Single Speed Question

Doug Goodwin said:

I've been considering putting together a single speed for riding around town and eventually
distance training. Since I haven't found any site other than Sheldon's with any basic "starter"
info, I'd like to know what particular type of frame/fork I should be looking for when I browse
thru swap meets/ on-line locations.

Is there one particular type that works best for conversion, as that would probably be the
cheapest intro. I'd also be using a flip-flop hub and probably 700x25 as it would not be used off
pavement.

You need to look for horizontal rear dropouts and 110mm or 120mm spacing between the rear dropout
faces. 110mm is track bikes only, but 120mm was used for 5 speed and "compact 6". Lots of early 80s
bikes are like this.

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Goodwin said:

I've been considering putting together a single speed for riding around town and eventually
distance training. Since I haven't found any site

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than Sheldon's with any basic "starter" info, I'd like to know what particular type of
frame/fork I should be looking for when I browse thru swap meets/ on-line locations.

Is there one particular type that works best for conversion, as that

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

probably be the cheapest intro. I'd also be using a flip-flop hub and probably 700x25 as it
would not be used off pavement.

You need to look for horizontal rear dropouts and 110mm or 120mm spacing between the rear dropout
faces. 110mm is track bikes only, but 120mm was used for 5 speed and "compact 6". Lots of early
80s bikes are like this.

I'm going to refine this answer just a bit. Track bikes are 120mm spacing, old road bikes generally
start at 126mm and go up.

If you're planning on running horizontal dropouts, I'd recommend running bolt-on axles. Much more
secure. Now that I've said that, there's going to be a chorus of "I've never had problems with my
QR" posts. I know, but you have to admit that bolting an axle on is more secure than a QR.

If you end up with a road frame, you can always add a few spacers to your hubs to get to 126, or
pull the frame closed slightly.

Hint 2: run brakes front and rear. Better to be able to stop than run that stop sign and plow into a
car... Once you get to the point where you don't think you need it any more, THEN maybe consider
taking the rear brake off.

Hint 3: run the same sizes you do on your road bike(s). If you aren't training for track, best to
keep everything the same. If you are training for the track, run whatcha run on the track.

All right, y'all can have at me now.

Mike

"Mike S." <mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet> wrote in message news:kLMzb.30108$9O5.13000@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Goodwin said:

I've been considering putting together a single speed for riding

around

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

town and eventually distance training. Since I haven't found any site

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than Sheldon's with any basic "starter" info, I'd like to know what particular type of
frame/fork I should be looking for when I browse

thru

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

swap meets/ on-line locations.

Quoted message said:

Hint 2: run brakes front and rear. Better to be able to stop than run

that

Quoted message said:

stop sign and plow into a car... Once you get to the point where you

don't

Quoted message said:

think you need it any more, THEN maybe consider taking the rear brake off.

Note that he said he wanted a single speed, not fixed. It would be foolish to have fewer than 2
brakes on a single speed.

--Josh

Mike S. said:

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Goodwin said:

I've been considering putting together a single speed for riding around town and eventually
distance training. Since I haven't found any site

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than Sheldon's with any basic "starter" info, I'd like to know what particular type of frame/fork
I should be looking for when I browse thru swap meets/ on-line locations.

Is there one particular type that works best for conversion, as that

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

probably be the cheapest intro. I'd also be using a flip-flop hub and probably 700x25 as it would
not be used off pavement.

You need to look for horizontal rear dropouts and 110mm or 120mm spacing between the rear dropout
faces. 110mm is track bikes only, but 120mm was used for 5 speed and "compact 6". Lots of early
80s bikes are like this.

I'm going to refine this answer just a bit. Track bikes are 120mm spacing, old road bikes generally
start at 126mm and go up. <snip>

Old road bikes with 5 speed freewheels (and ultra-6 speed spaced freewheels) used 120 mm spacing.
Normally spaced 6 speed freewheels, and then 7 speeds, used 126 mm spacing. Track bikes used 110 mm.

Brad Upton Corvallis, OR

Brad Upton said:

Mike S. said:

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Goodwin wrote:

>I've been considering putting together a single speed for riding around town and eventually
>distance training. Since I haven't found any site
>
>

other

Quoted message said:

>than Sheldon's with any basic "starter" info, I'd like to know what particular type of
>frame/fork I should be looking for when I browse thru swap meets/ on-line locations.
>
>Is there one particular type that works best for conversion, as that
>
>

would

Quoted message said:

>probably be the cheapest intro. I'd also be using a flip-flop hub and probably 700x25 as it
>would not be used off pavement.
>
>
You need to look for horizontal rear dropouts and 110mm or 120mm spacing between the rear dropout
faces. 110mm is track bikes only, but 120mm was used for 5 speed and "compact 6". Lots of early
80s bikes are like this.

I'm going to refine this answer just a bit. Track bikes are 120mm spacing, old road bikes
generally start at 126mm and go up. <snip>

Old road bikes with 5 speed freewheels (and ultra-6 speed spaced freewheels) used 120 mm
spacing. Normally spaced 6 speed freewheels, and then 7 speeds, used 126 mm spacing. Track bikes
used 110 mm.

Brad Upton Corvallis, OR

In the olden days, track bikes were 110. All modern ones are 120. On the other hand, if you want a
cheap flip flop for two freewheels a BMX hub is gonna be cheaper than a flip flop road/track hub,
and they're mostly 110mm OLN

Kinky Cowboy

*Your milage may vary Batteries not included May contain traces of nuts.