[Deyv]

I have a old (80's) Norco that I use in the winter and I wanted to convert it to a SS,

The BB is probably dead. Are the old road BB the same as MTB ones(I know the size will be diff but the threading etc..), I never worked on a road bike before?

Which crank would makes a nice cheap (clean looking) 1 ring crank?

I run a freewheel at the back, I probably need to get a different hub cause if I put a bmx freewheel there, the spacing will be off right?

Thanks for these SS newbie questions.

edit BTW it does have horizontal dropouts.

 

[Old_Dude]

the often used link to Sheldon Brown's SS conversion page(s) Hope this helps . . . I wanted to convert an old mountain bike to SS . . . gave up . . . will pick it up again someday . . .


. . . yeah, right . . .

 

[BikeGeek]

Ahhhh Sheldon, what have you gone and done to yourself?

http://sheldonbrown.com/eagle.html

 

[Deyv]

My question is if you put a threaded single sprocket (takes least space than my 6 speed freewheel) how do you adjust the chain line, you cannot put spacers on a threaded hub? do you adjust the chainline by sliding the axel maybe? do you need to redish your wheel?

 

[BikeGeek]

"The cheapest way to convert a multi-speed bicycle into a singlespeed is to use the original rear hub, assuming that it is made for a conventional threaded freewheel. A single BMX freewheel will thread right on. Unfortunately, the chain line is likely to only work with your granny gear unless you re-space the rear axle and re-dish the wheel."

 

[Rev.Chuck]

To respace the hub, stick the wheel in the frame, with the free wheel on it, and see how far over you need to shift the hub to get the chainline. Say you need to move it five mm. If you are lucky there will be a five mm spacer on the drive side that you can move to the non drive side. Just break the lock nuts loose and take them off then move the spacer from one side to the other shifting the cones to "lengthen" the axle on the correct side. If the spacer is not the correct length to swap(it won't be) then you need to figure out what length it is and get a spacer that length minus five mm. and a five mm spacer to go on the other side. Ditch the old spacer and install the new ones.
Now, redish the wheel, idealy you would rebuild with correct length spokes, but don't sweat it. You will shift the wheel from right to left(looking from the back) so loosen all the right side spokes 1/4 turn and then tighten all the left spokes 1/4 turn. Keep doing it until the wheel is recentered. Lube the heck out of nipples before doing this. I have converted many a fixed gear this way.
Oh yeah, as long as this bike is not Italian or French you only need to worry about BB shell width, 68 or 73 mm and go ahead and get as narrow a spindle as will let the chain ring clear the stay, makes chain line easier.