Single Speed Advice Please

[MATRS]

Have a Orange Clockwork that's been sitting in the garage for 10 years, looking to convert into a single speed for training etc, what kits do you guys recommend that work?

[rhinochopig]

I (and most of my mates) have this.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Unless you have horizontal drop-outs of course

[prand]

I've got the sprung tensioner from On-One, and spacer and cog set for the rear wheel (all for about £20).

It was a quick and relatively simple conversion for my old MTB as I stripped out all the old gear system, left a single big cog at the front put some slicks on and now use for commuting. You really do wonder why you need more than one gear with this setup, and has rejuvinated my faithful old Marin which I had almost consigned to the dump.

[prand]

PS - On-One Single speed stuff available here:

http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

[rhinochopig]

TBH, I ended up swapping back from the SS to a nine speed. Saves nearly as much weight and I've yet to miss the lower gears - you do spin out though on the road. Also I've never snapped a chain since either. I'd try that option first - its cheaper.

[JPJ]

Thumbs up for the DMS Tension Seeker as well, works really well and easily adjustable as your chain stretches. On One is okay but my tensioning spring gave up on a ride and I had to bodge it down with a piece of stick, so moved to the DMS one.

Singlespeeding is great fun, you really start to make the bike flow and conserve momentum where possible, because you don't have the gears to get you out of trouble. Each ride you do onit requires more effort than an equivalent geared bike, so you get more return for the effort. It also strengthens the legs and improves your ability to spin quickly. Downsides are that you have only three gears: sit, stand and push. You will get caught out by hills and bumps that haven't bothered you before and for the first couple of rides at least you will grab for imaginary shifters. It doesn't necessarily improve your hill climbing either - when you go back to a geared bike you tend to try and grunt it up the hils, rather than sitting there, dropping a few cogs and pedalling happily.

[vrooom]

that DMS tension seeker never worked, alway loose thier grip and let chain slacken. so i went out and bought horizonal slot frame. much easier and i am happy now.

[MATRS]

Had been looking at the Gusset kit, any thoughts?