Rayleigh Vitesse Conversion - Failure?

[Gert Lush]

Hey,

I've been reading up but I'm still a bit confused with everything. I have this bike, a Rayleigh Vitesse which I am having no luck selling, so I thought I'd try and convert it to a single speed. What do I need to be able to do it? I think I'd need a cassette style one at the back but do I need a tensioner? And with the front how would I swap it out from a double to a single ring? Also, I'd like to do it on the cheap.

Noobie questions I know but please bear with me.

 

[Gert Lush]

So.. I'm an idiot. It turns out all I had to do was take the large chainring off and replace the smaller one. I haven't bought a new one yet so I'm gonna leave it under geared because I should only be using it for my short commute.

 

[Gert Lush]

Right so this seems to be a no go. Took all the extra stuff off today. Put the kit on and noticed that the chain would only sit in the tensioner if it was on the big ring. No problem I thought, I'd just take off the big ring and put the small ring on that side except the chainring is riveted! So I can't do that. I don't want to spent the money buying a new crankset as it's just getting to the stage where I could buy a cheaper secondhand bike for this price.

If anyone knows a work around I'd very much like to hear but I think that at the moment it's a failed conversion

 

[Milkfloat]

Right so this seems to be a no go. Took all the extra stuff off today. Put the kit on and noticed that the chain would only sit in the tensioner if it was on the big ring. No problem I thought, I'd just take off the big ring and put the small ring on that side except the chainring is riveted! So I can't do that. I don't want to spent the money buying a new crankset as it's just getting to the stage where I could buy a cheaper secondhand bike for this price.

If anyone knows a work around I'd very much like to hear but I think that at the moment it's a failed conversion

A longer bottom bracket should do it. That will push out the smaller chainring out further to hence you get a better chain line.

 

[Gert Lush]

A longer bottom bracket should do it. That will push out the smaller chainring out further to hence you get a better chain line.

But then I'd still have a double at the front.

 

[Milkfloat]

But then I'd still have a double at the front.

But you would only use the small ring. I don't see a way of rescuing the build any other way unless you buy a new crankset.

 

[raleighnut]

I got one of these for under £20, admittedly it is on a 3spd SA bike but it'd work on an SS/Fixed too.

 

[Gert Lush]

I have no idea about bottom brackets! And I'm thinking I'd be needing one for either idea. Could anyone advise in that regard?

 

[Cycleops]

You'll be able to rename it a Vitesse Un or 1.

 

[smokeysmoo]

£12 with free P&P HERE

 

[Gert Lush]

£12 with free P&P HERE

Would I need a new bottom bracket for that? Clueless in that area!

 

[T4tomo]

Google Sheldon brown and read through all the articles on there re gearing, bottom brackets etc. You'll learn a great deal.

 

[raleighnut]

Would I need a new bottom bracket for that? Clueless in that area!

You might but on the other hand you may not, it depends where the rear wheel chainline is.

 

[smokeysmoo]

You might but on the other hand you may not, it depends where the rear wheel chainline is.

This⬆But even if you do a new sealed BB should be less than a tenner. I'd be tempted to get the chainset and try it then if you need a BB simply chuck a new one in

 

[Gert Lush]

Thank you for the help everyone but something occurred to me earlier on. If I run it on the front ring a 52, I can get the spacer at the back to run straight and then just change the size of the sprocket at the back from a 16 to maybe 20 and then I'll have a workable ratio without changing the front chainset!