single speed build

I've been looking at Sheldon Brown's site and reading up about building my Motobecane Mixte into a single speed, and I have a couple of questions.

1. I noticed in the fixed gear/single speed galleries that a lot of times they just use a front brake. Is this a good idea as I'm going to use this as an errand bike around town?

2. It seems that 27" wheels are easier to align than 700c, but either size will work. (The wheels on it now are 27". I think this bike is from the 70s) Correct? I want wheels with the flip flop hubs, and there are several of both kinds on ebay. Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

1. Front brake only is standard on fixed gear bikes, since your legs can apply stopping force to the rear wheel. You could leave the rear brake on for awhile and try it both ways.

2. Are you talking about chain alignment on 700c vs 27"? Chain alignment would be a function of the hub, not the rim size. If the bike has 27" wheels now, you know that the brakes have the right reach for that size rim. If you switched to 700c you'd have to check frame clearance and brake reach.

I've seen a female bike messenger in downtown D.C. who rides a fixie with NO BRAKES! Seriously, I looked at her bike one day while she was inside an office building and it's got no brakes. She must be one tough chickie.

We've done, let's see, four or five single-speed builds of old road frames, and I think we're about 50/50 on whether we've been able to swap in 700c wheels for the old 27s. If you have a spare wheel around, it's pretty easy to test.

Chain alignment should be a breeze if you buy a track wheel with a flip-flop hub; otherwise you might have to redish the old wheel to get the chainline neat, but we've actually had pretty good luck with chainlines working out okay. A bike shop can be helpful with that, but it has to be one that understands what you are doing. (Oh, man, did I get talked down to by guys who had no idea why somebody would turn a bike into a single speed on purpose.)

Speaking of bike shops, I shopped around for wheels online (the cheapest come from NYCbikes.com, but I've heard mixed reviews of their wheels and have never bought one myself) but we found our best deal locally. If 700c wheels won't work for you then your options are much more limited and you may have trouble finding anything locally, and in fact I think Harris Cyclery was the only place I found a set. You can also have a new wheel built up by about any wheelbuilder -- just ask. Harris doesn't have 27" rims on their custom wheel order page, but they said they'd be happy to do it when I asked. And it was not much more expensive than a stock wheel.

I have never heard of anyone removing the rear brake from a single-speed (as opposed to a fixed gear). We keep both brakes on all of ours.

I am working on a new SS project myself this weekend, waiting for my new frame to show up today so I can see if I need to stick with 27" wheels.

There are a couple of 27" wheelsets on ebay. I may just go with that, and I'll keep the rear brake. I need to strip and paint the frame first. Popoki_nui sent me a message on how she paints hers and I'm going to try it. I just wanted to have the knowledge, and a plan in hand when I'm ready. I tend to research research research, so I really appreciate all of the input.

Thanks deb, I always appreciate it when you help out! You have answered so many questions for me, directly and indirectly!

I would love to see some of your builds xeney! Can you post some pics? After all, you were my inspiration to get going on this in the first place...

Sure, I'll take a picture of my Nishiki with its new wheels later today. I'd take a picture of my husband's Centurion (which I love, I think he did a great job with it), but it is his regular commuter and it is covered in mud and road grit, and should probably not show its face until it's had a bath. Heh.

(Where is FedEx, where is FedEx, my new frame is supposed to be here before 10 a.m. ...)

Hey, uforgot, how is the build coming?

I'm working on building up this frame:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/4...7fa1b06b50.jpg

It's a new old stock Puch mixte, not anything fancy but in beautiful condition. Right now it's at the LBS getting a new headset, and I also ordered a new fork and a new wheelset. I had to make the choice between 700c wheels and a lugged fork. I could have a lugged fork if I stuck with 27" wheels, but I wanted the selection that comes with 700c wheels, so I am getting a chrome sloped fork, which my husband offered to have painted so that it's mostly black with chrome tips. I think that will look nice.

I decided the frame was too nice for all the old bike parts I had intended to use to build it up, so I have a shiny new Sugino crankset ready to install, and new MKS Sylvan pedals. I'm going with 42/16 gearing, and the LBS has the Nitto Technomic stem and the Nitto bullhorns ready to install along with the headset.

I'm going to try cyclocross brake levers on this one, although I couldn't find any that I really liked -- most of the nicer ones are black, and I want silver. I am starting with some Nashbar cheapies and I'll see if I find something better.

I am very anxious to get this bike on the road, but the fork issue had me stymied for a while. I really wanted a lugged fork, but since it is a new frame and I have some different ideas for what it might be used for in the future, I decided the wheel options were more important for now.

My buildup is at a total standstill right now. I scored a Burley Sahalie frame on ebay, so I've been working on moving my parts over from my Jamis Quest. My lbs is helping, and he's been unbelievably gracious about an ebay purchase. (Rte 66 bicycles in Rolla, MO, here's his plug). It's been a long process, but I'm intrigued and learning a lot. I have a book, websites, and I now know how to adjust a derailleur, install new lines, adjust brakes...it's been so much fun and I think after this weekend she is going to be ready for her maiden voyage!

I still have the Motobecane and plan to dig right into that next, and now I know so much more about it, but I still may be hitting you up for some advice. My lbs thinks I'm crazy, (the frame must weigh 400 lbs), but he doesn't understand...

Now, how about some pics of that new frame and it's buildup? Or did you post them and I missed them? By the way, I loved looking at your bikes on your website. My inspiration!

I don't have any photos, unfortunately, because I haven't seen my bike for weeks! The new headset is still on order, although it does have wheels now and a new fork. I will hopefully have it back by the beginning of next week.

I don't think I will be able to ride it for a while, though, because in the last week or so I've gone from "sorta pregnant" to "holy cow, she's a whale." I'm a little afraid to get on a bike.

Congrats on the Burley!

Updating to say that I finally have my bike back! We had a hard time tracking down the headset, and then the shop had to rethread the fork because they couldn't find one to fit. But it looks so pretty (even though I couldn't get a lugged fork, I had to settle for a plain chrome one), and hopefully we will be able to steal some time this week to put on the new cranks, the pedals, the new seatpost, and the saddle. I should have gone ahead and ordered the freewheel and the brake cables while I was waiting for it, but I forgot, so I will have to do that now. We also need to determine for sure whether I can use the old short-reach DiaCompe brakes I have, or whether the conversion to 700c wheels is going to require long-reach brakes.

I'm really excited ... I can't believe how pretty this bike is.