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Step 1
Remove your derailleurs, derailleur cables, shifters, etc. Hey, your bike just lost about two pounds!
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Step 2
Convert your cranks. Remove two chainrings. Bolt the middle chainring back on with single or 'shorty' chainring bolts.
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Step 3
Convert your freehub. Remove your cassette and replace it with spacers and a single cog.
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Step 4
Consider building a wheel with a single speed hub. It'll look better.
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Step 5
Get a chain tensioner if you have vertical dropouts. Several companies make them for single speeds. Or just convert your old rear derailluer.
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Step 6
Understand that a 'pure' single speed frame has vertical dropouts. This means you won't need a chain tensioner, so the bike will have a nice, clean look. However, you will need a solid axle and locknuts to hold your wheel in place.
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Step 7
Shorten your chain to the appropriate length.
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Step 8
Adjust the chain tension. You want a bit of slack in your chain, but not too much.
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Step 9
Check your chainline. Your front chainring must line up with the cog in back or your chain will fall of from time to time.
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Step 10
Go ride.









Comments
Anonymous said
on 3/14/2006 You can also add a down hiller's bash guard in place of your biggest cog so you can use the original chain ring bolts.
Anonymous said
on 12/12/2005 Vertical, the standard for geared bikes, usually requires a chain tension device. Horizontal (track) style allows you to move the wheel forward and back along the horizontal plane, allowing for tension adjustments.