Single Speed suggestions

[Cackalak Han]

Kermit - Yeah, it will probably take a few different cogs to figure out what's the best for me. I blew out my knee 3 years ago skiing, so I'm looking for something that is easier on my knees, too. I think the 33/22 will be a good combo. We will see.

Also, just to be sure (never had horizontal drop outs), I basically just unbolt the wheel, slide forward to take the chain off, then slide back to take the wheel out, right?

And are those cogs easy to change out?

 

[ntsqd]

Easiest way that I've found to change out freewheels is to clamp that Park tool by it's hex in a vice with the tangs pointing up. Set the wheel down on it, and spin the rim. Lots of leverage, steady and stable.

I've never seen them called anything other than "Chain Adjusters". Can get them from Dan's Comp, a BMX specialist.

 

[ntsqd]

So you're adgainst bloody knuckles then?....baaaaaah.....

I've grown tired of cleaning the blood and gore out of between the bent spokes. The blood & gore I could live with, but the bent spokes? Never.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Thanks, guys. I guess I will have to pick up one of those tools. I'll also pick up an extra adjuster for the drop outs. I guess I'll be doing all of this tomorrow, along with my steering rack and sway bar bushings on the Tacoma. :smilies27

 

[Cackalak Han]

Hey, are these the cogs that I would need?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CS409C06-Surly+Bmx+Cog.aspx

Seems like Surly is the only company that I can find that makes 22T. Everyone else's at 20.

And is this the tool from Park?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL707A05-Park+Fr-5+Cassette+Remover.aspx

 

[ntsqd]

Don't know what MTB oriented suppliers carry in single speed freewheels. I tend to go local or buy from a BMX oriented vendor since that is common stuff to them. It's been a while since I was in good enough shape to ride my SS, so it could be that the mtb vendors have come up to speed on this stuff.
Dan's Comp Freewheels page

Dan's Freewheel Remover

 

[1speed]

I run a Hope single speed hub and like the King it has a short freehub body and I run the Surly cogs. Down here in flatland FL I run 34-18 on my 29er and ran 34-16 on a 26 incher. It worked Ok in Palo Duro Canyon trails but I'm a bit of a masher. I run 50-16 on my fixed gear road bike and am going to 51-16 to keep up on 21-22 mph avg road rides with geared riders, those long 25-27 mph pulls have me spinning out.

 

[Speaker]

Nope, you need the tool I pictured earlier. The link you provided is for a freehub body, if you look at the second picture, you can see how the splines would line up.

As far as my research has provided, it needs the FR-8 tool, rather than FR-6

I think, if Han wants to switch gearing he should go to his LBS and have them do it... otherwise he's looking at a bunch of tool purchases that might not even work. Besides, LBS usually has a good selection of BMX freewheels and will tell you exactly what you need to fit your aplication. Labor to swap them out will probably cost something like $5, it takes about 5 minutes to do.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Somehow I missed this thread... All that yaking in ********-chat about politics and religion

I bought the XL one! About two weeks ago It is still geared stock, 44:18 Has been a fun townie though

Good stuff!

PS, $180!

 

[Cackalak Han]

As far as my research has provided, it needs the FR-8 tool, rather than FR-6

I think, if Han wants to switch gearing he should go to his LBS and have them do it... otherwise he's looking at a bunch of tool purchases that might not even work. Besides, LBS usually has a good selection of BMX freewheels and will tell you exactly what you need to fit your aplication. Labor to swap them out will probably cost something like $5, it takes about 5 minutes to do.

That would be easier, but I'd like to switch back and forth between gears at home rather than taking it to the LBS every time. Seems like the best option is to just go to my LBS and get the parts and tools from them so that I don't buy unnecessary parts online.

I wanted to go ride today, but it's raining like crazy here...

OH, what kind of chain lube do you guys use? I've always just used White Lightning.

 

[ntsqd]

I was wholy unimpressed with the longevity of White Lightning when I tried it on my college townie in Chico. I now use Maxima motorcycle chain wax in the aerosol can. I've been using it since my supply of the old Cannondale chain wax dried up. Far less spendy than any of the bicycle offerings and it works great! Either works well in the rain. It is easy though slow to apply. Each pair of side-plates at their common point gets a bump of the nozzle, just enough to wet it plus a little to work it's way under the roller. The Cannondale wax was good for a semester of sitting in the outdoor bike racks at school and the Maxima looks to be at least as good. At my current rate of riding I have lube the chain about every 7-8 months. Someone really logging the miles might have to do it once a month.

EDIT: I recalled a freewheel trick that I read about, but have not tried.
Thoroughly degrease the freewheel. Glom onto one of the butter or margerine tubs that the freewheel just fits in. Wait for your S.O. to go out for a long day. Fill the tub full of 90wt gear lube and microwave it. Drop the freewheel in the hot 90wt & let everything cool to room temperature, then remove and clean the exterior. The guy who wrote the tip claimed that the 90wt was too thick to escape through the small gaps of a freewheel body and that once lubed like that they were good for their lifetime.

 

[Speaker]

You have to lube those things!?:Wow1:

 

[1speed]

I use TRI-FLOW liquid, not the aeresol. 1 drop per roller.

 

[Christophe Noel]

There is no magic lube. So much depends on conditions where you ride, how frequently you ride, how frequently you clean your chain, etc. I've spent as much as $60 on fancy waxes and spent half an hour applying them.

Currently, I'm using WD-40 having told countless individuals NEVER to do so. Whoops. Applied almost every ride, it works perdy good.

 

[ntsqd]

My $50 Giant garage sale bike has seen untold WD-40 applications. Eeeewwwwww............
I just threw away all of the drive train and replaced it. The grit stuck to it had worn it out anyway.