Singlespeed wheels

[Dan_h]

I have been riding my bike with the shifters / cables etc removed but still with the gears on the back and using the rear mech to tension the chain and hold it in position under my chosen gear (it is locked there with the stop screw).

Now I know that I like riding singlespeed I am planning to make the conversion properly. My rear wheel is a bit of a cheap one and has rumbling bearings anyway so I am planning to buy a new wheelset for the bike. My question is if I buy a proper singlespeed wheel and space it to fit can I then adjust the chainline somehow? or should it just line up? or would I be better off getting a wheel with a freehub and using a single cog and spacers?

 

[tyred]

It should be possible to get most wheels to line up with juggling the spacers on the axle around and re-dishing the wheel.

 

[benborp]

Sheldon Brown has info on all the options available.