[Nev]

My custom steel Strong is below. Any way to legitimately go SS?
Eccentric BB? Can I add that?
Eno eccentric disc?
Chain tensioners are a no.

I'm 55ish. I don't ride as often/regularly as I used to. Or should. But as we all know, a new bike pulls us out, or back out, onto the trails more than anything else.

If there were no restrictions, I'd build up a premium big wheel ti SS frame as my last amazing bike. But that's a pricey chore these days. I'd sell a couple or few bikes to get there, maybe capturing half the cost, maybe. Fact is every time I ride this Strong it feels amazing. And I've had a few other bikes come and go since I had this custom built. Originally 26, it's 650b now. I've added/subtracted so many parts on this thing since then (yea, rim brake posts) I need to revisit the original specs, maybe even ask Carl what I should be doing with parts. Bars are too high, of course. Stem is a giraffe. How did I get here? But I do love riding this.

Anyhow, this bugs me a lot, wanting a sweet big wheel single speed and never ride anything else on the dirt. I'm a fixed gear addict BTW. My fixed road bike has more miles than any other bikes, including sweet Litespeed ti Vortex. I have a SoulCraft 29er I got off a buddy that's currently set up fixed, which if I sell would make me sad. OK, it'll be the other thing I ride on dirt.

Every time I talk about selling the Strong my wife says a hard no. Would rather see it hanging on the wall.

If I sacrifice the big wheel world, is there a legit way to make this SS and enjoy a pile of cogs depending on where I'm riding?

Hope this makes sense. Feel free to flame anything I got wrong/don't know/don't appreciate.

Thank you for the input and ideas.

Disclaimer: egg beaters are on there for my wife taking it out tomorrow to ride with her sister in town and some other lady friend. Frame bag isn't normally there, but I don't hate them.

 

[Grinchy8]

Probably see what eccentric bb will fit. Between that and a fistful of cogs you’ll find a good enough gear.

 

[senorbanana]

Philcentric Outboard Bottom Bracket Cup Set (British Threading)

The Philcentric is an Outboard Bottom Bracket that gives you eccentricity without using horizontal dropouts, an eccentric hub, or chain tensioners. You may be required to use a half link. If you need to order replacement dust cover please note that the Philcentric uses our medium dust covers...

phil-wood-co.myshopify.com

 

[BansheeRune]

senorbanana hit it outta the park!

Here is another option. BSA EBB Conversion

 

[Hurricane Jeff]

What kind of BB is on this bike? BB30, threaded, etc? If it is a threaded BB and you want a eccentric BB, your going to have to find a frame builder who can cut out the BB and weld in an eccentric type. Or you can use that same frame builder to weld in some new rear dropouts. There are also other options such as a chain tensioner device or, if still available, eccentric hubs(White Bros)

 

[BansheeRune]

What kind of BB is on this bike? BB30, threaded, etc? If it is a threaded BB and you want a eccentric BB, your going to have to find a frame builder who can cut out the BB and weld in an eccentric type. Or you can use that same frame builder to weld in some new rear dropouts. There are also other options such as a chain tensioner device or, if still available, eccentric hubs(White Bros)

Phil offers a conversion BB for BSA, Wheels offers a BB30 as well as PF 30 conversion BB that will do all the welding for the cost of the BB. No need for cutting however, half link may be necessary.

 

[bad mechanic]

The Eno Eccentric hub works really well, and I've been using it on one of my single speeds for years now without any issue. However, you obviously lose the quick release on your rear wheel.

 

[Scubaman66]

+1 for the White Industries ENO Eccentric hub, which is available in a disc brake version. I use the rim brake version with a fixed cog on a steel MTB frame with vertical dropouts, and it's terrific; I haven't used the disc brake version.

 

[Kevin Matherne]

I used this ebb on a threaded bb. Limits you to a 24 mm crank dia but works fine.
Eccentric – Trickstuff

 

[stiingya]

Hacksaw, shock and some duct tape oughta do it...

This is to convert a hardtail into a full suspension bike right?

 

[MOJO K]

Anyone suggesting that you cut apart a custom Strong frame is an idiot. Your wife is right about never selling it either.

My first step would be to look at a fixie magic gear calculator and see if there’s an obvious simple answer. There could be a combo that works without any mods and minimal parts.

 

[Nev]

Thanks all. Head hurts a little more, but it's all for the best.

 

[Wheelspeed]

Hey Nev! I'm not a SS'er, but saw this post while scrolling through New or Recommended posts or something. If it helps, I had my '91 HT, then a 2001 FS bike that I absolutely loved for 17 years. Obviously both were 26er's. I drank the Kool-Aid and got a '19 29'er, but it had a recall that had it out of commission for like 6 months. I kept my '91 HT all these years as a backup bike so I rode it. The first time I hopped on the HT 26'er after doing many years riding FS, I was annoyed with the HT pose of lifting myself part-weight off the saddle over bumps. It was tiring to my thighs. But by the 2nd ride, I was loving that old 26'er again! 26'ers are naturally so light with less wheel and tire. My trails here near Pittsburgh aren't super rocky, so I didn't notice roll-over benefits.

Now after having my 29'er for 2 years, I believe a 27.5'er is the sweet spot. Except it's hard to find a 27.5'er that's made to be a 27.5'er. Most are 29'ers with smaller rims, fatter tires, and the fork and frame is over-built to handle the stresses of a 29'er. (This is the reason that I caved in the first place and stopped shopping for a Trail 27.5'er with 2.3 tires and went ahead and got a short-travel 29'er with 2.3 tires.)

Anyway, in my personal experience, you shouldn't over-think the 26'er or 29'er thing. I don't think 29'ers have all the benefits they say. And it feels wonky on some tight turns or hopping logs. And I don't love the new geometry of the fork slacked way out. With the front wheel 'out there', you have less weight on it in turns and it feels vague. I think 26'ers are fun as hell and if you know you like that bike, and you're happy with the geometry, that's all that's important and you're not missing anything despite how magazines will skew things. Below is a pic from that 2nd ride that I still love because that ride I realized "Holy S, this bike is fun as hell!" (with V-brake, Twist-Grip, 550mm bars, no dropper). As far as riding fun, I don't feel like you're missing anything if you just keep your 26'er bike that you already love.

 

[FJSnoozer]

Do you want a hardtail or do you want a single speed?

Think about selling off bikes and building a Funk SS TI softtail do everything bike.

I’m just here to plant seeds that keep you up at night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BansheeRune]

Do you want a hardtail or do you want a single speed?
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I have a hardtail that is equipped with towing package brakes and a one speed automatic transmission, Guess I got both in one convenient package! 😉

 

[Wheelspeed]

Do you want a hardtail or do you want a single speed?

Think about selling off bikes and building a Funk SS TI softtail do everything bike.

I’m just here to plant seeds that keep you up at night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry, I goofed it. I thought he had an old 26'er HT SS and saw this comment:
"Anyhow, this bugs me a lot, wanting a sweet big wheel single speed" so I thought he was asking for advice on buying a 29'er and selling (and losing) his old bike to fund it. That was the jist of my entire post above.