Questions tagged [single-speed]

A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. These bicycles are without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle.

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Is there a special 3/32" chain ring for single speed/fixed gear bikes?

Am I able to use what's called an "Outer" chain ring in a single speed application? Something like this https://www.modernbike.com/sugino-48t-110mm-standard-chainring Thank you.
carson's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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How to fit single speed tensioner onto bike?

I have recently replaced my old Gusset Bachelor SS tensioner for a new Gusset sprung tensioner with a jockey wheel (https://www.gussetcomponents.com/shop/chains-and-chain-devices/squire-ss-tensioner/)....
Sean2148's user avatar
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-1 votes
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Single speed chain wide - is this OK?

The chain is wider than cog, it's safe to ride, and doesn't fall over, it's staying properly, chain is 1/2 inch pitch x 1/8, and my cog is 1/2 pitch x 3/32. Is it okay that cog is thinner than the ...
Daniel Mindru's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can I use slider dropouts on my track dropouts?

My bike's dropout/fork-end basically look like this: and I wonder if I could use something like this to convert it into a vertical dropout with a hanger and disc caliper mount: I'll only be using ...
Gregory Leo's user avatar
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Is a 22 inch road bike appropriate for a 5'9" person? [closed]

I am admittedly a beginner and looking to purchase a used single speed bike just to casually use around the neighborhood. I came across this listing: https://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/d/...
Ben's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Axle is too short

I recently bought a second hand bike which was originally sold with a flip flop hub to fix up as a project. The person I bought it from gave me a rear wheel with a geared hub. However, when I put ...
Edward Han's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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Chain prototype

For my thesis, I'm making a measurement prototype ruler with a bicycle chain. Check the image At the moment there is a worn bicycle chain in the white paper from a bike with a derailleur. The purpose,...
Robin's user avatar
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2 votes
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What is causing the chain skip after chain replacement?

I have a road bike that was converted to single speed with a single sprocket on the read wheel and a single chainring. I had a 3/32 chain which worked perfectly fine. However after many kms and ...
Daniel's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
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Budget brands for gears in India [closed]

A total newbie here. I'm planning to upgrade a single speed to geared one road/tour bike. I haven't decided the gear system though. I guess I'll decide that upon availability of the parts. Well, I ...
Krish's user avatar
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2 votes
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Is it safe to bolt my single-speed chainring to the other side of the crank?

Background: I converted a 21-speed bicycle to single-speed by removing the derailleurs and installing a single-speed freewheel and crankset. The chainline is no longer straight, and I would like to ...
Tom's user avatar
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Changing my crank on a track bike and it wont turn

I bought a new crank for my bike, when fitted tight the crank is stiff to turn as I think it is rubbing against the bottom bracket housing. Any advice on what to do, have I bought the wrong crank?
Andy Stannard's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
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Easiest bicycle to assemble? Single speed?

I have an XC MTB, a road bike and a trainer, which I maintain. I also do maintenance for the kids and wife's bikes. Today I replaced a cassette in my road bike - something that required special tools ...
Lech Rzedzicki's user avatar
-5 votes
3 answers
9k views

Is a Single Speed bike faster than a Geared bike? [closed]

For a broad spectrum of riding my answer is Yes. Here's my logic. There are 5 major principals to consider in no particular order. Air resistance, drag, weight, rolling resistance (centrifugal or ...
James McClellan ZEXX3S's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
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Pinion gearbox + Gates belt drive - what are my options for 36-hole rear hubs?

I currently have a touring bike with 36 spokes front and back, in the front with a SON 28, in the back with a Shimano Deore XT hub. I plan to switch my frame and I'm currently considering switching to ...
awesomearmadillo's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

How different it is to ride with same gear ratio with 26" and 28"

Do you know how much of a difference it is to ride with specific gear ratio (example 48/16) with 28" wheels and 26" wheels?
Ari's user avatar
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Does a singlspeed conversion kit feel different than a freewheel?

I'm trying to get a steel singlespeed and I find it quite hard to find something in the market that is light and with brakes. Will one notice any difference if, for example, one gets a Cinelli ...
nck's user avatar
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3 votes
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Single Speed / Fixie - Chain tension / uneven tension

I recently changed my chain and noticed it has uneven tension (probably my chain ring being out of rounds). I followed Parktool's video and set the tightest spot to have about 0.25 inch movement up ...
J Doe's user avatar
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16 votes
4 answers
5k views

10 gears to singlespeed

My second hand Hercules bicycle came with 10 gears. Two gears in the front and five in the back. The gearshift does not work well and since I cycle in the same gear all the time anyway, I consider ...
Stücke's user avatar
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Chain tensioner (or tug) for single speed QR dirt jump bike?

Recently i have started to learn no foots on dirt jumps, but i have noticed my cranks can sometimes spin in the air leading to some dodgey situations. I believe having more tight chain would solve or ...
Ben Poulter's user avatar
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Is the second decimal important in the ring/cog ratio?

The ring of my single speed is starting to wear out now that I'm approaching the 10k km and I'm planning to do an upgrade. Most of the crank sets that I find interesting only come in 48–51 teeth. I'...
nck's user avatar
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2 votes
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Minimum space between square taper crank and bottom bracket

I upgraded to a new square taper crankset on a single-speed drivetrain and now the gap between my crank and the bottom bracket is bigger. That's because the cranks taper shape is different from the ...
Alessandro Cosentino's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Chain skipping on new single speed freewheeel

I just got a Colnago Master Arabesque single speed conversion from a friend who moved abroad. It's set up as a fixie on a flip flop Hub. I flipped the wheel and installed a new single speed 1/8 ...
Edd Gray's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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Modifying SKS Race Blade Long for solid axle hubs

I have a set of SKS Race Blade Long fenders. They have quick release attachments that fit around QR skewers. Unfortunately, I'd like to set these fenders up on my single speed commuter which has track ...
Zian's user avatar
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Rim brake on front and disk brake on rear

Good day guys. I would like to know... I've purchased a old fixed gear bike, and i converted it to a freewheel. I've managed to install a rim brake on front. I was going to install ine on the back ...
alan Salvador's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

How many spokes for a single speed road bike?

I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel. The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed ...
Alessandro Cosentino's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
4k views

Ideal distance between chainring and chain stay

I am building a single speed bicycle, and I have most of the drivetrain parts: Rear hub 18T rear cog (40-40.5mm ideal rear chainline -- wheel undished) 1/8" chain crankset with 40T chainring I used ...
Robert's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Should I get a smaller chainring or bigger cog?

I built a single speed bike about a year ago, and am starting to change out parts to make it more comfortable for me. The first thing I'm wanting to change is the gear inches, which I didn't give much ...
TheStrangeQuark's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
6k views

How much tolerance is acceptable on the chainline of a fixed gear conversion?

When converting a geared bike to fg/ss, at some point there will be adjustments to be made regarding chainline. Without getting into details about what could be made to make it better (bb axle width, ...
Emílio Dolgener Cantú's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
5k views

How to properly align the rear wheel to the bike (granny bike, single speed)

I have an old bike in which the rear axle is like you can see in the pictures below. It has pedal-brake. I've been struggling with the wheel alignment with respect to the bike. Each time I put it in, ...
myradio's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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How can I know the number of teeths I need to go uphill?

I have a singlespeed with a flipflop hub to change to fixed gear. In my freewheel sprocket I have 16 teeth and in the ring chain 46 teeth. For me this is almost always the perfect combination for ...
nck's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
74 views

Single Speed Newbie Build [closed]

So I just got Peugeot bike frame that I'd like to make into my regular commuter. I had a KHS triathalon single speed for a few years that a road day and night from city to city, putting miles on it. ...
BikeAgeddon's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Low gearing and knee health

Background I have been riding a single speed bikes over the last few (8) years in both flat (Perth, Australia) and hilly terrain (Brisbane, Australia). I love riding single speed. It has become part ...
tmaj's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
316 views

Converting 3×7 speed into a 2(chainrings)×1(sprockect)

I own Firefox Rapide 21s, which has Acera 7s(14-28t) groupset are rear and Tourney 3s(28-38-48t) groupset at front. In a recent accident, the rear derailleur took some impact and is bent now, it ...
Rajesh Kharat's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

What are the physical advantages of riding a single speed with higher chainrings?

Ever since my aero road bike was stolen, I have been riding a cheap single speed bike on average 6 miles a day. The crankset was cheap and I recently switched to Sram Ominium 48t vs what the bike had ...
nolawi's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
976 views

Niner Biocentric I eccentric bottom bracket adapter won't budge

Niner Biocentric is the asymmetric bottom bracket adapter for a single speed. Below is the II. I have the I. I could not find a picture of the I. It is stuck. I have tried penetrating oil for ...
paparazzo's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Seeking advice: single speed conversion, Fuji ultimate road bike (old!) - Which kit? Which chain? etc

First off - I'm a complete amateur when it comes to doing repairs on bikes. Anything exceeding changing tyres, tubes and perhaps adjusting the brakes is something I've never attempted before. However, ...
nikUoM's user avatar
  • 141
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Derailleur On A Single Speed

Earlier today, I saw this bike with an absolutely bizarre drive-train. It looks like a single speed, but it has a derailleur on attached to it. The derailleur does not move horizontally, but only ...
AVA's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Campagnolo single speed conversion - can I use a 10sp cog?

I have a set of Miche reflex wheels. I would like to use them for a single speed conversion project on a Peugeot frame. can I use a 10sp cog? what I mean is: can I use one of the normal cogs that are ...
Paolo Goatspeed's user avatar
8 votes
8 answers
22k views

Does having bigger wheels mean less effort pedaling?

Assuming that we are using a fixed-gear bicycle and width of the wheels are the same, I wondered, does having bigger wheels mean I need to less effort to get from point A to point B in an urban ...
Bensstats's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
348 views

Alternative to Cane Creek 200TT Brake Levers [closed]

I'm newbie. Looking for silver TT levers (not aero) for bullhorn on single speed (caliper brakes). I'd like all silver levers (without tblack parts). There's Cane Creek 200TT. But it has black ...
dimba's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
809 views

Brake levers for bullhorn on single speed - tt/cross or both?

I'm newbie. I need advice regarding brake levers for bullhorn on a single speed. I ride both flat and bullhorn ends. Do I need both TT levers and cross levers? What do you use? Bonus questions: ...
dimba's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
123 views

I'm a novice not sure where to get a bike education?

Like most kids I road everywhere through high school than my biking waned to the neighborhood rides with my kids when they came along. Currently I have a Schwinn Single Speed Cruiser that my dad ...
Peggy Brogdon Morgan's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
31k views

Turn single speed into multi speed!

I have just bought a cheap cycle for regular use (Kross Bolt 26"), but it comes in single speed. Can I put a 1×6/7 gear set in it?....the same model (28") comes with 21 speed gear set-up. How much ...
ApUrB oo7's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
458 views

Trouble with tension adjuster screws on 2012 Kona Unit

Here is the drive side screw on my 2012 Kona Unit: The problem is the screw is very difficult to move and adjust tension. It's so bad that I stripped the hex head used to adjust the tension, ...
frito_mosquito's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
170 views

Investing into a fixed bike [closed]

Well, two weeks ago I bought this fixed-gear bike and although it was my first time buying one of its kind, I considered it was cheap. Problem here is that when I tried to search for any clue of the ...
Arturo Aguilera's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
4k views

30 lb Geared Bicycle vs 20 lb Single Speed, Which Is Faster for Commuting? [closed]

This is not a literal question so I'm not looking at / for specific models, but more a theoretical one. Let's assume I could choose between two bikes for commuting, one with a modern 22 speed ...
Bon Jon Jovi's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
284 views

Rear wheel drop-out adjustment (1-speed)

I've got round to my Twenty/Shopper and besides replacing the tyre also went ahead and got a new KMC chain. Of course, the links were somewhat shorter, and so I couldn't cut it just right without ...
4004's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Getting the right Bottom Bracket

I’ve recently got my hands on an old steel frame which I’ve decided to turn into a bit of a build project. I’ll be honest though, whilst I’ve ridden for many years, beyond basic maintenance my ...
Darren L's user avatar
  • 219
1 vote
1 answer
415 views

Fixed/free hub for 12mm TA frame?

I'm building an SSCX bike around a Brodie Romax SS frame which uses a 135x12mm thru-axle at the rear. I was hoping to be able to use a flip-flop hub so that I can run it SS for 'cross and fixed for ...
NaOH's user avatar
  • 203
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Single Speed/Fixie Wheels with cup and cone bearings

I need to replace the wheels on my cheap single speed/fixie bike (similar to a mango or purefix bike). The current wheels are 700 diameter deep-v style rims with Quando hubs that use cup and cone ...
John's user avatar
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