Unplanned singlespeed conversion

galleywench · Nov 2, 2005

While riding last night my X.0 derailleur met a most untimely death while battling with a large stick. At the time I was roughly 5-6 miles from trailhead and couldn't spend much time d*cking around because I didn't want my light to die while still on the trail. Anyway, I made a quick guess/measurement on the chain length needed to make the bike rideable with small chainring up front and 4th largest on cassette (I think it's a 21). I broke the chain and took out 10 links or so and reassemebled. When I wound it onto the small ring and 21t cog it fit extremely tight with alot of tension. I really didn't expect to have much luck. I figured the chain would be popping off or binding or just generally causing me grief, but it ran perfectly. It was VERY quiet... no chain slap, and no worrying about proper gear combo. I can honestly say that it was one of the best abreviated rides I have had all year.
I plan on building up a dedicated SS this winter.
But in the meantime I have a few questions:
1. I ordered a new derailleur and while I wait for it to arrive, does anyone think that the high chain tension on the drivetrain will damage the freewheel/bb? Or is there any other damage that I could cause by running this way for a few days? I am planning on 1-2 hour lunch rides for the remainder of the week.
2. It seems like the gear combo I am currently using 21/32 would be too small for any type of non hill climb riding (I am not entirely sure what small chainring is but somewhere in the 32 range). The ride I was on last night consisted of many very steep, but short climbs and the gear combo was perfect for that, but if there was more downhill, I would be spinning way too fast. Do any SS'ers run that combo or does everyone stick in the 16-18 range and just grunt out the hills? I know SSing will make me stronger, but I couldn't imaging climbing some of the hills I did last night with a 16.

Lutarious · Nov 2, 2005

Search the posts

I run 32/18, my girlfriend runs 34/20. 32/21 seems very low, but....

I wouldn't ride it a lot that way. You could very well wear out your drive train.

Cloxxki · Nov 2, 2005

Using this : http://www.peak.org/~fixin/personal/fmu/php/formfmu.php
You can figure out this sort of thing.

Your 32x21 gear, implying that's correct, would be perfect for 428mm chainstay (I started guessing a hardtail was 425mm). You probably have 429 or 430mm.
Your gear, sugesting the 1.9 tires the program offers, is 39.1 gear inches. Sounds like you're looking for 45 or so.
Your chain is not pretty much dead anyway, so use it to convert the bike for now.

44x22 and
32x16 and
38x22

Look like gears to try. I pick these especially as chainrings may be already oin your possessiona and SS cogs are easy to be had. Especially if 32x16 fits, get a shimano DX cog for like $4 or so, be happy. Oh, beg for spacers at the LBS's from worn cassette's, or get busy with PVC pipe.

41 32 21 42.805 47 39.1
42 44 16 42.805 49 70.5
43 31 22 42.824 47 36.1
44 41 15 42.857 48 70.1
45 43 17 42.857 49 64.8
46 40 16 42.905 48 64.1
47 42 18 42.905 49 59.8
48 44 20 42.905 50 56.4
49 37 15 42.950 47 63.2
50 39 17 42.950 48 58.8
51 41 19 42.950 49 55.3
52 43 21 42.950 50 52.5
53 36 16 42.990 47 57.7
54 38 18 42.990 48 54.1
55 40 20 42.990 49 51.3
56 42 22 42.990 50 48.9
57 33 15 43.026 46 56.4
58 35 17 43.026 47 52.8
59 37 19 43.026 48 49.9
60 39 21 43.026 49 47.6
61 32 16 43.058 46 51.3
62 34 18 43.058 47 48.4
63 36 20 43.058 48 46.1
64 38 22 43.058 49 44.3

Hope this helps in any way...

Good luck!

J

galleywench · Nov 2, 2005

Thanks for the help. My lunchtime ride confirmed that the gear combo I selected last night is way too low. A lot less climbing today so I was spinning much too fast. I am going to chop up some pvc and a spare cassette tonight and see if I can get a better all around ratio for the next few days.

[I am sure the following has been asked a million times, but search is not working right now]
Any suggestions on a bargain basement SS frame? I have seen Zion 853 and FetishCycles at pretty cheap prices, does anyone have any experience with them?
Also, is there a huge advantage to a real SS (either EBB or horizontal dropout) over a converted hardtail with a chain tensioner ?

Cloxxki · Nov 3, 2005

The Zion would be something that catches my eye if it were 29". heck, they would not have had to discount it then, selling like mad!
I recommend the On-One complete bike. 450GBP, but that's not what you want to know I guess.

With a tensioner setup, removing a rear wheel in most cases will be a pain. The same, though different, problems with forks dropouts. just not practical.
I think if you can find a magical gear that suits your riding better, that's a great way to spend your riding time and save up SS cash

grawbass · Nov 3, 2005

Lutarious said:
I run 32/18, my girlfriend runs 34/20. 32/21 seems very low, but....

I wouldn't ride it a lot that way. You could very well wear out your drive train.

Actually, running a larger cog is easier on the drivetrain.

steelbike · Nov 3, 2005

Try 34/19 or 36/17

The rule of 4 should allow you to use the same chain length as the 32/21.

I've had good luck with the Soulcraft Convert. It swings out of the way so wheel removal is easy.

More here:
http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml

galleywench said:
Thanks for the help. My lunchtime ride confirmed that the gear combo I selected last night is way too low. A lot less climbing today so I was spinning much too fast. I am going to chop up some pvc and a spare cassette tonight and see if I can get a better all around ratio for the next few days.

[I am sure the following has been asked a million times, but search is not working right now]
Any suggestions on a bargain basement SS frame? I have seen Zion 853 and FetishCycles at pretty cheap prices, does anyone have any experience with them?
Also, is there a huge advantage to a real SS (either EBB or horizontal dropout) over a converted hardtail with a chain tensioner ?

crisillo · Nov 3, 2005

I got my Zion a couple months ago...

galleywench said:
Thanks for the help. My lunchtime ride confirmed that the gear combo I selected last night is way too low. A lot less climbing today so I was spinning much too fast. I am going to chop up some pvc and a spare cassette tonight and see if I can get a better all around ratio for the next few days.

[I am sure the following has been asked a million times, but search is not working right now]
Any suggestions on a bargain basement SS frame? I have seen Zion 853 and FetishCycles at pretty cheap prices, does anyone have any experience with them?
Also, is there a huge advantage to a real SS (either EBB or horizontal dropout) over a converted hardtail with a chain tensioner ?

and I love it so far. The only problem that you may find is that rear tire clearance is not very high 2.1 -2.2 tops.... I currently run a Conti Explorer 2.1 and there is plenty of clearance (but Contis tend to be small).

Here's a pic of my Zion (the pic is a little out of date, but you get the idea

)

Good luck,
Cris

Suffer · Nov 3, 2005

crisillo said:
and I love it so far. The only problem that you may find is that rear tire clearance is not very high 2.1 -2.2 tops.... I currently run a Conti Explorer 2.1 and there is plenty of clearance (but Contis tend to be small).

Here's a pic of my Zion (the pic is a little out of date, but you get the idea )

Good luck,
Cris

I like it. I am thinking about selling my geared bike and current SS to get a Zion with top notch parts. Is that a MX Pro ETA fork?

crisillo · Nov 3, 2005

Good eye.. but..

Suffer said:
I like it. I am thinking about selling my geared bike and current SS to get a Zion with top notch parts. Is that a MX Pro ETA fork?

it is a MX Comp.... it performs great (although not quite like the Marathon on my Epic), but then again I don't ride as fast on my SS

The Zion is a great frame for the price... I am really happy I got it.. SS turned out to be much more fun that I expected...... I am currently in the process of upgrading my front brake to 185mm.. it never ends...

Cheers,
Cris

galleywench · Nov 3, 2005

crisillo said:
it is a MX Comp.... it performs great (although not quite like the Marathon on my Epic), but then again I don't ride as fast on my SS

The Zion is a great frame for the price... I am really happy I got it.. SS turned out to be much more fun that I expected...... I am currently in the process of upgrading my front brake to 185mm.. it never ends...

Cheers,
Cris

Thats the same fork I am currently running (w/ ETA), so you have answered another of my questions as to whether or not the Zion can run with a 100 (or 105)mm fork.

crisillo · Nov 3, 2005

Mine is ETA too...

galleywench said:
Thats the same fork I am currently running (w/ ETA), so you have answered another of my questions as to whether or not the Zion can run with a 100 (or 105)mm fork.

On the JensonUSA site, it states that it was designed around a 80mm fork, but can also be used with a 100mm one. I love the way mine handles (a little "saggy") with the 105mm MX Comp ETA, since I can drop it to 30mm when I don't want it to move, but I don't do it often.

Cheers,
Cris

Unplanned singlespeed conversion

galleywench

Lutarious

Cloxxki

galleywench

Cloxxki

grawbass

steelbike

crisillo

Suffer

crisillo

galleywench

crisillo

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