How to convert a fixie to a 5 speed?
06-26-18, 12:23 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How to convert a fixie to a 5 speed?
Hi,
i recently acquired an old bike in order to teach myself some bike mechanics.. and was wondering if some of you may be so kind as to help?
I am a 100% beginner who previously just left it up to the bike repairer so there will be a lot of questions with what may usually be obvious answers!
I hope to put gears on a fixie bike and am sure as how to go about it.. i know i need to swap the wheels out to a smaller size, put a 5 speed cog-set and a rear derailer on the rear wheel, and adjusters to the handle bars.. but...
what size is the wheel.. 44-559 or 26 x 175
what smaller size wheel would allow this bike to be fitted with rear gear cogs?
What type of cogset would fit this bike?
Thanks to any and all who help me with this.. it very much appreciated!
i recently acquired an old bike in order to teach myself some bike mechanics.. and was wondering if some of you may be so kind as to help?
I am a 100% beginner who previously just left it up to the bike repairer so there will be a lot of questions with what may usually be obvious answers!
I hope to put gears on a fixie bike and am sure as how to go about it.. i know i need to swap the wheels out to a smaller size, put a 5 speed cog-set and a rear derailer on the rear wheel, and adjusters to the handle bars.. but...
what size is the wheel.. 44-559 or 26 x 175
what smaller size wheel would allow this bike to be fitted with rear gear cogs?
What type of cogset would fit this bike?
Thanks to any and all who help me with this.. it very much appreciated!
06-26-18, 12:34 PM
#2
Senior Member
Please post close-up photos of bike.
1. rear-wheel left & right side of hub
2. rear-dropouts of bike-frame
3. handlebar and stem area
4. frame under bottom-bracket/crank area.
If frame doesn't have hanger for rear-derailleur, we'll have to weld one on.
1. rear-wheel left & right side of hub
2. rear-dropouts of bike-frame
3. handlebar and stem area
4. frame under bottom-bracket/crank area.
If frame doesn't have hanger for rear-derailleur, we'll have to weld one on.
06-26-18, 12:42 PM
#3
Banned
a 5 speed screw on Freewheel bike and fixies are 120 rear dropouts,
but the rear opening fork ends on the back are different
than the typical front opening drop out on a derailleur bike
You Could get a 5 speed internally geared hub wheel , that may be simpler.
...
but the rear opening fork ends on the back are different
than the typical front opening drop out on a derailleur bike
You Could get a 5 speed internally geared hub wheel , that may be simpler.
...
06-26-18, 12:48 PM
#4
Senior Member
Yeah, I guess it depends upon if frame has true track dropouts or it was converted road-bike originally.
06-26-18, 02:01 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Whenever i try post pictures it tells me that i cant post url's until I have at least 10 posts.... even thoughi was uploading them straight from my device wtf!
Theres photos in my gallery...
Theres photos in my gallery...
Last edited by Android88; 06-26-18 at 02:08 PM.
06-26-18, 03:14 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
Why do you think you need to swap to smaller wheels?
that’s usually done to make room for fenders or wider tires.
A separate issue from gears.
that’s usually done to make room for fenders or wider tires.
A separate issue from gears.
06-26-18, 03:19 PM
#7
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,851
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12778 Post(s)
Liked 7,695 Times
in
4,084 Posts
Hi,
i recently acquired an old bike in order to teach myself some bike mechanics.. and was wondering if some of you may be so kind as to help?
I am a 100% beginner who previously just left it up to the bike repairer so there will be a lot of questions with what may usually be obvious answers!
I hope to put gears on a fixie bike and am sure as how to go about it.. i know i need to swap the wheels out to a smaller size, put a 5 speed cog-set and a rear derailer on the rear wheel, and adjusters to the handle bars.. but...
what size is the wheel.. 44-559 or 26 x 175
what smaller size wheel would allow this bike to be fitted with rear gear cogs?
What type of cogset would fit this bike?
Thanks to any and all who help me with this.. it very much appreciated!
i recently acquired an old bike in order to teach myself some bike mechanics.. and was wondering if some of you may be so kind as to help?
I am a 100% beginner who previously just left it up to the bike repairer so there will be a lot of questions with what may usually be obvious answers!
I hope to put gears on a fixie bike and am sure as how to go about it.. i know i need to swap the wheels out to a smaller size, put a 5 speed cog-set and a rear derailer on the rear wheel, and adjusters to the handle bars.. but...
what size is the wheel.. 44-559 or 26 x 175
what smaller size wheel would allow this bike to be fitted with rear gear cogs?
What type of cogset would fit this bike?
Thanks to any and all who help me with this.. it very much appreciated!
2. don't need a smaller sized wheel. If it's a loose bearing cup and cone setup, you probably just need a longer axle and a couple of spacers. Then respace, and redish the wheel. Probably easier/about the same price as paying someone to respace/redish just to get a new rear wheel, but it's tricky because your bike might be 120mm spaced and most 26" wheels will be 135mm spaced. It's kinda rare to see 559 fixies, though, so maybe it was a conversion, and is actually spaced 135 or maybe 130? Might measure distance between inside faces of rear dropouts.
3. Most 5,6,7,8 speed freewheels will fit if the wheel is respaced and redished properly.
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 06-26-18 at 03:23 PM.
06-26-18, 03:22 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Because it's a fixie.. and there wouldn't be enough space to fit a 5 speed cog in, so putting a smaller wheel on would give me more space for the cog?
06-26-18, 03:25 PM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
1. probably both, assuming the second one should read 26 x 1.75"
2. don't need a smaller sized wheel. If it's a loose bearing cup and cone setup, you probably just need a longer axle and a couple of spacers. Then respace, and redish the wheel. Probably easier/about the same price as paying someone to respace/redish just to get a new rear wheel, but it's tricky because your bike might be 120mm spaced and most 26" wheels will be 135mm spaced.
3. Most 5,6,7,8 speed freewheels will fit if the wheel is respaced and redished properly.
2. don't need a smaller sized wheel. If it's a loose bearing cup and cone setup, you probably just need a longer axle and a couple of spacers. Then respace, and redish the wheel. Probably easier/about the same price as paying someone to respace/redish just to get a new rear wheel, but it's tricky because your bike might be 120mm spaced and most 26" wheels will be 135mm spaced.
3. Most 5,6,7,8 speed freewheels will fit if the wheel is respaced and redished properly.
06-26-18, 03:32 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,977
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1638 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
495 Posts
Make 6 more post's, then load your pics or load them to a photo hosting service and provide a link.
__________________
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
06-26-18, 03:33 PM
#11
Banned
inside width of frame, in mm, to fit increasingly wide hubs,
5/120, 6~7/126, 8+ / 130.. 135 MTB ..
as the more speeds thing needs more axle width.
5/120, 6~7/126, 8+ / 130.. 135 MTB ..
as the more speeds thing needs more axle width.
06-26-18, 03:35 PM
#12
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,851
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12778 Post(s)
Liked 7,695 Times
in
4,084 Posts
06-26-18, 03:43 PM
#14
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,851
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12778 Post(s)
Liked 7,695 Times
in
4,084 Posts
Respacing/redishing isn't really a beginner thing, so I'd advise getting a wheel that's already the right OLD (over locknut dimension), or the distance between the inner faces of the rear dropouts. Respacing can involve moving spacers from one side to another, or adding or removing spacers on the rear axle. Redishing is adjusting spoke tensions to move the rim back into the center plane of the bike frame after respacing is done.
06-26-18, 03:48 PM
#15
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,851
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12778 Post(s)
Liked 7,695 Times
in
4,084 Posts
Well, for the fixed/freewheel 120mm rear wheel I have, I would have to get a slimmer locknut on the fixed side (they make them pretty slim but the stock one on my bike is about 10mm thick). I would then have to put a spacer or two on the freewheel side, then screw on a 5-sp freewheel and make sure that the outer face of the locknut sticks out past the edge of the freewheel. Then reinstall the wheel with 5-speed freewheel on the drive side. Then adjust spoke tensions on the wheel in order to pull the rim back on center (the locknut and spacer changes will have put the rim off center).
06-26-18, 06:20 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
need pictures and measurement of rear dropout spacing
if it was a designed to be a fixie, then it won't have a derailler hanger if it was converted from a geared bike then you might have a derailler hanger that will drive some decisions
does it have brakes? need to think about those if it doesnt.
if it was a designed to be a fixie, then it won't have a derailler hanger if it was converted from a geared bike then you might have a derailler hanger that will drive some decisions
does it have brakes? need to think about those if it doesnt.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
06-26-18, 10:04 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,806
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1944 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times
in
1,323 Posts
need pictures and measurement of rear dropout spacing
if it was a designed to be a fixie, then it won't have a derailler hanger if it was converted from a geared bike then you might have a derailler hanger that will drive some decisions
does it have brakes? need to think about those if it doesnt.
if it was a designed to be a fixie, then it won't have a derailler hanger if it was converted from a geared bike then you might have a derailler hanger that will drive some decisions
does it have brakes? need to think about those if it doesnt.
Take the rear wheel out of the frame and measure the inside where the wheel goes with a tape measure. It should be around 4-3/4" or 5" or 5-1/8" or 5-5/16".
Look up derailleur hanger so you know what it is. If it is a true fixie, it will probably have a horizontal slot.
Look at pictures of road and mountain bike brakes and see if your bike has a place for either. I didn't mention disc because I've never seen a fixie with disc brakes.
Then let everyone know what you have.
John
06-27-18, 07:31 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
The general assumption if you talk about bigger or smaller wheels is diameter, particularly the Bead Seat Diameter (where rim and tire overlap) of the rim.
And there is no determined relation between the diameter and the axle width AKA Over Locknut Dimension(OLD) of the hub.
So, for easiest accomplishment of your goal, you need a new wheel of the same diameter and the same OLD as your FG, but this time with gears.
06-27-18, 07:41 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
They're the same, in two different sizing systems.
44 is the approximate width and height of the inflated tire in millimeters. It corresponds to the 1.75" in the latter group of numbers.
559 is the Bead Seat Diameter - where rim and tire overlap - in millimeters. It has no direct counterpart in the latter group of numbers.
26" is roughly the working diameter of the wheel, with tire properly inflated.
26" is a somewhat unreliable size description. There's something like five different and incompatible rim sizes all called 26-something.
That's the downside of using the inflated tire as a size reference. A bigger rim with a narrower tire end up having the same working diameter as a smaller rim with a wider tire.
44 is the approximate width and height of the inflated tire in millimeters. It corresponds to the 1.75" in the latter group of numbers.
559 is the Bead Seat Diameter - where rim and tire overlap - in millimeters. It has no direct counterpart in the latter group of numbers.
26" is roughly the working diameter of the wheel, with tire properly inflated.
26" is a somewhat unreliable size description. There's something like five different and incompatible rim sizes all called 26-something.
That's the downside of using the inflated tire as a size reference. A bigger rim with a narrower tire end up having the same working diameter as a smaller rim with a wider tire.
06-27-18, 08:31 AM
#20
Banned
06-28-18, 07:27 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Everything on a bicycle works together. You can almost never change just one part without having to replace or modify something else in order to make it work.
It can certainly be done, but there are a lot of details to work out if you are trying to convert a single speed to a multi speed. Fitting the rear wheel is one of the easier considerations. Have you thought about cable routing yet?
It can certainly be done, but there are a lot of details to work out if you are trying to convert a single speed to a multi speed. Fitting the rear wheel is one of the easier considerations. Have you thought about cable routing yet?
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
06-28-18, 10:47 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
to put is simple....converting a fixe to 5 speed is not a beginner sort of thing
still not picture and measurments
still not picture and measurments
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
06-28-18, 07:49 PM
#23
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,851
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12778 Post(s)
Liked 7,695 Times
in
4,084 Posts
Everything on a bicycle works together. You can almost never change just one part without having to replace or modify something else in order to make it work.
It can certainly be done, but there are a lot of details to work out if you are trying to convert a single speed to a multi speed. Fitting the rear wheel is one of the easier considerations. Have you thought about cable routing yet?
It can certainly be done, but there are a lot of details to work out if you are trying to convert a single speed to a multi speed. Fitting the rear wheel is one of the easier considerations. Have you thought about cable routing yet?
06-29-18, 04:51 AM
#24
Senior Member
The old Shimano SIS 5 speed derailleur has the arm which has a built in dropout. Am at work, so can’t post a pic, but pm me if you can’t find one, I have a couple and could hook you up with one.
06-29-18, 02:30 PM
#25
Hack
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,265
Bikes: TrueNorth CX bike, 88 Bianchi Strada (currently Sturmey'd), Yess World Cup race BMX, Pure Cruiser race BMX, RSD Mayor v3 Fatbike
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 347 Post(s)
Liked 190 Times
in
132 Posts
Easiest way to do this is with a stirmey-archer 5sp hub already built in a wheel, especially if your frame has track forks (rear facing opening) rather than the horizontal dropouts (forward facing)
