Wouldn't mind some thoughts/opinions, please.
My commuter is an old mountain bike that's had a hack job done to convert it into single speed - single cog and spacer washers on the cassette freewheel at the back and the two smaller chainrings taken off the front. I like riding single speed and the bike needs a serious overhaul so I'm doing various things to it (bull bars mentioned in another thread) including getting some new wheels. This obviously throws up the decision of what style hub to get. As far as I can tell, I have three options:
a - A flip flop hub. I quite like the idea of having a fixed option as well but it seems you can't buy ready-made wheels to this spec (26" with FF hub (can you?!)). I have no problem with buying the componenet parts (hubs, rims etc) and getting someone to make them up for me (I would like to do it myself actually but I don't have the gear, or the time, at the mo). This seems the expensive option.
b - Get the rear wheel with a threaded hub and stick on a single speed freewheel.
c - Get a newer version of what I currently have; a cassette freewheel and do the same spacer/washer bodge on the back.
A and B seem the purer options, and I am leaning towards them for that reason, but am I likely to encounter problems lining up the chain with the front chainring? How would I determine BB axle length? I should mention I also plan to fit a new single speed front chainring - not a cheap thing to do, if my reseach is telling the truth. This is the sort of thing I'm looking at:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31622
Regarding the wheels, I don't necessarily want the lightest, best quality I can get, but something a little above bottom end. I've had a look around and am finding it hard to find any on the websites that aren't cassette freewheel with disc brake fittings.
Any suggestions as to which type of hub, where to buy the wheels, which front chainring to get...pretty much everything...very welcome.
Cheers
Percy
My commuter is an old mountain bike that's had a hack job done to convert it into single speed - single cog and spacer washers on the cassette freewheel at the back and the two smaller chainrings taken off the front. I like riding single speed and the bike needs a serious overhaul so I'm doing various things to it (bull bars mentioned in another thread) including getting some new wheels. This obviously throws up the decision of what style hub to get. As far as I can tell, I have three options:
a - A flip flop hub. I quite like the idea of having a fixed option as well but it seems you can't buy ready-made wheels to this spec (26" with FF hub (can you?!)). I have no problem with buying the componenet parts (hubs, rims etc) and getting someone to make them up for me (I would like to do it myself actually but I don't have the gear, or the time, at the mo). This seems the expensive option.
b - Get the rear wheel with a threaded hub and stick on a single speed freewheel.
c - Get a newer version of what I currently have; a cassette freewheel and do the same spacer/washer bodge on the back.
A and B seem the purer options, and I am leaning towards them for that reason, but am I likely to encounter problems lining up the chain with the front chainring? How would I determine BB axle length? I should mention I also plan to fit a new single speed front chainring - not a cheap thing to do, if my reseach is telling the truth. This is the sort of thing I'm looking at:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31622
Regarding the wheels, I don't necessarily want the lightest, best quality I can get, but something a little above bottom end. I've had a look around and am finding it hard to find any on the websites that aren't cassette freewheel with disc brake fittings.
Any suggestions as to which type of hub, where to buy the wheels, which front chainring to get...pretty much everything...very welcome.
Cheers
Percy
