single speed chain lenght

So I'm looking at a older cannondale Cad frame to make a SS out of.

It doesn't have a ecc BB or horizontal dropouts but really big fat, flat area above the dropouts. why can't I grind the dropouts on a 45' angle and use that extra area for creating chain tension, Also I think i would need to grind then about 1.5 cm at that angle to make enought room to allow for a link to be added or removed. 1.5cm at the 45' angle would make a bit over 1cm horizontal distance, and that is enought to add or remove a link to makeit work right????

kind a look like this one

What about the Singleator ? Never used it, but it looks easier that grinding you frame.

http://www.surlybikes.com/parts/popu...Singleator.jpg

I agree with Greydon. I wouldn't mess with the frame when a Singulator will do the job. You can also take a hacksaw to your old rear derailleur and cut off the cage, leaving one sprocket for the chain, a la a Singulator.

I've been riding the singleator for the last 3 weeks...no complaints. The best part is that you'll be able to change gear ratios whenever you choose, you won't be stuck to that 2:1 rule to get things to fit.

I just like the cleaner looks and no noise of getting the right chain lenght. (and the bike geek in me wants to MAKE it work)


2:1 rule??? like a 34 front and 17rear?

There's no 2:1 rule that I'm aware of. I started with a 32:16, but now I'm just a 32:18 pu$$y. With happier knees, I might add.

I've never ridden a singulator, but a buddy used the hacksaw method mentioned above. I don't remember him making any chain slap noise.

I don't see any reason why grinding the dropouts won't work. You'll be creating a semi-horizontal dropout to adjust chainstay length. 1cm of adjustment is probably enough if you find a gear combination that is "close" to fitting your chainstay length. If you grind I would grind at an angle like this \ to keep your rim brake close to lined up when you move the wheel. Grinding probably would not be my first choice though.

-You could find a gear combination (chainring/cog) that fits your chainstay length. Try this link to get a little program that will give you gear combinations to fit an entered chainstay length - http://www.teambigtime.com/software/ssConvert.htm

-You could buy a wheel with a White Brothers ENO hub. This hub has an eccentric axle that allows for length adjustment.

-You could do what I did on my first SS convert (after I ditched the singulator because it didn't look clean, chainslap and dropped chains). Re-build your rear wheel with a Surly SS hub - new spokes and nipples. This hub has a threaded solid axle that I ground flat on one surface (the axle end now looks like a D instead of a O). I can adjust by changing the direction the flat faces - front or rear - and also by how far back I pull the wheel before tightening (since there is now a bit of space in a normal dropout).

Also -
Good chainline is important (distance from center of hub to cog = center of seat tube to chainring).

One link from a bicycle chain is 1" - so I guess that means 1/2" movement at the rear wheel?

Good info here, see conversions - http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml

I ride 32:17 in the SF Bay Area. I'm going to try 32:18 or 19 up in Tahoe and the Sierras this summer. You'll adapt to whatever gear you pick pretty quickly if you get out and ride. Have fun.
Tim

thnaks for that Lou/Tim great info

I have a ENO on my current SS that works great.
This would be a buy, build, flip project. I have a 28 bontager wheel set that is new, some older cranks, extra lefty fork etc, just need a frame

My friend ended up grinding the dropouts on an old frame like that once. It worked great, until the frame broke, at the head tube. This wasn't because of grinding the dropouts though. He only needed to grind it a bit because he knew what gear ratio he wanted and the chainstay length ended up meshing almost perfectly with the amount of links in the chain. Which you may be albe to figue out using the calculator that Lou gave the link to, or you could always just try it and maybe you'll get lucky. Good luck.

Ask your LBS if they can get you a Pyramid Speed Guide. If they use J & B Importers as a vendor, they can get this part. It does the same thing as the Surly Singulator, at less than half the price.

Status? How did you and the grinder make out? Currently I’m trying to fit a square peg in a round hole or, more accurately, trying to fit a 27" fixed gear wheel on a bike set up for a 700c tire and vertical drop outs. Currently I have 2mm of space between the tire and the seat post.

a friend of mine runs a singlespeeder site. her recomends one of these:

http://www.offcamber.com/discos.html

GC: still frame hunting (and no time)