Converting a road bike to fixed

[AodanH]

I'm toying with the idea of converting my road bike to fixed but don't know how much is involved. I'm hoping that I can just get a new back wheel, taking off the derailleur, taking a few links out of the chain and hey presto. That way I can easily convert back if I don't take to it.

The frame is steel, has a sloping dropout and is currently fitted with 7speed Shimano cassette. For the last few days I've been trying my commute staying in a 39*15 gear. Is this a reasonable gear to use?

Am I missing any potential problems with hub lengths, chain etc. ?

[Dom]

Check out http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

[JayneToyne]

getting a rear track wheel is fairly cheap. getting a double sided hub is a good advantage too. with say a 15 and 16 gear either side. ( i bought a pair of ambrosio/miche track wheels for £60 brand new)

Im not sure what Sylvain has to say on this one, hes the man to talk to I think.

A non derailling chain might help to stop your chain falling off, ie one without sideways flex, the kind we use on track.

although Im not sure how you would tension your chain without horizontal drop outs...

[Dom]

Cant see a problem Aodan apart from youll have to get the rear derailer lined up perfectly on the new sprocket and also you chainline may well be out so stick with a chain with sideways flex.

Then once your happy with it get rid of the deraileur and just use a bolt on chain tensioner and if you can get the chainline sorted get a proper chain like Jayne suggests.

Oh and get RID of the back brake!!

[BrendanM]

You describe the dropout as 'sloping'.
Is the slot more horizontal than vertical (i.e. can you adjust chain tension by moving the rear wheel axle back and forth on the slot?

I've seen a device that replaces the freehub on a Shimano hub and gives you a screw thread for a fixed sprocket.

[AodanH]

Thanks for the replies, since then I've investigated propoerly and should have almost 20mm of almost horizontal dropout to play with.

So next step is where do you buy these wheels ?

Just rang up GB and after a bit of humming and hawing they might have one in stock but not very optimistic. He was saying the thread for fixed gear and the thread for freewheel are different so I would need either two wheels or a two-sided hub to give me the option of switching from fixed to free.

[Jon H]

Condor Cycles should be able to sort you out because they're used to dealing with all the couriers who ride fixed or singlespeed.

[AodanH]

Just been talking to Condor and it looks like this is going to cost around £150 (£70 hub, £30 rim, £35 spokes+build, £25 fixed and free sprockets). I'll probably still go for it though unless anybody has some cheaper options. Interesting that the original spur for this experiment was that the STI shifter for the big ring had stopped working and I wanted to avoid spending £150 on a new set of shifters. Hmm ...