Brake set-up for a Single Speed Conversion What's best?

[MMcG]

Okay, I've decided to convert my Marin Nail Trail to a single speed.

Here's my plan of action:

1. Convert Manitou Six fork from 80mm to 100mm to alter the head tube angle a bit to make it slightly more relaxed and less XC oriented. Thanks for that fax months and months ago AA!

2. Use a Surly singleator as a chain tensioner. Are there better alternatives? I want to keep this fairly low cost-wise.

3. My wheelset on the Nail has some Ovation OEM disc ready hubs on it. At first I thought going full Avid mechanical disc on the bike, but will a disc in the rear be a pain in the arse or will it be fine because the dropouts won't be horizontal? Also, could I save a buck or two by going with a disc up front and rim brakes on the rear?

4. I want to add a different stem than the stock Marin that's back on the bike, and I want wider bars now that I'm used to them and really like them on my Belair. In general how wide do you guys run your bars on your single speeds? I know wider bars can help with leverage on climbs. Just trying to get a sense of what people are using.

That's the plan for now.....we'll see how things go as the project develops. I'm getting assistance from Brian at Pig Iron Sports in Glastonbury. I saw a wheelset he built last night for a Balfa 2Step DH and he does sweet work on wheels. (I know that this is sometimes a question on here so I thought I'd throw that out for all the CT forum members). This isn't a rush job so any advice or input you SS veterans may have for me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

McAskalot

[CouchingTiger]

If you CAN go disk/disk, do so. I run disk front and V rear because I have non-disk horizontal drops in the rear. With a standard disk frame and singulator you should be fine for disk in the rear.

-Couch

[MMcG]

If you CAN go disk/disk, do so. I run disk front and V rear because I have non-disk horizontal drops in the rear. With a standard disk frame and singulator you should be fine for disk in the rear.

-Couch


Thanks Couch!

What about the bars you run on your SS?

The handlebar on the Nail Trail feel so short compared to the Easton bar on my Belair.

[AA]

Mark,

If you like the bar on your Balfa get the same width. One thing to keep in mind is that if you buy a wider bar you can alway cut it down if it is too wide.

Regarding brakes: If you have rim brakes start with those, you can always upgrade later. I run avid rim bakes on my SS, granted they dont stop like discs but they are lighter, less $$, and less fuss.

If I were you I would buy a singulator, some wider bars and see how you like the whole SS experience before you spend any serious $$.

[MMcG]

Mark,

If you like the bar on your Balfa get the same width. One thing to keep in mind is that if you buy a wider bar you can alway cut it down if it is too wide.

Regarding brakes: If you have rim brakes start with those, you can always upgrade later. I run avid rim bakes on my SS, granted they dont stop like discs but they are lighter, less $$, and less fuss.

If I were you I would buy a singulator, some wider bars and see how you like the whole SS experience before you spend any serious $$.


Thanks AA,

The Nail has crappy Ovation brakes on it right now. I was also thinking that the SS would be a bike of choice in the late fall, winter, and early spring when the weather is less than stellar...hence my thought that discs would be an improvement over rims.

Brian at Pig Iron is a great guy and I plan on working with him through this conversion, so we'll do a good job on it and I think it won't get too costly. They are a Balfa dealer and that helps.

I also talk up NEMBA quite a bit so that the shop will renew their NEMBA support when it comes time for renewal. ;D

Mark,


If I were you I would buy a singulator, some wider bars and see how you like the whole SS experience before you spend any serious $$.


If you want to save even more money...and go a bit more ghetto like...you could use an ole derailluer and some spacers instead of the singulator. I assume, the wrench at Pig Iron could easily work his magic on this. There is also a new company making singulator like products but the name escapes me...

Go wide on the bars my man.

[MMcG]

Mark,


If I were you I would buy a singulator, some wider bars and see how you like the whole SS experience before you spend any serious $$.


If you want to save even more money...and go a bit more ghetto like...you could use an ole derailluer and some spacers instead of the singulator. I assume, the wrench at Pig Iron could easily work his magic on this. There is also a new company making singulator like products but the name escapes me...

Go wide on the bars my man.




We talked a little about the old derailluer idea and may go that route. We'll see. There are a bunch of tensioner devices out there now, Paul's makes one, Soulcraft makes one called the Convert I believe (looks like the nicest - but also the priciest) and I think there are a few others. Hell there are even programs on the net that allow you to run the right combination so that no tensioner is required - but I don't feel like getting that technical with this project.

I was thinking I'd carry the Deore derailleur from the Nail in my Camelbak as a backup for the Belair. Or as another backup for SloMoJo when I ride with him again. I think his penchant for busting derailleurs is pretty well known by now. ;D

[gungywump]

Disc/Disc
Singulator
I run 28" Azonic DoubleWalls 1 1/2"rise on all my bikes.

P.S. Run the biggest tire you can fit. My favorite right now is the Kena 2.35 w/ Stick-E rubber.

[AA]

We talked a little about the old derailluer idea and may go that route.


I tried the old derailer route years ago on my 1st SS. It works but it's noisy (chain slap)

[MMcG]

Disc/Disc
Singulator
I run 28" Azonic DoubleWalls 1 1/2"rise on all my bikes.

P.S. Run the biggest tire you can fit. My favorite right now is the Kena 2.35 w/ Stick-E rubber.


Thanks Gungy!

I'll look into those Kendas. Maybe throw the contis on the nail and the Kendas onto the Belair.