Vertical dropout ideas

There are calculators that given a chainstay length, tell you what gear
combos you can use:

http://www.peak.org/~fixin/personal/fmu/php/tutorial.php

"ZeeExSixAre" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
So I have a prospective GT road frame I want to build up as a fixed gear,
but it has vertical-ish dropouts. Now, the White Industries Eno is out of
the question due to cost, but what about the half-links that KMC makes?
Even though it's huge at 1/4", would I be able to slide the wheel forward
just a bit so that the locknuts and axle bite into enough dropout to be okay
for fixed?

I'll try to take a pic to show.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

ZeeExSixAre said:

So I have a prospective GT road frame I want to build up as a fixed gear,
but it has vertical-ish dropouts. Now, the White Industries Eno is out of
the question due to cost, but what about the half-links that KMC makes?
Even though it's huge at 1/4", would I be able to slide the wheel forward
just a bit so that the locknuts and axle bite into enough dropout to be okay
for fixed?

I'll try to take a pic to show.

This isn't recommended but it worked for me recently for making a
single speed-

I took a Dremel to the vertical dropouts. I was given an old
Specialized Crossroads frame (top tube not curved) with vertical
dropouts. Using the fixed gear calculator someone already posted, I
saw that I could get close to what I wanted in gearing, but not quite.

I slotted the dropouts, forward and back. Used a radius gauge to lay
out the slots and ground away. So now the wheel goes in vertical and
can then move forward and back about 3/8 inch or so.

The dropouts are cast steel. Lots of material still left. I don't know
how this would work with an aluminum dropout.

Also- I am using this as a single speed. I don't know what forces a
fixed gear applies to this area. If you are going to grind, please
check with experienced mechanics! Any removal of material could be
dangerous for a fixie?

If you aren't experienced with using a Dremel for shaping metals with
some precision, this is a great method to completely trash a frame by
destroying the dropouts. Use at own risk.