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...mountain bike?
So I have a 26er Soul and some wheels kicking around, and the general lack of rad gnar at the present time makes a singlespeed (possibly even ridid) build quite appealing.
But I don't know all that much about it. From what I've gleaned so far, I think I probably need:
* A singlespeed cog, ideally one with a wider base to avoid cutting into my freehub body.
* Some spacers to take up the space the rest of my cassette would have taken. Ideally a range of sizes so I can dicker around with chainline.
* A lock ring to hold the spacers and cog on. Or can I just use one from an old cassette?
* A tensioner.
* A chain ring. Or can I use any old narrow wide one? Or does this depend on...
* A 1/8" chain. Or can I just use an 8 speed chain or something?
* A favourite gear ratio. I understand 32:16 is the trad default for 26" wheels.
Now, just like the Big Bopper I ain't got no money, honey, so if I can bodge some bits out of parts bin spares, at least to see whether I like SS or not, I'd be interested to hear about it 🙂
Finally, for the bits I do need to purchase, do I go to Chain Reaction or similar? Or somewhere more niche specific like Velosolo?
Any thoughts welcome 🙂
A beard.
I have one of them already, so that was easy.
Stay with a standard chain and rear sprocket, no need for BMX 1 1/8th.
Any old front ring will do, no big advantage to narrow wide. Ideally you don't want a ramped front chainring but it should work fine to get you started.
You might need shorter chainring bolts or a bash ring as a spacer if your existing front setup is dual ring.
Get a decent rear tensioner. Or use an old rear mech by using the limit screws or a bit of gear cable to the first cable stop to position it over the cog.
Use the old cassette lockring to secure the new spacer kit to the freehub.
Finally, I ran 32:18 as its hilly round here and I hate pushing!
A visit to the shrink?
Spooky's covered most of the bases. it's perversely addictive, you have my sympathies.
Narrow wide will be fine.
1/8 chain only necessary if you get a 1/8 cog. 8speed is what i use.
Tensioner is good bit an old derraileur would get you started. If a soul has iscg mounts i prefer a tensioner there.
Narrow wide totally fine.
Cog if a good idea, you could use a cassette cog to try it out but it hurts like a bastard if it shifts off.
Spacers you could buy or just rip all the spacers out old cassettes.
Lockring is just a cassette lock ring.
Probably worth getting a kit as that would have everything you need.
32x16 if you are fairly flat. If its hilly you probs want an 18 or 17 (live in peebles 17 for me to go round glentress)
Defo go rigid
Beard essential.
I've just built up a new singlespeed and pretty much used Planet-x for all the bits.
Got there basic singlespeed kit with 18t cog, mainly as it is cheap and comes with spacers. Also bought their much beefier singlespeed specific sprocket as it is much better built and has a nice wide section at the bottom to distribute the load.
Also used their spring chain tensioner and a new 1/8th chain.
Works very well with a 32t Hope narrow wide chainring and cost about £36 to get the new bits so not bad value at all.
Am now converting it to 1x10, but that's another story 😉
It's fairly easy to do a DIY single speed conversion, especially with an old 26".
Bits I'd recommend are:
On One single speed conversion kit
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SKOOSSKK/on-one-singlespeed-converter-kit
Surley Singleator chain tensioner
https://www.bikemonger.co.uk/surly-singleator-25-p.asp
(I tried the On One Doofer for a while, the Surley is much better)
32:16 is the standard ratio (the On One kit has a 16T cog), works out (obviously) at 52" gear - you'll surprise yourself at what you can get up
You can use your existing chainring - you may need some low profile chainring bolts
https://www.hubjub.co.uk/single-chainring-bolts-65-p.asp
(Hubjub and Charlie the Bikemonger are the go-to places for all your SS needs)
Finally chains - think I just used a standard SRAM 9 spd chain, never had a problem. Because you're never trying to change gear under load, you won't snap the chain in shear. Unless you're Chris Hoy, you'll never be putting enough force to cause it to fail in tension.
I did end up refitting my front mech as a chain guide, you may want to consider this.
You'll have a blast riding SS, go for it!
Strong knees...unsure if sandals are still a requirement.
I find the knees ok unless I try to sit and spin a high cadence on the road. Feels like standing and heaving the pedals is less strain than sitting and spinning strangely.
A BIG leg cough I meant big legs
Or did I... 🤔
No sandals here sadly. I do like craft ale if that helps at all?
Thanks everyone for the pointers and tips so far. I saw the planet x kit but wasn't sure if the conversion kit would be compatible with the beefier "wide base" sprocket, so I'm heartened to see that it is!
Hopefully my knees should be ok-ish. I've been in training on 1x9 (30:32 being the twiddliest gear) which has hopefully paved the way a bit. I'm clearly going to have to walk up some stuff, but I can live with that.
Just cut the levers off your shifter. Job done.
Think I might have some old an unwanted SS spares in the parts bin, I'll have a look tomorrow and PM you.
Bah, sorry Tom, had a good look but can't find any of the SS stuff 🙁
Based on my experience of my bike that's been singlespeed for three months while I wait for parts, you'll need a desire to spoil your bike rides.
I recently singlespeeded an old 26er using a sprocket, spacers and tensioner. It's my first SS and I'm strangely enjoying it. I started with 32:18 to see how I got on but reckon that 32:16 will be fine for my usage. I don't think I'll ever use it for all-day epics but for 2-3 hour local rides it's just fine.
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I've now fitted wider/flatter bars and some bar ends. That seems to give me a better and more adjustable riding position.
A 2 metre shitty stick to fight the ladies/guys off with .
Thanks anyway @RichPenny, much appreciated
what is it you need mate, i might have a few spacers or the odd cog lying around? i may also have an old 26" ss wheel knocking about too that you could have (pick-up only obv. lincoln if youre anywhere near)
Don’t forget the hip flask...
Slight hijack: anyone know a good source for hub spacer stacks, as a pile of 2~5mm spacers rather than just two big ones?
I bought a load of Superstar ones a while back at £10 a set but they don't seem to have them any more. All I can find is Velosolo, which will do, but they're the thick end of £20 posted. (NB I don't want silver… black or gold.)
Was thinking about this, for someone starting from nothing (ok, maybe a borrowed 29er boost wheelset with a second freehub), how cheap do we reckon you could build a singlespeed mtb?
29er, boost, with 'proper' sliding dropouts (that's the kicker, finding a frame) and a rigid bolt thru axle fork? Is £500 doable? I suppose if you ditched the siding dropouts requirement? Start with a used Planet X frame of some description?
I want to build a SS MTB, but my 'nice' build is coming out at £3,500... 😮
I'd advise not using a spring tensioner.
They are all ****.
Have had a singlulafor , a doofer and the gusset version.
Keep swinging back to the dmr/on one fixed tensioner it just works better
Velo solo do fine adjustment spacer set ups rather than the standard cheap 2 spacer deals.
If you have an alloy freehuh get a groove. Armada or equivalent wide base cog or you'll chew it up with a thin steel one.
The Rohloff sprung tensioner is brilliant but pretty expensive.
What do you need for SS?
The inability to hear the squeaks coming from your knees.
what is it you need mate, i might have a few spacers or the odd cog lying around? i may also have an old 26″ ss wheel knocking about too that you could have (pick-up only obv. lincoln if youre anywhere near)
Thanks @sadexpunk! I'm a fair stretch from Lincoln sadly.
Currently I have a frame, wheels, fork, and some finishing bits in the parts bin. Nothing singlespeed specific - partially why I started this thread, I wanted to check my understanding of what I actually need before I committed to buying stuff!