Last edited on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 03:09 pm by jeninsb

Last edited on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 06:00 pm by jeninsb

You have tons of options.

If you want to go with one of hte Kona's (they are called the Unit and the UNit 29), keep in mind that they are fully rigid.  But it looks like you could put a sus fork on there without radically changing the handling characteristics.  This is probably the easiest, just add water option.

If you currently have a bike that you want to run as a single speed, here's a list of things to think about/you might need to purchase:
Rear wheel
Cog
Cranks
Bottom bracket
Rear der/chain tensioner
Chain

Now I've seen all matter of singlespeeders, some a bit more cromulent than others.  So if you want to take a geared bike down to a single speeder, figure out if you are going to get a single speed specific wheel. 

there are kits available (approx $30 retail) that come with a whole stack of spacers and a single cog that will all slide onto a cassette hub so that you can just use a wheel that you currently have.  I've never set one of these up, but I think the main consideration would be your eventual chainline.  But, these kits seem to come with a wide variety of spacers so maybe it's not an issue.

If you go the route of the single speeder kit, you may have to use some sort of chain tensioner.  Surly makes the Singlator (approx $45 retail) to be used with a 7, 8spd or 3/32nds chain.  I know some poeple that have cobbled together a chain tensioner from a rear der and just run the chain through the der for chain tension needs. 

Or you can get an White Industries Eno eccentric hub and build a wheel around that so that you don't need a chain tensioner.

I think though that if you know you want to get into this right at full-tilt boogie mode, go ahead and get yourself a dedicated single speed rear wheel.

Cranks and bb:  The cranks you get/want depends on budget and prefrences.  There's lots out there, I suggest walking into an LBS to see what they have in the Quality Bicycle Components catalogue.  The BB that you need will depend in part on your bike and the cranks you want. 

I've never project'd a single speeder together myself, so I am sure that there is something missing, but there's the start of the things you have to think about.

(I bought a Bianchi San Jose singlespeed 'cross bike a year ago.  I run super low gearing on it because it's my polo/townie/basket bike.  34X17.  Gearing wise, I say start at some good 2x1 ratio and fiddle around from there.  Everyone's got some gear combo that they will swear by, but not everyone swears by the same gear combo.)

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