bruce bailey

iHAVE MADE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TENSIONING DEVICES TO FIT MOST OLD SCHOOL

FRAMES LET ME KNOW WHAT TYPE OF FRAME AND I WILL SEND YOU INFO





 From: David Auker <Dav-@Hevanet.Com>

Reply-To: Dav-@Hevanet.Com

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion

Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 18:10:46 -0700



Brad, et al:



The fixed gear drivetrain has a force "from behind," in the backing off,

which varies from gentle modulation of speed to violent skidding. Coasters

(includes single speed) only receive the force of forward pedaling. My

guess is that a good skid would destroy the Melvin.

http://www.cambriabike.com/chain&guide/pauls_melvin_chain_tensioner.htm

Notice it says, "single speed." "Fixed" and "single speed" are about as

different as "road" and "track" bikes.



I personally have never tried a chain tensioner, but have heard they don't

work for fixed.



Harris Cyclery

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/singlespeed.html#tensioners

says:



"Chain Tensioners...

Note! Chain tensioners cannot be used with fixed-gear or coaster brake

systems!"



-David

42x18 fixed @

45.60 N. 122.60 W.



----- Original Message -----

From: "Brad Cockman, DC" <bra-@cognisurf.com>

To: <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 5:32 PM

Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





 The Paul "Melvin" chain tensioner works great. I've heard some

complaints about the Singulator.



Brian Ecker wrote:

 this my be old news to you, but

here is a good online article

about this topic.



cheers,be



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







-----Original Message-----

From: Jason Smith [mailto:twosm-@msn.com]

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:37 AM

To: ob-@topica.com

Cc: tea-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information

to

  me about how to do it?



2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?



3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear

mountain

  bike wheel?



Thanks for any help you can give me,

Jester

To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to ob-@teleport.com

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

David Auker

Brad, et al:



The fixed gear drivetrain has a force "from behind," in the backing off,

which varies from gentle modulation of speed to violent skidding. Coasters

(includes single speed) only receive the force of forward pedaling. My

guess is that a good skid would destroy the Melvin.

http://www.cambriabike.com/chain&guide/pauls_melvin_chain_tensioner.htm

Notice it says, "single speed." "Fixed" and "single speed" are about as

different as "road" and "track" bikes.



I personally have never tried a chain tensioner, but have heard they don't

work for fixed.



Harris Cyclery

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/singlespeed.html#tensioners

says:



"Chain Tensioners...

Note! Chain tensioners cannot be used with fixed-gear or coaster brake

systems!"



-David

42x18 fixed @

45.60 N. 122.60 W.



----- Original Message -----

From: "Brad Cockman, DC" <bra-@cognisurf.com>

To: <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 5:32 PM

Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





 The Paul "Melvin" chain tensioner works great. I've heard some

complaints about the Singulator.



Brian Ecker wrote:

 this my be old news to you, but

here is a good online article

about this topic.



cheers,be



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







-----Original Message-----

From: Jason Smith [mailto:twosm-@msn.com]

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:37 AM

To: ob-@topica.com

Cc: tea-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?



2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?



3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?



Thanks for any help you can give me,

Jester

Brad Cockman, DC

The Paul "Melvin" chain tensioner works great. I've heard some

complaints about the Singulator.



Brian Ecker wrote:

 this my be old news to you, but

here is a good online article

about this topic.



cheers,be



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







-----Original Message-----

From: Jason Smith [mailto:twosm-@msn.com]

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:37 AM

To: ob-@topica.com

Cc: tea-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?



2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?



3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?



Thanks for any help you can give me,

Jester



To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to ob-@teleport.com

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

mike.m-@obra.org

Erik Voldengen wrote:

"I think Surley makes a thing kinda like a deraileur for

fixed gear bikes, called the Singulator or something like

that. I think that would help you very much."



Chain tensioning devices like the Surley Singleator will only work on a

freewheel bike. These are designed for single speed use. Roughly they are

the same as a derailleur that is stuck in one cog position. If used on a

fixed gear when back pedaling you would wrap them around the hub.



It is possible to use a bike with vertical drop outs for fixed gear but gear

selections are limited and it requires a lot more fudging. Information on

this and everything else you might want to know about fixed gear conversions

can be found at:



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



Mike Murray

Jason Smith

Thanks for the reply, Erik. I believe the Singulator is for

single-speed bikes, and not for fixed gears. The problem comes when you

try to use back pressure on the pedals to slow down. The tension

switches from your top chain to your bottom chain. When that happens,

the Singulator will compensate and effectively negate your slowing

power. With single-speeds on a freewheel, that's not a problem. With a

fixed gear it is.



Thanks for pointing me to Surly, though. They did have a product called

the Fixxer that looks to be a "freewheel-to-fixed gear" or single-speed

converter. I am e-mailing Surly and Sheldon Brown to find out about it,

and will post the results here for people who may be looking for an easy

fixed gear conversion.



Jester



Erik Voldengen wrote:

  I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?

I'm a bit rusty in the track gear arena but I *think* the following

is true...



 2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?

I think Surley makes a thing kinda like a deraileur for

fixed gear bikes, called the Singulator or something like

that. I think that would help you very much.



 3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?

I think you could just get an extended axle for a track hub.

I think the wheel would still be plenty strong since there's

no dish on a track rear wheel.



Good luck,

Erik

Brian Ecker

this my be old news to you, but

here is a good online article

about this topic.



cheers,be



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







-----Original Message-----

From: Jason Smith [mailto:twosm-@msn.com]

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 11:37 AM

To: ob-@topica.com

Cc: tea-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Mountain Bike Fixed Gear Conversion





I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?



2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?



3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?



Thanks for any help you can give me,

Jester



To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to ob-@teleport.com

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

Erik Voldengen

 I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?

I'm a bit rusty in the track gear arena but I *think* the following

is true...



 2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?

I think Surley makes a thing kinda like a deraileur for

fixed gear bikes, called the Singulator or something like

that. I think that would help you very much.



 3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?

I think you could just get an extended axle for a track hub.

I think the wheel would still be plenty strong since there's

no dish on a track rear wheel.



Good luck,

Erik

Jason Smith

I have this great (crazy?) idea to convert my mountain bike to a fixed

gear. I have a few questions.



1) Has anyone out there done this and can you impart any information to

me about how to do it?



2) I have vertical rear dropouts that won't allow me to adjust my axle

forward or backward to adjust chain tension. Any ideas on what to do

about that?



3) Is there a local shop that can build a flip/flop fixed gear mountain

bike wheel?



Thanks for any help you can give me,

Jester