Help me turn my ghetto roadie into a singlespeed

[RootSkier]

I have a totally ghetto Centurion-branded 10-speed style bike I have been commuting on. The whole drivetrain is worn out and has serious issues and today, while it was locked on campus, some assface ran into the rear wheel and bent it badly.

So I guess it's time to turn this thing into a singlespeed. I know next to nothing about wrenching on bikes so here is another in the long line of Rootskier started JONGathons in Sprocket Rockets.

I need a new rear wheel and whatever else is required to set this thing up as a singlespeed. The front chainring is deformed so I guess I need a new one of those, too. I am a broke ass student so cheap is king. The bike currently has Shimano 600 components if that matters or helps ID what sort of parts I need. I have no idea what sort of gearing I want but my commute is 100% flat and cheap is king.

Did I mention that I am concerned about a cheap solution?

What should I buy or what do you have to sell me?

Did I mention that it needs to be cheap?

Thanks for help/advice/cheap parts.

[mntlion]

are BOTH front rings bent?

buy a new rear wheel, put on rim strip, tube, tire.

does it have dropouts that are vertical (bad), or horizontal (good for SS)

[RootSkier]

There is something very weird about the front rings. I can't quite figure it out but I think they are slightly bent. The chain does not move even close to smoothly. At the very least, they are 20+ years old and extremely worn down.

Horizontal dropouts.

[mntlion]

odds are new cranks/rings/ and BB will be cheapest, or at least less hassle.

new chain

new 700c wheel and tire (odds are your old one is NOT this size)

new single ring on the back (either spaced out single cassette, or a single speed thread on cassette)

[fatkid]

biopace rings?
do your chainrings look like this?

If they do, you have biopace rings, which can be ok, or terrible depending on which crotchety old bike mechanic you listen to. Sheldon Brown thinks theyre suitable for fixies, and others dont.

Since you have horizontal dropouts, this should be easy, you just need to find a flip flop or track hub/ wheel to slap in that there frame, an appropriately sized cog to spin onto it, a lockring, a new chain and maybe a new crankset depending on what you decide in regards to biopace (if thats the case)

should be able to find a flip flop wheel for about 70 bucks, a cog for 15, lockring for 15, chain for 12 and there you go.
good luck!

[RootSkier]

Yes, Biopace.

Dang...this is going to triple the cost of this P.O.S. bike.

[dumpy]

Yes, Biopace.

Dang...this is going to triple the cost of this P.O.S. bike.

Nah, just means some new chainrings and maybe a new crank/BB. I'm not sure what the bolt patterns for biopace stuff is. FWIW, I bought my crank,a used Specialized S-works Shimano compatible, on ebay for like $18 (sans chain rings). You won't want multispeed chainrings on this bike, so don't spend money on them, just buy the crank arms (unless you get a better deal buying the whole thing).

Buy the best chainrings you can afford for a SS project. You don't spread wear out across gears like you do on a multispeed bike.

Something like this:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/sub/1...omponents.aspx

Then get a cog, again buy the best you can afford and make sure its for the same type of chain as your chain ring.

Maybe check out Home Brewed Components, their stuff looks pretty solid and the owner posts over at empty beer. I would suggest them for chain rings too, but IMHO they don't offer anything with a high enough tooth count for what you are doing.

As far as what gearing to go with, is there a speed you find yourself riding in the most? Something that you know would be comfortable for your whole ride? If so, count the teeth and there ya go.

[moose pit]

Don't worry lots of people reinvent them selves at university, I'm sure you will make a great aging hipster

[RootSkier]

Don't worry, not building a fixie NOR am I getting a neck tattoo.

[DAFTC]

If it's any consolation, a centurion w/600 (pre-Ultegra) might not actually be a POS...though it does have biopace...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurio...html#appendixI

[toast2266]

Go to freecycles (in Missoula)

They have shitloads of parts that can generally be had for a $5-10 donation. They can also help you fix your shit up; they generally have a couple of volunteer mechanics floating around.

[RootSkier]

If it's any consolation, a centurion w/600 (pre-Ultegra) might not actually be a POS...though it does have biopace...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurio...html#appendixI

Sweet!

"The Ironman Dave Scott model name replaced Comp TA in 1985 and with the name change came indexed shifting with an upgraded Shimano "New" 600EX group.

These models were marketed as "triathlon specific" designs, but their geometry is not at all like newer triathlon bikes. These bikes are more like general high-performance "road" bikes. They were reputed to offer a ride that put less strain on the rider's arms, on the assumption that the rider would have tired arms after the two mile swim... -- Sheldon Brown"




Toast...I thought of that, too. I might drop by tomorrow afternoon and give that a shot.

[Skid Lux]

I second toast, go to free cycles and those guys should be able to fix your shit. Maybe they can loan you some skinny jeans and a bon iver album too, so you can cry about life as you ride around.

Sweet!

"The Ironman Dave Scott model name replaced Comp TA in 1985 and with the name change came indexed shifting with an upgraded Shimano "New" 600EX group.

These models were marketed as "triathlon specific" designs, but their geometry is not at all like newer triathlon bikes. These bikes are more like general high-performance "road" bikes. They were reputed to offer a ride that put less strain on the rider's arms, on the assumption that the rider would have tired arms after the two mile swim... -- Sheldon Brown"




Toast...I thought of that, too. I might drop by tomorrow afternoon and give that a shot.

[RootSkier]

Maybe they can loan you some skinny jeans and a bon iver album too, so you can cry about life as you ride around.

I am just starting production of a water bottle type holder that fits a growler!

Only works on fixies, though.

[brutah]

resurrecting this from the dead because now I need some help............

the rear derailer on my commuter (old mountain bike) gave out the other day, like full on, pieces came off, its toast. I also need a new wheel as one of the spokes has been broken for awhile.

What i'd like to do is make the back wheel a single speed while keeping the three rings up front for now..... is this a good idea or am I just going to wear down the front derailer really fast? so the question is what do i need to do??? can I use a ring from my old back cog? Do i need to get a new hub for my bike? can I just buy a rear wheel that's already set up for single speed?

I'm a total bike JONG, last year I bought two new wheels for my bike and had to return the rear wheel because it wasn't compatible with my rear cog. then I just put off getting a new one until now.

i'D JUST LIKE TO GET BACK TO BIKING TO WORK ASAP. and the bars..........

[grabtindy]

3 chainrings is pushing it, but if you set it us as a single rear with a spring loaded tensioner you could run it as a dingle.

[toast2266]

resurrecting this from the dead because now I need some help............

the rear derailer on my commuter (old mountain bike) gave out the other day, like full on, pieces came off, its toast. I also need a new wheel as one of the spokes has been broken for awhile.

What i'd like to do is make the back wheel a single speed while keeping the three rings up front for now..... is this a good idea or am I just going to wear down the front derailer really fast? so the question is what do i need to do??? can I use a ring from my old back cog? Do i need to get a new hub for my bike? can I just buy a rear wheel that's already set up for single speed?

I'm a total bike JONG, last year I bought two new wheels for my bike and had to return the rear wheel because it wasn't compatible with my rear cog. then I just put off getting a new one until now.

i'D JUST LIKE TO GET BACK TO BIKING TO WORK ASAP. and the bars..........

1 broken spoke shouldn't require a whole new wheel unless there are other problems

What you'll need to single speed the rear hub depends on what kind of hub it is. If it's old / cheap, you might need to replace it. If it's a cassette hub, you can just space it out for a single speed cog. Using one of the cogs from the cassette usually doesn't work very well; the chain tends to jump off. A dedicated SS cog is pretty cheap and works way better.

Trying to do SS in the back with three rings in the front is kinda goofy. It'd work if you dialed it in, but you're still going to need a rear derailleur or some other chain tensioner to make it work, and since your RD exploded, it might not be worth it. But you're probably going to need some sort of tensioner regardless, assuming your frame has vertical drop outs.

Short story: 1) fix the broken spoke (a shop can do that for relatively cheap, especially if you bring them the wheel already off the bike with the tire removed). 2) buy a cheap new rear derailleur and have a shop install it. That'll probably be the cheapest and easiest way to get your bike rolling again.

[jm2e]

Dingle = Two chainrings?
Is that more or less hipster? Inquiring minds want to know.

[brutah]

could i just throw a single speed on in the back and remove both derailleurs??? making it a true single speed???

the bike might be old but all of the components were nice at one point (complete shimano XTR), both of the derailleurs have been replaced but the rest of the components are XTR still, they might be XTR components from the early 90s, but still they were once top o' the line. (it was a hand me down from my old man)

its just not going to be very cool to bike to the bars in my tight jeans with shifters i kid i kid, i'm way too fat to wear tight jeans.

[Art Shirk]

May catch shit for it, but I love converting these old bikes. Brought an old geared Peugeot home that my old man's buddy gave me and turned it into this today: