Tekforums
Chat => Sports, Hobbies & Motors => Topic started by: Badabing on April 26, 2006, 11:58:05 AM
-
...on my MTB.... :!:
New crankset, (Middleburn RS7 (?)), DMR converter and single sprocket.... Bye, bye XT/LX derailleurs and shifters, hello pure simplicity...
I cant be bothered maintaining the drivetrain anymore, its constantly getting hammered and full of mud - the chain skipped last week on a ride, due to the rear mech going tits up, as a result i slammed my tea and sugar on the crossbar.... not a happy bunny. :shock:
Anyway, gears are for gayers and people who like flower arranging...... or flower arranging gayers....
;)
-
"Isnt it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?" -- Henri Desgrange.
:D
I like gears on my city bike, nice for hauling 50# of groceries up the local hill, but for training, singlespeed is indeed zen. It also makes you a much stronger rider. I relized this once again a couple days ago. A small peloton of 3-4 guys on schmancy carbonic Bianciiocolnagos crept up behind me as I was snaking through some peds on the local wetland trail. "On your left!" As I left the thicket and could get up to speed, of course I yielded right...and waited for them to pass. I could hear their annoyingly loud waxed drivetrains, and for three miles, I rode my regular hard pace, on the far right, waiting for them to pass...by mile four, the drivetrain clatter faded and disappeared, by mile five it was just me and my 42X16 and virtual silence save for wind. Ahhhhh. :D
-
I wouldnt do a new crank unless theres some issue I"m ignernt of--put the middle ring on the outside, fasten with bmx bolts and dispense with the granny. Youll likely want your rear sprocket2-4 spacers in from the lockring to get optimum chainline.
-
"Isnt it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?" -- Henri Desgrange.
:D
I like gears on my city bike, nice for hauling 50# of groceries up the local hill, but for training, singlespeed is indeed zen. It also makes you a much stronger rider. I relized this once again a couple days ago. A small peloton of 3-4 guys on schmancy carbonic Bianciiocolnagos crept up behind me as I was snaking through some peds on the local wetland trail. "On your left!" As I left the thicket and could get up to speed, of course I yielded right...and waited for them to pass. I could hear their annoyingly loud waxed drivetrains, and for three miles, I rode my regular hard pace, on the far right, waiting for them to pass...by mile four, the drivetrain clatter faded and disappeared, by mile five it was just me and my 42X16 and virtual silence save for wind. Ahhhhh. :D
Its going to be cool to try as my frame, (Santa Cruz Chameleon) has the BMXy type dropouts - designed with singlespeed in mind...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html
For anyone who is interested in SS.
-
I wouldnt do a new crank unless theres some issue I"m ignernt of--put the middle ring on the outside, fasten with bmx bolts and dispense with the granny. Youll likely want your rear sprocket2-4 spacers in from the lockring to get optimum chainline.
Ive always wanted a nice middleburn crankset and as i was rejigging my bike i thought id go for one - its even designed for singlespeeders... why not? :)
-
maybe i am just not enough of a hardcore rider but what is the point of single speed?
why not just have gears and dont change them? that is what i do if i want to push myself, and then if i want to take it easy for abit i can.
-
maybe i am just not enough of a hardcore rider but what is the point of single speed?
why not just have gears and dont change them? that is what i do if i want to push myself, and then if i want to take it easy for abit i can.
1) Weight, if youre nor using them (as i dont), why carry the extra weight?
2) reliability, i dont change much, i usually stick in one gear and spin the cranks, if the drivetrain gets gunked up like it did last week, its a PITA...
3) Using a SS, as max says, teaches you how to ride properly and will make you seriously fit... which is what i want.
-
maybe i am just not enough of a hardcore rider but what is the point of single speed?
why not just have gears and dont change them? that is what i do if i want to push myself, and then if i want to take it easy for abit i can.
1) Weight, if youre nor using them (as i dont), why carry the extra weight?
2) reliability, i dont change much, i usually stick in one gear and spin the cranks, if the drivetrain gets gunked up like it did last week, its a PITA...
3) Using a SS, as max says, teaches you how to ride properly and will make you seriously fit... which is what i want.
but you can get a bit fitter by carrying that extra weight the gears provide :D
-
maybe i am just not enough of a hardcore rider but what is the point of single speed?
why not just have gears and dont change them? that is what i do if i want to push myself, and then if i want to take it easy for abit i can.
1) Weight, if youre nor using them (as i dont), why carry the extra weight?
2) reliability, i dont change much, i usually stick in one gear and spin the cranks, if the drivetrain gets gunked up like it did last week, its a PITA...
3) Using a SS, as max says, teaches you how to ride properly and will make you seriously fit... which is what i want.
but you can get a bit fitter by carrying that extra weight the gears provide :D
watch it, fatty... ;)
-
Single speed kicks your ass and says "NO EXUSES FOR YOU, MISTER!!". The bike or gear is no longer an excuse--it disappears and its all about you and your legs. Climb? You better attack that hill as you cant spin up. Downhill? Better practice a smooth cadence as youll be bouncing if not. Reliability, silence, simplicity, elegance...youll be amazed the amount of brain space is devoted to shifting when you quit.
Im not anti gears, just think that for training every day and riding for fun--they just are fiddly, expensive, and occupy brain space thats better reserved for going "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!".
-
Its going to be cool to try as my frame, (Santa Cruz Chameleon) has the BMXy type dropouts - designed with singlespeed in mind...
[mrburns] Excellent! [/mrburns]
-
Max is paying you to say all this isnt he? :P
-
Pigs do fly! Im using KDE/Linux atm, your unpronouncableness.
-
OK, convince me!
I noticed today that the deraillier on my peugeot rubs on the spokes when im in a low gear :D Seeing as the only time the bike comes out of its very highest is when I want to burn away at the lights, I reckon its a good candidate for getting rid of the blubbery bits. How much money? How much effort on an old french non-standard racer?
And given that I usually stick on the biggest front cog and smallest rear cog in flat old cambridge, what should I rid myself of?
-
I think I will stay with the gears... 8)
-
Me too, Singlespeed is a phase, youll grow out of it and realise the superiority of gears.
I went SS whilst I waited for BETD/Goldtech to make me some stronger hangers, SS takes all the skill out of riding. Planning ahead for what gear to be in, whether it will give you the best start or not.
(http://www.carnassiers.com/sommaire/perfectionnement/materiel/nouveau/lucky-craft/real-bait.jpg)
-
OK, convince me!
I noticed today that the deraillier on my peugeot rubs on the spokes when im in a low gear :D Seeing as the only time the bike comes out of its very highest is when I want to burn away at the lights, I reckon its a good candidate for getting rid of the blubbery bits. How much money? How much effort on an old french non-standard racer?
Most likely a threaded freewheel. Youll want to have a shop remove it, or get a tool and do it yourself. Replace it with a bmx freewheel. Notice that your chainline is nuts. Take bike to shop and have them redish the wheel and move the axel so the chainline is better. This will also have the consequence of making your wheel stronger as it removes dish.
If youre a bit crazy, thread on a track cog with locking compound. Tada! Youve got a fixed gear. Yes you can potentially unscrew the rear cog as theres no provision for a lock ring, but after a hard ride, itll be dang tight and difficult to move.
If its a cassette, remove, get some spacers, slap on a Shimano DX cog somewhere in the shuffle, tighten down wiht lock ring.
Get bmx chainring bolts, remove large ring, put small (42) on outside, attach with the new shorter bolts.
Put on your new chain. Whatever you want short of a 10 spd chain. Cheap bmx chains are fine, as are inexpensive derailleur chaings. Single speeds dont care much.
42x16 is virtually perfect for everybody for street riding, but do change as needed. I sometimes rock a 17T rear in winter.
So the short list
1. Make rear wheel into single speed wheel
2. Remove derailleurs and cables.
3. Convert crank into single speed.
4. String up new chain.
5. Adjust chain tension, not crucial on a single, but essential with fixies
Cost in dollars:
15 redish and move axle, labor.
15 bmx freewheel
10 new cheap chain
5 chainring bolts
bout fifty clams and you get a virtually maintenance free ride. :thumbup:
-
Lol, BMX chains are for fairys.
My old bmx had an o-ring MX chain :D
-
Me too, Singlespeed is a phase, youll grow out of it and realise the superiority of gears.
I went SS whilst I waited for BETD/Goldtech to make me some stronger hangers, SS takes all the skill out of riding. Planning ahead for what gear to be in, whether it will give you the best start or not.
Ive been single speeding on and off for a decade. Its not a phase, its a style of bike. I invite you to visit Chicago, NYC, Philly and look at what the veteran messengers use. Usually fixies, but almost always singles. Part of it is affectation, but its mainly functional--you can dedicate more brain cells to staying undead.
If you think it takes the skill out of riding, Id have you watch my bud Justin race cxcross on his fixed gear--he routinely beats geared bikes as he indeed thinks way ahead of them. By artificially handicapping himself, he has become a much smarter rider.
Use gears or not, just dont be dismissive of one or the other. In my world internal hubs are good for fetching milk, geared bikes are fine for that as well, and also good for racing and some training. Singles are great for utility bikes, bikes with less theft appeal, and especially for training.
-
Lol, BMX chains are for fairys.
Really? Qualify that idiotic statement. Most queers around here rollerblade anyway.
-
Wow, Max has a short teather tonight!
You obviously missed my bait picture. And it works! I got a bite :)
/me reels max in.
-
Its a done deal, im going SS, im a physical monster, ill climb any hill or descend any mountain on a single gear... no problem... i am the man... youll see... YOU WILL FEAR MY 100KG CALF MUSCLES.
-
Soop, I just dont like your consistent "everybody should have a bike just like mine with Deore XT and everything else suxxors and is for stupid homos" juvenile attitude about bikes.
;)
-
I dont have that opinion Max.
And anyway, I have XTR, XT is just isnt pimp enough.
-
Its a done deal, im going SS, im a physical monster, ill climb any hill or descend any mountain on a single gear... no problem... i am the man... youll see... YOU WILL FEAR MY 100KG CALF MUSCLES.
From now on you will be known far and wide as Veal-Boi! Children will throw flower petals in your path, and you will crush them with your uberosity!
-
Badabing! Dont go towards the light!!!!
(http://www.dirtmag.co.uk/news_pages/newsimages/dec21/sram.jpg)
Its calling you!
And max can treat himself to a Pompino
http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4&MMN_position=12:12
-
All the carbon in the world doesnt make up for an inefficient chainline and pulley drag. 8)
Nice single speed though, for the North American market the best bang for the buck is th Gunnar Street Dog:
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/streetdog.php
(http://www.gunnarbikes.com/images/gsdfull1.jpg)
I hate those bars, tho.
-
No, but the gold plating does :D
-
No, but the gold plating does :D
Pshaw, red bikes are faster. ;)
-
I know, my old team bikes were red.
-
The main reason I dont go single gear is simply that the land is hilly around here, some banks are 1 in 5 or so, not exactly the easiest to get a bike up.
Its not like everywhere is flat American plains land :mrgreen: :P
-
I ride many hills around here--steep with switchbacks, on my single. Just stand. The Warner parks switchbacks are so steep as to require at least a 34/25 on a road bike, and you go so slow that you almost tip over, but I dont ride there as its in way boring old money Belle Meade. Al Gore lives over there though.
http://www.nashville.gov/parks/warner.htm#
http://www.bellemeadeplantation.com/
-
Badabing! Dont go towards the light!!!!
(http://www.dirtmag.co.uk/news_pages/newsimages/dec21/sram.jpg)
Its calling you!
And max can treat himself to a Pompino
http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4&MMN_position=12:12
So is this!
(http://www.chrisking.com/hubs/sspeed_disc_images/230W/orangeSSA.jpg)
drooooooooooooooool.
-
I ride many hills around here--steep with switchbacks, on my single. Just stand. The Warner parks switchbacks are so steep as to require at least a 34/25 on a road bike, and you go so slow that you almost tip over, but I dont ride there as its in way boring old money Belle Meade. Al Gore lives over there though.
http://www.nashville.gov/parks/warner.htm#
http://www.bellemeadeplantation.com/
I used to do that, my first bikes were single speeds, then I ended up with arthritis and I got a racer that had a high set of gearing ratios, the lowest was just about OK for hill climbs and the highest pushed it for downhill use. Now its just too painful to use a single gear, I would have to push uphill.
-
Chris Kink, White Industries, Phil Wood: too much quality, cause we know ya cant resist. 8)
Fortunately road riding doesnt require anything fancy in the way of hubs. Im riding rebuilt bottom barrel Shimano 2200 (sora) converted to single. If you repack them with good 25 grade bearings, its a stealth way to do it on the cheap. Mmmmm, buttery.
Now, I wouldnt mind a vintage set of Campy pista high-flange hubs. :slobber:
(http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/3561856/1132191190400_hub_campy_crecord_rear_track.jpg)
-
I used to do that, my first bikes were single speeds, then I ended up with arthritis and I got a racer that had a high set of gearing ratios, the lowest was just about OK for hill climbs and the highest pushed it for downhill use. Now its just too painful to use a single gear, I would have to push uphill.
My riding route is definitely not one for the arthritic or weak kneed. :mrgreen: My cadence varies wildly, Ill do 20rpm on climbs and 120rpm descents. :lol:
-
Max, what sort of ratio would you go for considering itll be up and down hill stuff i will be doing - mainly fast trail riding.... no MAJOR ascents or descents..
-
I ride 42/16 which is ~2.6/1, but thats street and with 700c wheels. Most offroaders do 2:1, and 32/16 is a popular combo. You might want tougher gearing for your little moo-children. :lol: Better too low than too high, imho--but do what feels right.
-
I ride 42/16 which is ~2.6/1, but thats street and with 700c wheels. Most offroaders do 2:1, and 32/16 is a popular combo. You might want tougher gearing for your little moo-children. :lol: Better too low than too high, imho--but do what feels right.
32/16 (2:1) sounds right, from what ive read... ill give it a go! :D
-
your conversion kit comes with a 16T. ;)
Id get a couple more Shimano DX cogs for fun and giggles. You should be able to go up or down 2 teeth with the same size chain. Bring a chain whip and lockring tool in yer camelpack and experiment trailside. ;) :mrgreen:
DX cogs come in: 14T,15T,16T,18T
Wiggle has gusset brand cogs in 14, 16, 18 and 20t for £3.99.
Despite what anybody says, do not try to break your cassette and use hyperglide cogs--your chain will jump and you will get hurted. Old 80s Uniglide cassette cogs, however, work great.
-
DONE....
Ordered the middleburn RS7 crank: http://www.middleburn.co.uk/cranks_rs7.php and the Uno (for singlespeeders) spider...
Cant wait to try it...
-
Ohh, bash ring! Youll have a drive train that makes Chuck Norris cry. :lol:
-
Ohh, bash ring! Youll have a drive train that makes Chuck Norris cry. :lol:
:?: :shock:
-
Ohh, bash ring! Youll have a drive train that makes Chuck Norris cry. :lol:
:?: :shock:
Youll boulder jump like Jack Baur torturing terrorists, like Arnie wielding two AK47-s, like the Gravedigger crushing cars!
:lol:
(http://www.monstertruckracing.com/gravedigger/gravedigger47.jpg)
I have seen Gravedigger live, btw, at the Seattle Kingdome. I took a reluctant hippie chick, but by the end she was screaming "go Gravedigger, GO!" :lol:
-
Ohh, bash ring! Youll have a drive train that makes Chuck Norris cry. :lol:
Chuck Norris doesnt cry, he just makes other people do that...
-
(http://www.monstertruckracing.com/gravedigger/gravedigger47.jpg)
i wonder if i could get a bike in the back of that?
http://www.tekforums.co.uk/posts/list/942.page
-
Vell, update us! Or are you too busy riding the dang thing??
(http://static.flickr.com/48/139967276_7ae5cfba04.jpg)
-
Vell, update us! Or are you too busy riding the dang thing??
(http://static.flickr.com/48/139967276_7ae5cfba04.jpg)
ive stripped the bike down and have tidied it up.
had a bit of a problem with the crankset;
(http://www.parktool.com/images_inc/repair_help/crankcass.jpg)
I had a problem tightening the lockring (see diagram). I managed to tighten it, but it wasnt fixed properly, i took it to my bike shop, they werent much use - they didnt have an appropriate tool, either...
I should have it sorted, by the weekend, and be able to give it a test run.
-
Im completely unfamiliar with such a design, but it seems that lockring could be tightened with a pin spanner, or even channel lock pliers if you wanted to get sloppy and mark it up a little.
Did it come with a proprietary bottom bracket?
-
Im completely unfamiliar with such a design, but it seems that lockring could be tightened with a pin spanner, or even channel lock pliers if you wanted to get sloppy and mark it up a little.
Did it come with a proprietary bottom bracket?
No, its a standard shimano fit, the lockring system is the same design as on my Deore LX crankset...
-
No, its a standard shimano fit, the lockring system is the same design as on my Deore LX crankset...
No sh*t, I took another look, you just need a Shimano bottom bracket tool to tighten that. Its a really common tool, Ive just been out of the loop with either cup and cone or cartridge BBs for the past few years so it didnt slap me in the face immediately.
If your local bike shop doesnt have a Shimano BB tool, theyre quite silly and you should point and laugh at them.
-
You need a really big spanner to use with the Shim BB tool also, btw.
/not suggesting that Badabing is a really big spanner...;)
-
Nope, Vice or Adjustable will do nicely
-
gah!
:(
I tried to fit the crankset on last night, but have hit a snag; i am using self extracting crankbolts, when i torque up the bolts they basically compress the crankset [the new one] onto the bottom bracket shell, stopping the cranks from turning.
I used the same bolts on the Deore LX crankset and it works - the crankset is tightened up and can move freely. The problem is the Middleburn lockring on my new crankset is flat, whereas the deore LX has a raised centre, this centre acts as a spacer, effectively stopping the lockring from compressing onto the bottom bracket shell. Im now wondering whether or not i need a new BB, or can i remove the lockring off the Deore LX unit and use it on the new one, the question being, why didnt the new one come with such a lockring in the first place?
:roll:
-
Simplest solution would be to get some short ring bolts, covert the LX kit to a single ring, and either return or sell the Middleburn stoff on fleabay.
Id run by a bike shop and have a gab as well, perhaps theres a BB thats got a bit more Q factor and wont be as estupido in its relation to the Middleburn cranks as the current set.
There may be simpler solution, but unless ya take a picture and post, my Cretaceous brain cant really get enough lizard meat to digest the problem.
-
Simplest solution would be to get some short ring bolts, covert the LX kit to a single ring, and either return or sell the Middleburn stoff on fleabay.
Id run by a bike shop and have a gab as well, perhaps theres a BB thats got a bit more Q factor and wont be as estupido in its relation to the Middleburn cranks as the current set.
There may be simpler solution, but unless ya take a picture and post, my Cretaceous brain cant really get enough lizard meat to digest the problem.
Im going to fling the bike in the bike of the Micra tomorrow and drive up to a bike shop and see what they suggest... :?
-
i am cursed....
Whipped the old 9-speed block off the backwheel - no problems, 10 second job. Put the spacers on the hub, put the single sprocket on, lock the lockring back on. There was a fair bit of play, so i decided to add the remaining spacers - problems begin. :(
As i turn the lockring removing tool anti-clockwise, the whole shabbang moves with the moment of force! i.e. it freely rotates as if something isnt meshing, obviously the sprocket doesnt move as it is secured by the chain whip. I know ive dropped a clanger somewhere, but how the hell do i remove the lockring now?!
(http://static.flickr.com/53/141952489_98266faf72_b.jpg)
The DMR spacer and the toothed sprocket type component to the left of it rotates freely.
-
Only time I got something like that I used an oil filter remover to hold it.
You might get the same effect from a jar opener, looks like in the link below but I got 2 for £1 from a pound store :)
http://www.store-shop.com/jar-opener.html
-
Sounds like its not engaged the threads and should just jiggle off.
From what most singles Ive converted over the years have taught me, youre cog seems a bit too far outboard for typical chainlines. It could be right on, so take that with a grain of salt, Ive just never seen one so far out.
Almost always the position ends up being, using your particular spacers in the pic: big spacer, little spacer, cog, little spacer, lockring.
If the final spacer is a bit too much, break apart a cassette and recycle the spacers. Srams have a hex screw on the back, Shimanos require grinding off a pop rivet.
Indeed, something that should have taken 20 minutes is proving to be a bit crazy. :lol:
-
Sounds like its not engaged the threads and should just jiggle off.
From what most singles Ive converted over the years have taught me, youre cog seems a bit too far outboard for typical chainlines. It could be right on, so take that with a grain of salt, Ive just never seen one so far out.
Almost always the position ends up being, using your particular spacers in the pic: big spacer, little spacer, cog, little spacer, lockring.
If the final spacer is a bit too much, break apart a cassette and recycle the spacers. Srams have a hex screw on the back, Shimanos require grinding off a pop rivet.
Indeed, something that should have taken 20 minutes is proving to be a bit crazy. :lol:
Yeah, i put it together to assertain how it worked, thinking that adjusting it would a walk in the park, but the damned thing will not move! its certainly not going to "jiggle off"... :(
-
crossed threads?
-
crossed threads?
if it is crossed threads, how do i remedy this?
-
You have to see if theyre crossed. With the wheel horizontal on a work surface, does the lock ring appear to be tilted? Then its crossed all right. If it were my bike, Id just wail on it till it came off, but I ride le cheap wheels. Then grease the threads, and carefully thread it back on properly and it should act as its own tap n die. If you killed it, which I doubt, you can replace freehub without rebuilding on a new hub.
-
You have to see if theyre crossed. With the wheel horizontal on a work surface, does the lock ring appear to be tilted? Then its crossed all right. If it were my bike, Id just wail on it till it came off, but I ride le cheap wheels. Then grease the threads, and carefully thread it back on properly and it should act as its own tap n die. If you killed it, which I doubt, you can replace freehub without rebuilding on a new hub.
it looks to be crossed, the major problem is the damned sprocket can rotate freely either way! HELP!
-
Being as far outboard as you assembled it, I doubt its engaging with any splines, thus, turniness.
-
Being as far outboard as you assembled it, I doubt its engaging with any splines, thus, turniness.
im beggining to sweat like a pregnant nun, here...
I suppose all i can do is take it to a bike shop and see what they can do?