CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

...Or not to fix.

(26 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by steveo
  • Latest reply from steveo
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. steveo
    Member

    ...that is is the question

    The single speeds freewheel is dying. It sounds like a 16 century mill wheel and when I was lubing the chain this morning I actually had to put a lot of force to the pedals to stop it from binding, at which point a load of dryish gunk came out... So its dead.

    Now I don't suppose these have any user serviceable parts so I'll need a replacement. Easiest thing to do would be get an like for like replacement (18t) or go up to 16t and try to remember to take the racer when its windy. Other option is to get the fixed sproket out a box and swap the clippy pedals from the racer. This defeats the single speeds always ready to go raison d'etre as I'd need clippy shoes but its cheaper and I could set the racer up for general use for the few days a month I'd need it during the winter.

    TLDR; Go fixed or not?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I reckon from the description of the roles of the bikes that you should actually keep it singlespeed rather than going to fixed...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Replace. Take it apart and see if it can be repaired then it could be used as a spare?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Uberuce
    Member

    You'll need to shell out for a lockring unless you already have one, and they're barely cheaper than a freewheel.

    If you don't already know that you like riding fixed, I dunno if I'd want to make it inconvenient to go back to single.

    Wee blue floofy is at your disposal for a test ride/loan if you aren't already a fan of fixed.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. steveo
    Member

    Looks like the prevailing mood is for good sense... Probably for the best. I have a feeling these things will have "no user serviceable parts sticker" some where

    Now 16 or 18 teeth. I'd probably be ok with 16, but some days 18 feels a bit high! The steepest thing I ever use this bike for is the ramp out the garage with very occasional jaunts down Leith but good route planning usually saves my blushes.

    Cheers Uberuce I've got a lockring, came with the wheel, but never actually tried it. Only just got comfortable with clippy pedals a few months a go. Might stick the sprocket on while I've got the wheel off and give it a try for a fews days.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Uberuce
    Member

    I certainly prefer fixed to single, but I can't rationally argue why - it's better for weaving through slow traffic, but for everything else the freewheel is technically better.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. steveo
    Member

    Right, good sense has mostly prevailed. Ordered a 16t freewheel that way if I can fix the 18t I'll have two of different gears and if not they're hardly expensive... Going to stick the fixed sprocket on so I can have a play but unless I really like it I'll probably stick to ss so I can stick with flat pedals.

    Now to find out what sized hammer I'll need to get the old one off.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. steveo
    Member

    Just as well didn't cick pay now before the screen timed out. Had a quick look in the garage and it looks like I've currently got one of the easier to remove freewheels with 4 slots to engage the tool with. Now trying to find a new freewheel with the same slots, unfortunately shops don't seem keen on telling you what tool they need and only show you the pretty side which doesn't engage with the tool.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    Is it just the freewheel or is the hub toast too?

    Your LBS will probably have an SS freewheel in a drawer somewhere.

    If the hub is dead, the other possibility is to pick up a lightly used 8 speed cassette rear wheel from somewhere (GumBay?) and buy a single speed conversion kit (basically some spacers and a cog to fit on a cassette freehub).

    Saves on a wheel build, but more expense...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. steveo
    Member

    Just the freewheel, surprisingly. I should have probably repacked the hub after last winter but I doubt there is much point in doing it now.

    When I first looked at a single speed I had absolute murder trying to find a 700c rear wheel. Bike station got so few through they needed them all for their own builds which in the end is why I ended up getting a "track" bike and "proper" hub... That and Kaputnik was selling one a price I couldn't refuse.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. steveo
    Member

    Sturmey Archer to the rescue. £13 delivered and it uses the same 4 slot tool as the current one.

    I've been thinking about the current freewheel. Its not really done that much mileage. I started using the Giant about 12mths ago, it was off the road over Feb/March due to my chain snapping incident then barely used over the "summer" due to "training" for the c2c so its probably done 6 months solid service through the worst weather but still. Hopefully the Sturmey will last longer.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Let's hope your experience of SA componentry somewhat better than Dave's. Have you requested the self-fix kit yet as a precaution?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. crowriver
    Member

    Winter can be harsh on bike components.

    The SS freewheel on my son 's tagalong rusted solid after one winter of salty roads. No amount of WD40 would unfreeze it. He rode 'fixed' for a few days (sometimes a bit painful) until I picked up a replacement.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. steveo
    Member

    I think the problem with the cheap freewheels is they're designed for low mileage high impact BMX work stick em on a big doing real mileage in real weather and road crud gets them quickly.

    The SA is better regarded than the cheaper ones and better apparently even than Shimano's effort so we'll see.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. Instography
    Member

    When mine went I took it along to the Bike Chain and they took off the old (Shimano) one, put on the new one and charged me a fiver (plus the cost of the new freewheel). Cheaper than the two tools I'd have had to buy to do it myself.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. recombodna
    Member

    Ahhh but you never waste money on a tool....

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. steveo
    Member

    Been running the 16t for a couple of weeks now. Can't say I've noticed the hills being much harder* and I do spin out much less frequently on the flat so overall i'm happy**.

    *Going up Cluny Gardens in to a howling head wind did test me metal but then I suspect the 18t would've had the same result.
    ** I reserve the right to state the opposite when I get home this evening!

    Having said that, has any one got a lockring tool I could borrow to put the fixed sprocket on. Going to need some practice if i'm going to try the velodrome.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. Uberuce
    Member

    Got a Trixie kicking about, yush. What time do you leave the house of a morning?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. steveo
    Member

    Compared to you? Lunch time!

    It would probably be easier if I just swung round one evening, you're not exactly far away.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. Uberuce
    Member

    Righto. I'm home by 6.15 most days, so you may be able to shrink it from a trip to a detour.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. steveo
    Member

    Well... so much for Sturmey.

    Six weeks in and its creaking and grinding like the dicta was except the dicta took nearly a year to die.

    Emailed the shop for a refund, ~300 miles of use is not acceptable!

    I think that is what is causing the squirly feeling in the back, it feels like a lack of traction but I think its feeding back down the chain and just making it feel "not right".

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. steveo
    Member

    Swapped sprockets over and went for a ride, bike is trying to kill me but I think I'll get the hang of it.

    Not so sure that freewheel is quite as dead as I thought, the hub is pretty grindy. Don't suppose any one has a known good flip flop hub and would be willing to try my freewheel before I send it back.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. Uberuce
    Member

    I have a 120mm OLD flipflop rear wheel built by the Bike Works hanging about five feet from me. 15-tooth fixed cog and empty free side.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. steveo
    Member

    Cheers mate, you free on Thursday evening?

    I could pop round, should only take half an hour to stick it on do a lap of the park and bully it back off.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Uberuce
    Member

    Yep, Thursday looks clear.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  26. steveo
    Member

    Cool see you about 8.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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