Single Speed Conversion

A lot of bike videos immediately jump into wrenching. This is more of an overview of what to expect if you're thinking about turning a road bike or a mountain bike into a single speed (freewheel only, no mention of fixed bikes). It looks at common problems you'll be encountering, and some parts that you'll likely need to be buying.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• single
• speed
• conversion
• bike
• bicycle
• road
• mountain

[mikeawsome12]

Can you just leave the cogs and crankset and just add the tensioner? Will that work?. Can I just shorten the chain?

[tucorides]

@mikeawsome12 Well, to do what you're referring to can be done, but it's messy, you lose the chance to shed some weight off your bike, and you have to do it perfectly and hope that you never hit a bump and have the chain jump to another cog where it will probably end up getting tangled and maybe even crashing you off your bike. If you're choosing between adding the tensioner vs. shortening the chain, go with the tensioner. It's easier and safer.

[brydon10]

I am also in Canada, what is a good website for bike stuff for canadians? thanks

[tucorides]

@brydon10 Well, for parts etc, you're probably looking at the mountain equipment coop website (I don't think there's an equivalent to nashbar here in Canada).

for used bikes and random spare parts, try the Canadian Cyclist website (and look in the classifieds section).

[tucorides]

@makingmenudo

You have to take the whole cassette off, then separate out the one cog you want to use, and put it back on using spacers to make up the space that the rest of the cassette used to be occupying.

Check the park tool website for better info on this. They have a cassette removal page, that youtube doesn't seem to be allowing me to post the link to right here.

[tucorides]

@MrBlackFela - aren't they already singlespeeds?

[BleedingSunday]

50 bucks for a new crankset..

Or you just grind them off!

[BikeCoasties]

Definitely like your explanation of the differences between mountain and road and how to tension the chain!

You inspired us to put together a 12-part series with a little more detail on how to convert a 10 speed to a single speed!

[Alex2960]

Sorry I'm a noob at this but what do you think I would have to do for a Shwinn Varsity 1960s-1970s bike?

[averyhdavis]

why do some need tensions , and on some there is not one, just chain and gears ?

[tucorides]

@lentine1502 I think the Flite 100 is a track bike, which means it's a fixed gear single speed (and a really cool looking bike actually). I doubt it has a freewheel (some back wheels you can flip from one side to the other... and are fixed on one side and freewheel on the other).

If you want to be able to coast on the bike (i.e. if you don't like the fixed gear style) you'd probably need to take the back wheel to your local shop and ask for their advice.

[arjont]

@thenonamekid08 right... a fixie from walmart, thats a REAL upgrade..

[arjont]

@lentine1502 fixie usually refers to a single speed without the ability to coast so you constantly have to pedal (like the first prehistoric bikes lol) single speed refers to a single speed cog, such bmx bikes have or a single speed conversion for a freewheel instead of a cassette, or a coaster brake bike... if you can coast on your bike but it has only one cog, then u have a single speed not a fixie.