Epping Forest Epics

Jon · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: Singlespeed conversion

I'm taking my old Rockhopper apart to make into a single speed mainly for the ride to the station morning and night. I think I know what I have to do etc but is their any pitfalls I may encounter?

At the moment its been done on the cheap so its existing back wheel with spacers on rear.

On the front just running on the middle ring, how do I acheive this, do I need more spacers to replace the inner and outer ring?
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Specalized Rockhopper Pro Disc 2006
Specalized Allez Elite 2008
Specalized Rockhopper 2004 (Singlespeed conversion)

GTDave · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

No, no spacers on the chainrings. At most, a bashring to make it look nice, or keep the font mech to keep the chain in place. Nice little how-to for Shimano chainrings here:

http://barq.org/blog/?page_id=19
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....06 G T Avalanche Pro..&..On-One Inbred Single Speed...
EppingHardCru

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

What do you think of you On-one frame, GTDave. They are on sale at the moment. I was quite interested, just gotta get my girlfriends to let me buy one.

Good luck Jon, you'll have legs of steal, once you start riding SS.
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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALEX-DM24-W...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I realize you aren't building from scratch but I thought these wheels might be of interest.
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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

GTDave · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:57 am Post subject:

Love it to bits, it's a real nice ride.
Good bit of flex in the rear end takes the sting out of the trails very well.
Both my GT and Inbred are 18" frames, but the Inbred is slightly more stretched in the top tube.
I'd definately choose one again, 'that red' is lovely! Very Happy

Must update her pics soon!
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....06 G T Avalanche Pro..&..On-One Inbred Single Speed...
EppingHardCru

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

I normally ride a 19" but thinking about getting a 17" or 18" for a bit more fun and after sitting on Jons 17" I am starting to wonder whether I should be on a 19" Laughing

So if the 18" is a bit longer in the top tube it might just be perfect.

They got the frames on sale on their site, just trying to get the girlfriends head around the idea of another bike in the house. Shocked

But, I suppose she has a fair point 3 bikes in a year will be a bit much?...... Embarassed

But it doesn't stop me trying. It might be a lot of fun if we get a few guys with SS, for the days when we wanna work a little harder.

Noel
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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"

GTDave · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

How many bikes is 'enough'?
There is a formula for that:

(How many bikes do you have)+1=Ideal amount of bikes.

Therefore the formula shows that you can never have enough bikes! Laughing

Epping on a SS is very doable. I have done it on 32:16 and 32:18 gearings, both work well with 32:18 being a little more leisurly (and easier on the knees)!
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....06 G T Avalanche Pro..&..On-One Inbred Single Speed...
EppingHardCru

GTDave · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

Noel, may be of interest:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/On-One-Inbr...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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....06 G T Avalanche Pro..&..On-One Inbred Single Speed...
EppingHardCru

Bigguy · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 77 Location: South Woodford

Looks good, I will put in a bid and see what happens. Thanks for that.

I have just picked up an old Rockhopper frame for a fiver. I am going to build it up and see how it turns out.

Might take a little time to build, but it will be good fun! And if I win the inbred bid, it will be even better.

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"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!"