Singlespeed Solutions
Some call it a habit, others call it a lifestyle. Whatever you decide the singlespeed life entails is up to you. What’s certain about singlespeeding is choice. When it comes to figuring out how to set up a singlespeed mountain bike, the choices are plentiful. The three key factors to consider when building up a bike are as follows:
What brake type will be used?
How will the chain be tensioned?
What dropout will be most appropriate?
When the singlespeed craze first became hot a few years back, the solution to allow a disc brake to work in conjunction with a chain that needed to stay tensioned was the use of an eccentric bottom bracket. As the bottom bracket insert “spun” inside the shell, the chain could be tensioned. This system allowed a standard vertical dropout to be used, while a disc rotor and caliper stayed in perfect alignment.
Photos by Chris Milliman.
Recently, there has been a variety of frame builders using a “slider” dropout that allows for the actual drop out to control the tension of the chain; the disc mount and dropout remain constant. This system allows for a standard bottom bracket shell to be used; allows for disc brakes and singlespeeds to mate nicely; allows for the chain to be tensioned. The weight of this system is roughly the same as an eccentric bottom bracket set-up.
Photo by Seven Cycles.
At Cascade Bicycle Studio, we offer singlespeed frames from two manufacturers: Seven Cycles and Sycip. Both Seven Cycles and Sycip can design singlespeeds around an eccentric bottom bracket or sliding dropout at an additional up-charge. Seven Cycles has even gone as far as designing their own, proprietary, Rohloff-certified, titanium sliding dropout with the Seven logo embossed on the outside of the dropout. The cost for singlespeed options vary depending on material and method. Of course, if you prefer to use a simple v-brake, a horizontal track dropout is always an option.
Seven Cycles:
Horizontal dropout for use with v-brake: no charge
Eccentric bottom bracket for steel or titanium frames: $260
Paragon Machineworks sliding dropout for steel frames: $150
Seven Cycles Rohloff-certified sliding dropout, titanium frames: $350
Sycip:
Horizontal dropout for use with v-brake: no charge
Eccentric bottom bracket for steel or titanium frames: $150
Paragon Machineworks sliding dropout for steel frames: $150
Paragon Machineworks sliding dropout for titanium frames: $300
Posted: May 15, 2006 by Cascade Bicycle Studio