Dumb noobie question re chainset

[swee'pea99]

Just thinking of having a go at this fixed business, looking to try it out cheap...can I get a regular 42/52 chainset off ebay (they're always the cheapest) and take off the 52 ring and combine the remaining 42 with a 16t rear sprocket and away I go? (From googling, 42/16 seems to be a pretty standard starter combination). Thanks for any advice.

 

[Andy Pandy]

The only problem I've had with a non-track chainring is that some of the teeth will be shorter (to help the chain move off the ring), and therefore if your chain is a bit slack it is more likley to jump of than it would if you used a track chian ring.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks for that. I can simply remove the larger chainring and leave t'other in place tho', yes?

 

[Chuffy]

Yes, basically.
I did more or less the same as you, only I took off the inner chainring and ran 53x16*. I was on singlespeed, not fixed, with a conversion kit on the rear end, but so long as you get the chain line and tension right you'll be fine.


* - I don't do twiddly, but that set up was a bit too manly for Devon hills. Even Chuck Norris would baulk at that. I'm on 46x18 now. Much nicer.

 

[Chuffy]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Thanks for that. I can simply remove the larger chainring and leave t'other in place tho', yes?[/QUOTE]
Oooh, forgot to mention. You can get half width chainring bolts from HubJub (very fine online shop, nice to deal with ) which may come in handy for what you want to do, seeing as the standard bolts will be designed to go through two rings. £5.50 a set.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks Chuffy - that's great. As is ' I am a giant ear.......'!

 

[RedBike]

When I built my fist fixie I ended up using a load of washers behind/infront of the chainring to give me a straight chainline.

You need to be carefull which bottom bracket you use and how you mount the rear sprocket.

 

[hubgearfreak]

Oooh, forgot to mention. You can get half width chainring bolts from HubJub (very fine online shop, nice to deal with )

or you can save your money and simply make the original female parts shorter with a countersink drill bit.

 

[Christopher]

Thanks for the link Chuffy - I cut bits off an old chainring to make spacers so the single ring would fit on my double crank mountings. Looks an absolute dog's dinner!

 

[peejay78]

53:16 is ENORMOUS....

i grew up in devon, that's a savage gear.

 

[Chuffy]

53:16 is ENORMOUS....

i grew up in devon, that's a savage gear.

After one painful ride up onto the Haldons I went shopping for a smaller chainring....

 

[rustychisel]

that Chuffy's an enormous showoff!!!

with big manly thighs.

 

[Chuffy]

that Chuffy's an enormous showoff a daft bugger!!!

with big manly thighs.

Sweet of you to notice the thighs though.

 

[BentMikey]

I like smaller rings!!