A little bit of SS tech...

[singlespeeder]

Ok, I run vert dropouts and have been having a few chain tension probs of late, ever since I trashed my AC cranks actually....

Anyway, today I bought a 34 front ring (I norm run a 36), pulled the Singulator off and put the ring on.

Finally I can run a good gear combo MINUS the chain tensioner on a vert dropout.

This is good!

I will get some BB centre to rear axle centre measurments up soon and also the diametre of the two rings...

[singlespeeder]

Oh yeah, this is the only combo where I can do it....tried many others....

[hippy]

Be careful with running no tensioner because the chain will wear over time and get looser, possibly coming off.
Dropping your chain is a good way to ensure you never have kids ;)
The singlespeed techtalks forum on mtbr has heaps of different chain tensioning methods with and without tensioners, i.e. grinding dropouts, grinding axles, etc.
I just use a derailer as a tensioner after trying the no-tensioner method.

hippy

[singlespeeder]

I know man...I have a few chains in the shed so I dont care about going through them.

I would rather be light the run a derailer or tensioner....

[kalem]

there's a site that has a calculator for chainring/sprocket sizes for CS length's...

if only the e.thirteen Slacker hadn't been ditched...

[singlespeeder]

...and that site is...?

[hippy]

MTBR SS FAQ:
http://www.altelco.net/~emenaker/temp/MTBR.com/ssFaq.htm

SS FAQ - Gear Calcs: http://www.altelco.net/~emenaker/temp/MTBR.com/ssFaq.htm#ssGearingRatio

ssConvert Calc Software: http://www.teambigtime.com/software/ssConvert.htm

FixMeUp! Calc Software:
http://www.peak.org/~fixin/fmu1.0.html

hippy

[singlespeeder]

A thank u.

[luckyphil]

whats so bad about running a derailuer or tensioner? there not THAT heavy surely? if its noise your worrying about, just zip tie it to your frame and its a silent beast. i'd rather have a few extra grams than run the risk of dropping my chain, it hurts.

[singlespeeder]

Well, I rode for 5 hours around Lysterfield today and not a droped chain in site.

Loads of jumps off the log humps too....

Luckyphil, it is much nicer not to have a mech or Singulator. If your bike runs without one, then it is going to perform better than one with one.

My Singulator went through 2 springs in a couple of weeks and it never really gave much tension as the chain still slapped a lot, despite taking out as many links as I could.

[LTR]

My Singulator went through 2 springs in a couple of weeks and it never really gave much tension as the chain still slapped a lot, despite taking out as many links as I could.

are you a hardcore hucker??

those springs are beef i thought.... maybe it was a custom one i saw :wink:

[singlespeeder]

Well, I thrash it hard but that doesn't make any differance to its life. I just run a lot of tension in it and it cracks a nanna.

[neko]

I was lucky, I managed to get a frame with drops that were interchangable. I just cut up some new ones out of 6mm alu plate. They look svelt as.

As far as tensioners go, I think the surley one's are about the best. I've seen one DMR trashed and heard about a heap more ending up the same.

[Chilli]

while we're on the topic of SS tensioners and stuff id like to know if anyone has had a go on one of these Da Bomb ones with the dual springs

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=4513

they look pretty tough

[DEVLIN]

The tensioner I made up, mentioned in another thread, was unsprung so it had a fixed tension. The only thing you have to do is make sure the chainrings and sprocket are centred on the cranks and freewheel. I will admit to planning a dropout replacement in the next month or so just to achieve the full simplistic(sp?) idea of a SS. If your frame is Al. give grip a call to see how much a dropout replacement will cost.

[neko]

It probably wouldn't cost much more to have a frame modified. Tensioners are the most over-priced pieces of equipment.

[hippy]

Yeah, tensioners are only slightly simpler than derrailers but cost a similar amount, or even more!

I'd love an OnOne with track ends but they are just so damn common!

The best solution I reckon is the one Kona uses with the sliding dropouts, where the dropouts move fore and aft on the frame. Pity the frame that I wanted (Explosif) with these style dropouts isn't brought into Oz! :(

http://www.konaworld.com/kw_index.cfm

The '04 "Explosif":
http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/frames/2K4_Frame_Explosif_650.jpg

hippy

[Commander Dilsnikk]

I could be completely off the mark here... but that "explosif" looks incredible like (geo, etc.) the Unit (http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/2k4_unit.cfm) which is brought into Aus...

[singlespeeder]

It is wasy differant. The new Unit runs a vert dropout and eccentric rear hub.

The Explosif runs sliding vertical dropouts and is made out of Reynolds 853....much nicer.

[Commander Dilsnikk]

looking at those pics both bikes run sliding vertical dropouts...
can't argue with you about the material though

[Velophile]

The best solution I reckon is the one Kona uses with the sliding dropouts, where the dropouts move fore and aft on the frame. Pity the frame that I wanted (Explosif) with these style dropouts isn't brought into Oz! :(
hippy

Hippy
The guys a Baum (JB cycles) can do a custom with the same dropouts.

http://www.jbcycles.com.au/index.html

Mmmm.... Ristretto, more than just my choice of coffee.

*Sigh* so many bikes, so little budget.

[Daver]

i wish i had a spot with steel tubing

[singlespeeder]

Comander, my apologies....I have the catalogue in front of me and the Unit does indeed run a sliding rear dropout.

All Spots are steel...

[luckyphil]

i was thinkin about gettin a redline ss, its pretty cheap, so i thought it mind be ok to thrash around.

[LTR]

i was thinkin about gettin a redline ss, its pretty cheap, so i thought it mind be ok to thrash around.

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/2004bikes/images/MonoCogFlight.jpg

that?

[luckyphil]

what was that really chepa ss bike we saw at like www.bikes.com.au or something?

[LTR]

what was that really chepa ss bike we saw at like www.bikes.com.au or something?

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/2004bikes/images/MonoCog.jpg

that probably

[dunk]

They make an Aluminium as well as a steel version, you can buy the frame for about $150US

[hippy]

I've never seen a monocog in oz - are they available here?

Ordering one online would be expensive - shipping for heavy/bulky stuff like frames from the states is molto expensive.

Velophile: Do you know what Baum's frame pricing is like?

hippy

[luckyphil]

does anybody even know of a redline dealer in victoria?

[Velophile]

Velophile: Do you know what Baum's frame pricing is like?
hippy

Care to sell a kidney?

Maybe not a kidney but around ~$1500 - 2k I think, depending on tube choice. Hard to get any custom frame under that.

[Rik]

I've never seen a monocog in oz - are they available here?

Yup, any store that sells decent BMX bits should be able to get one.

I almost bought one the other day, I need a tough commuter bike, but I impulsed and bought a frame worth as much as that whole bike :oops:

[f.t.f]

does anybody even know of a redline dealer in victoria?

luckyphil, i saw a redline in brunswick st cycles - but that was a couple a months ago.. still if they can get one, they can get more. They also had some on-ones and the cannondale 1fg (expensive!).

[S.]

does anybody even know of a redline dealer in victoria?

Yup, BSC has a number of Monocogs in the shop.

[LTR]

does anybody even know of a redline dealer in victoria?

Yup, BSC has a number of Monocogs in the shop.

can you grab us a price steve?

[singlespeeder]

I can, they are about $750. James rides one..he is the mech there.

[DEVLIN]

Bit of a shallow grave dig but here is the latest tensioner I made up. The first one had fiction and derailment problems and flexed a little bit too much. I have yet to tidy this one up, but will run it first to make sure it works, Hopefuly this will be the last one I make before the dropout replacement.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_thumbnail.php?pic_id=4642 (http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=4642)

[singlespeeder]

Nice work!

I may possibly be the new owner of a Salsa SS frame in a while....