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    Any reasons this ultra-bike setup won’t work?


    I’ve been thinking about building one specific bike that would fit ALL my needs. Last time I’ve been there you guys told me about Z Couplers so here they are now in the list (thank you!).

    So what I’m thinking about now is having a setup that would allow me ride fixed, single- AND multi-speed without changing a wheel. What I suggest is having a rear hub with an HG body and 6-bolt rotor mount. Multi-speed solved. For single-speed it requires changing a cassette to a single cog, changing a chain and taking off the derailleur. And from that point for fixed gear it requires placing the wheel the other way around and that’s it since there is an always-on 6 bolt cog mounted right with the brake rotor. Only front break is left that way respectively (that works for me).

    Got multiple questions on that:

    1. Any reasons that wouldn’t work?

    2. Any ways to make multi-speed to single-speed conversion easier? Removing the derailleur and setting it up again is a mess. I wonder if there is any solution for that. Maybe a cable connector that is placed near the derailleur and allows to disconnect just the little amount of cable with it and then connect it back without having to tune it again.

    3. I guess I’ll have to carry a bunch of chain links to replace them from time to time. Am I right?

    I’m totally fine with spending 10 to 20 minutes on swapping the transmission if it’s the only problem. Having less parts (and bikes in general) is way more important for me.

    Any advice appreciated! Sorry for the little skitzo pic.

    by mark_arbatsky

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    10 Comments

    1. Grotarin on

      I appreciate your inventivity and I’ll follow closely as I have no answer for you. But I have one question: what front ring will you run? Will the single cog be in a perfect position that works also for gears?

    2. Feisty_Park1424 on

      Tragically for the hand built bike world the maker of Z couplers just went bust, Paragon Machine Works. You can still get S&S couplers. Consider also using a Ritchey Breakaway style coupler too

    3. GreenToMe95 on

      Wireless shifting will make the switch from geared to single much easier. Also using a DT Swiss freehub body could allow you to swap a cassette for an HG cog by just pulling off the freehub body and installing the one you want with the cassette or cog pre installed. You will wear out quick links eventually depending how often you’re switching it up,

    5. earbeanflores on

      Why remove the rear derailleur if you can just leave it in gear(just find a “gear” for a dialed chain line) and never fiddle with the lever. 😅 I’m no bike mechanic though. Take my suggestion with a grain of salt.

    6. MF1DOOM on

      This won’t work because:
      Fixed and single need a shorter and wider chain. You will have to change the chain every time you switch setups.
      Fixed especially won’t work because mounting the cog next to the brake rotor will have it basically inside your rear triangle or the brake caliper. There is simply no room there.. and even if it works you have a terrible chain line.
      Lots of more arguments but still just get one ssp/ fixed gear and one geared bike.
      I promise you you will be too lazy to change basically everything in your bike when you want to swap setups..

    7. ben_jamin_h on

      I’m pretty confused about what is going on here and so I can’t say how it would work but I do have a question – what do the Z couplers do in this situation?

    9. SourlandRides on

      Flipping the wheel around on a hub with a casssette on one side and fixed cog on the other will mess up your wheel dish and chainline..

    10. tbl_help on

      Broad questions about niche things like this should really be on forums specific for niche builds, and this isn’t it.

      Just do it and learn as you go. Focus on, and trust the build/idea, and ask for input on narrow issues when they present themself.

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