I would have like to have done it myself and learned at the Kitchen again, but I've come to the realization I don't have as much time as I used to and I'd rather spend more time riding. Not that I didn't enjoy learning more, its just I don't want to be out of commission this summer without a bike.
Anyways, I just wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions as to what to look out for when picking it up, and making sure the job is good.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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There's really not much to converting to a fixed/single. Here are somethings to look for.
The chain line is straight, the cog and the chainring should be approximately in the same plane.
Cog, chainring and chain match(1/8 or 3/32); Not really necessary but if your not reusing any components from the drive train, expect it.
Other than that, everything else has to do with how much money you were willing to spend.
Conversions are great except for small potential problem. The problem is the chain stay might flex under load and cause the chain to skip . I've seen this happen on a few converted bikes but in all cases we were all over 180 lbs.
sc_nomad07.15.08 - 10:14 am
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