Got an inexpensive 2003 trek 1200 frame on local marketplace. Will be building it up as a summer single speed commuter. Thinking bullhorn bars. Looking for recommendations of an inexpensive wheelset, crank/chainring/bb, and bars. Thinking bar-end break levers and something around 44t/17-18t for a The hgear ratio (it’s pretty flat here). Also maybe a front rack I can hang directly on the bars (a bit worried about the carbon fork) Thanks 🙂
by ferrosplav666
3 Comments
Your main problem is vertical dropouts and chain tension.
You’ve got a couple of options.
1. Eccentric bottom bracket
2. Magic gearing – ie just finding a size of cog that gets the tension right – sometimes with the help of a;
3. Half link for the chain
You’d be better with an older frame with sloping dropouts (if you’ve not got a proper horizontal dropout) because that gives a little movement and makes it easier.
Everything else is pretty easy – you can get cheap road wheels and a single speed cog to fit on – that makes it easy to adjust the chain line too.
Buy a chain tensioner.
To clarify for the group, by “single speed”, you mean one speed that will freewheel rather than *fixed* gear, right?