- 1). Check your bike frame to see if it has vertical or horizontal dropouts, which will be a determining factor in the way you convert your bicycle. If your bike has vertical dropouts, first consider purchasing a hub built to accommodate vertical drop-out frames.
- 2). Remove your current wheel from the frame and disassemble it entirely if you intend to salvage the rim of your wheel. You will have to change out the hub, axle and spokes at the least for a fixed-gear conversion.
- 3). Use either a track hub (which is equipped with a sprocket and lock ring so that the hub does will not allow for it to be unscrewed regardless of direction or force applied to the pedals) or a flip-flop hub which are double-sided hubs with one side equipped with a track-type sprocket with a lock ring, and the other side a single speed freewheel.
- 4). Use a spoke-length calculator to determine the size of spokes you will need based on the measurements of both the hub you purchased and your rim. Alternatively, take your parts to a bike shop, as most of them will be able to help you determine spoke-length size.
- 5). Rebuild your wheel using the spokes, hub and previous rim with a spoke tool and wheel stand. Install the wheel to your bicycle and look to see how well the rear sprocket and chain wheel align. Fixed-gear bicycles, unlike bikes with derailers, require a straight angle from the chain wheel to the hub. Rearrange the hub spacers and, if necessary, replace the axle, so the chain alignment is appropriate.
- 6). Adjust your wheel within the dropouts until your chain is taught, without being too tight, and tighten down the bolts with your adjustable wrench. If your bike has the vertical dropouts and you choose to not purchase a hub specifically made for those frames, you may have to replace the chain wheel at various sizes until the chain tension is appropriate, as adjusting the tension in a vertical dropout frame is essentially impossible unless it is slightly angled.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -