Single speed without tentioner?

[Nettheim]

Hi,
I recently snapped my derallier and can't afford a new one for a couple of weeks. My bike has a 8speed casset and vertical dropouts. Will I be ok for a couple of weeks of riding just by taking out a couple of links and running SS effectively without a tensioner? or will i just destroy my chain?
thanks

[flognoffsky]

The problem you will probably have with the cassette still on that the chain will try and hop up into a higher gear and brake the chain or cassette. You really need a ss kit and a tensioner.

[Tristan23]

It won't destroy your chain, although i think you'll find it hard keeping it on the one gear. It seems to constantly jump off.

The chain will also slowly wear down, but moreso the cassette will start to wear badly due to the fact you'll be on the same cog the whole time. You'd be better off just getting a singlespeed kit, because after a few weeks of SS i think you'll be hooked;)

[Nettheim]

Will i need a new SS specific hub to run single speed?

[deaks]

Will i need a new SS specific hub to run single speed?

no. just a ss kit.

[flognoffsky]

No DMR make a kit the converts your cassetted hub in to a ss hub they also make a tensioner found here :http://www.dirtworks.com.au/newsite/images/stories/cataloguemtb/21DMR_LR.pdf

[dunk]

The answers you seek (http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml)

[DW-1]

and another option...

google for the word "magicgear".

You'll find a long list of sites that have calc programs to let you work out the perfect chainring and rear cog size to run no tensioner.

you enter chainstay length centre to centre in mm, then the desired gear inches you want to end up with...

and it gives you all the available options of c/ring and cog that will get you very close to your desired gear inch size.

BINGO... no tensioner required. (works great on verticle dropouts...)

Elvis.