You are hereForums / General Discussion / NoBMoB Chat / Single Speed mechanics

Single Speed mechanics


Paul's picture

By Paul - Posted on 07 February 2008

With all the rain, mud and drive train destroying sand, I'm contemplating getting a no nonsense single speed and keeping the Yeti for favourable conditions. -

The negatives of a single speed include climbing and limited top speed, while pondering these the idea came to me to make a 3 speed bike by having the single rear cog, fitting a chain tensioner, front derailleur and 3 chain rings?

Does anybody know if this is possible?

Damien's picture

It is possible best chain tensioner for that would be a paul but a single speed isnt that hard to ride I plan to bring mine on the next Wednesday night ride if you want to check one out.

Bernd's picture

Rohloff Speedhub @ $ 1500 + would sort a lot of things!!!!
or
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...
much cheaper...
Bernd

Paul's picture

Bernd,

$1500 - I reckon I can do the whole bike for $600 (secondhand pieces) and buy it in bits so the Minister of Finance doesn't catch on.

Bernd's picture

..why I sent you the link from www.Chain..
$ 60 and you can convert your ex. wheel!!
Bernd

Rob's picture

No offense, but 3 rings and a single on the back sounds like a silly, silly, silly idea!

Just go the whole hog and get a rigid steel frame/fork combo.

On the plus side... if you ride SS sometimes surely things will feel so much easier back on the Yeti?

Buck's picture

You must have gone mad with all this rain Paul!

But looking at that tensioner that Bernd linked to....I dont think you can shift the front derailer as the tensioner is not spring loaded to take up the slack.

GAZZA's picture

do a three speed hub and have done for years at a reasonable cost. They use them a lot in the uk on recreational bikes. I dont know how they'd fair up to mountain biking but look at the recent post about the guy passing away and check out the links as it mentioned them being used a lot by him.

Rob's picture

Actually... what am I thinking, go a fad SS 29er. Oh, lookie here, there's even one with a Lefty:

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8F...

Stuart M's picture

more over priced cannonfodder

Damien's picture

A paul melvin chain tensioner will let you shift http://www.paulcomp.com/

Rob's picture

There's one FS on Farkin:

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=115501

Sadly it's only an 'M'. Some shorter dude talk the guy down, eh?

Paul's picture

The chain tensioner is the way to go - a middle and granny and a largish rear cog sounds very doable.

Thanks guys

Little-Ditty's picture

I reckon you could get away with a granny and a middle. Plus, at the end of this sojourn, you will have legs like a track cyclist.

alchemist's picture

You can also use an old busted derailleur for a tensioner. Lack of top speed and hill climbing ability is much less of a problem than you think.

alchemist's picture

With a rrp of $699! Cheap enough to get it painted a decent colour at Star Enamelers, Bankstown.

Bernd's picture

..well done Boss (Paul), I come up with $ 603.00 for new parts and a few existing parts and my "Project" will be fixed aswell. NOT single speed!!!
And hopefully the Minister of Finance doesn't even feel it!!
Bernd

bikemad's picture

wow,khs are ahead ogf the times,theyve hardly even changed the price in 30 years!!Smiling this is not to far off how they looked but with much chunkier tubing and a 5 speed on the back i think.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Best Mountain Bike