Singlespeed Mountain Biking

[Lola]

Fishbulb,
Cheers, brilliant link to Sheldon Brown. Got to get home early though cos our work IT security protocols won't allow me to order from the net and Planet-x don't appear to have a telephone number!!

[mxhornet]

Essential add on for my Singlespeed, a Surly Tugnutt chain tensioner, cos it opens bottles of beer

Do you ever fall off opening the bottles ?

[skennaugh]

Ride fixed on the road (suppose my 48X18 gear is poofy FishBulb!?) and no problems there but surely fixed off-road is simply insanity and you're knees would be the least of your worries!

Hurt me a couple of times, only because i forgot i couldn't freewheel.

[skennaugh]

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/

[stevefoster]

Do you ever fall off opening the bottles ?

I can fall off doing anything

[fishbulb]

Must be very frustrating for your missus...

[Lola]

Confused now.

Charlie wants over £50 for a conversion kit (chain included)
Planet-X only want £15 plus a chain.

Are the quality differences so great or is Charlie having problems with his mortgage?

[dominion]

The Planet X one seems to be a decent bit of kit - no idea if it's comparable to Charlies kit. Planet X didn't have chains in stock when I bought mine so I just shortened the original one.

[fishbulb]

I feel a bit happier with a dedicated SS chain such as this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=22772
or a decent BMX chain.

Iirc, the PC1's are a fair bit cheaper at Decathlon. Think I paid about £3 for one.

Lola, Wooley hat shop do a cheapo conversion thing: http://www.woollyhatshop.com/acatalog/main_page.htm Takes a bit of finding but it's the Dead Head Single Speed Kit

Dead Head Single speed kit converts your existing 7/8/9 Speed hub to single speed includes to rings and all spacers... But at a more realistic price..

Kit Includes :

16 and 18 tooth Sprockets
Spacers
Lock Ring

IN STOCK AND POST FREE

£9.99

[Lola]

Fishbulb,

Thanks once again. I have taken my bike home, stripped the back end and ordered a kit from Planet-X. I plan to go with Dominion's idea first time out and see how we go then change the ring and chain if/when req'd. The downloads ref the setting up were the most use and have printed them off for the inevitable 'fettling' process.
Although I can't quite work out why, I am thinking that riding 'clipped in' is a must on a SS, on or off road - is there any accepted wisdom? I have more spare sets of pedals than enough so it makes little difference to me except convenience.