Convert old mtb to single speed

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Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Dan_K » Sun May 06, 2012 3:18 pm

I've got an old Giant xtc 3.5 that i want to convert to single speed as cheaply as possible. Anyone got any experience of this and can lend me a hand?
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby spike » Sun May 06, 2012 7:02 pm

Pretty much as Marco said. You can also look online for SS bits try Velo Solo, Charlie the Bike Monger or Superstar Componets. I prefer the packs of lots of little spacers rather than the two big ones so you can space your chain line more accurately.
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Dan_K » Mon May 07, 2012 5:21 pm

Cheers guys, rode around in one gear yesterday just to get the feel of riding singlespeed and kinda liked it.
Can't wait to take all the bits off and strip the bike down.
Am thinking that it will be more robust for doing the 3 day Welsh Ride Thing in June. Even though the bike will be loaded and it's very hilly there, i think it'll be more robust than using a geared bike or am i a bit mad? :lol:
Guess i'll just end up pushing up a few climbs...
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Dombo » Wed May 09, 2012 10:56 am

Marco, do you have a freehub on your SS or is it fixed? I'm torn between cleaning up my completely original 1997 Trek 930 and keeping it that way, or converting to SS. And forgive my ignorance but what's a singulator?
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Dombo » Wed May 09, 2012 10:57 am

Marco, do you have a freehub on your SS or is it fixed? I'm torn between cleaning up my completely original 1997 Trek 930 and keeping it that way, or converting to SS. And forgive my ignorance but what's a singulator?
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Phil H » Wed May 09, 2012 11:17 am

[quote="Dan_K"]Cheers guys, rode around in one gear yesterday just to get the feel of riding singlespeed and kinda liked it.
Can't wait to take all the bits off and strip the bike down.
Am thinking that it will be more robust for doing the 3 day Welsh Ride Thing in June. Even though the bike will be loaded and it's very hilly there, i think it'll be more robust than using a geared bike or am i a bit mad? :lol:
Guess i'll just end up pushing up a few climbs...

I don't thing you're going far enough. Go fixed.
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby Grahame » Wed May 09, 2012 12:30 pm

[quote="Dombo"]Marco, do you have a freehub on your SS or is it fixed? I'm torn between cleaning up my completely original 1997 Trek 930 and keeping it that way, or converting to SS. And forgive my ignorance but what's a singulator?

I'll take the liberty of answering in Marco's place:

For offroad use, a freewheel is a sensible thing. I remember Sylv trying to ride fixed offroad once, and swearing "never again".

A singulator is a kind-of chpopped down rear derailleur designed to "take up the slack" in a chain used on a singlespeed bike with vertical dropouts that preclude moving the wheel back to remove the slack.
[img]http://crossgeared.com/stuff/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/m2singulator.jpg[/img]
A rear derailleur locked into position with either the travel adjust screws or a short length of cable will do the job without needing any financial outlay (I know times are tight for you banking chappies :wink: )
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Re: Convert old mtb to single speed

Postby kieran » Fri May 11, 2012 4:47 pm

easy to do, done it using the old derailleur to tension the chain, now the SS MTB is my winter work bike.
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