Jicafold

So I am making a fixie out of some parts I picked up. It's an older Takara frame that I got for free and some fixie wheels I got off Craigslist. It has a serviceable 16 tooth a single speed freewheel. I put a multi-speed chain on it, I'm not sure what kind, seven speed or eight speed, and the chain was skipping on the rear cog. The chain was not stretched. When inquiring at the local bike shop they were explaining to me that a single speed chain is needed for this setup and they also demonstrated with a single vs multispeed chain. So I dug out a single speed chain from my box o' chains, and sure enough, it worked just fine. So why is this? I didn't really follow what they were saying at the shop.

Koyote

I believe that "SS chain" means 1/8", while a chain for a derailleur-equipped bike is 3/32".

dedhed

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...-compatibility

cxwrench

If you have a freewheel you don't have a 'fixie', you have a single speed. All chains are the same pitch, 1/8" chains are 1/32" wider than 3/32" chains. There are cogs and chainrings to match so if you try to put a regular chain for a geared bike (3/32") on a 1/8" cog/ring it won't work. You can go the opposite way obviously.

Jicafold

I was only using the term "fixie" in the generic sense. But thank you for that info.

Litespud

As the others said, sounds like you have a 1/8" freewheel - I didn't even know such things existed until I took a look around. The other difference between 1/8" chains and "standard" 3/32" chains for multispeed drivetrains is that the 3/32" chains have sufficient lateral flexibility built in to allow them to deflect across a cassette. A 1/8" chain won't do this and is only usable with a straight chainline. Of course, if you have a 3/32" sprocket/freewheel and chainring, a "multispeed" 3/32" chain is perfectly adequate for a S/S or FG application - it's just not using its inherent flexibility, but will be more forgiving of a less-than-perfect chainline (although it's always recommended to spend the time to get the chainline right- derailing the chain on an FG will almost certainly ruin your day!). A 1/8" drivetrain will also be more robust and last longer.

Koyote

Unlikely. I don't think a 3/32" chain will even work, even a little bit, on a 1/8" cog. I mean, you could try, but I think the problems would be beyond a little skipping.

But I could be wrong, as I've never tried.

OP: as others have suggested, you best match the cog, chainring, and chain: all 1/8" or all 3/32". Alternatively, you can go with a 1/8" chain even if your cog and/or chainring is 3/32", but that's not optimal.

If you have the right combo of those three items, and you're still getting slipping, then one or more parts is too worn, or you've set it up incorrectly.

hsuBM

I ride a road bike with a fixed gear wheel, and I’m of the opinion that since the trackbikes-ridden-on-the-road fad was on life support in 2012 and fully deceased and in the ground in 2015, “fixies” are just affordable flat/riser handlebar single speed urban roadbikes, usually with funky colors.

FHSSURB/RHSSURB? RHSSURBWFC?

Just SSURB?

Anyways, I’ve never seen 3/32” SS freewheels (doesn’t mean they don’t exist), you’re probably stuck with 1/8” chains to fit the freewheel. You really don’t need to change to a 1/8” chainring on the cranks to match.

Enjoy your fixie (or whatever mouthful of words to describe your bike you choose) in good health.

JanMM

A fixed-gear bike is often referred to as a fixie. A single speed bike should not be referred to as a fixie unless it has a fixed gear. I have converted three multispeed bikes to singlespeed with freewheel and never referred to them as fixies. Should a singlespeed bike with a flip flop hub be called a fixie if it is always ridden that way? Maybe.

Litespud

indeed. Reread where I said “Of course, if you have a 3/32" sprocket/freewheel and chainring, a "multispeed" 3/32" chain is perfectly adequate for a S/S or FG application” No one said you could use a 3/32” chain with a 1/8” sprocket or chainring.

Gresp15C

I've used a 1/8 chain on bikes with 1/8 cog and 3/32 ring. This setup has worked for years on both bikes with no apparent issues.

ofajen

I have that setup on my Schwinn and it works fine. I’m running a cheap 1/8” freewheel and 3/32” road chainring, so I have to have the 1/8” chain.

Interestingly, the high end freewheels from White Industries are all made for 3/32” chains and the 16T and all of the double freewheels work only with 3/32” chains. All their other singles can work with both 3/32” and 1/8”.

Otto

Koyote

Oops, you're right, I missed that. Correct, and you have my apology.

Koyote

Yes, to my dismay. Apparently, on those freewheels, a 1/8" chain will rub on the freewheel body (if that's what it's called?) bc it is too thick.

Fortunately, I can buy three Shimano freewheels (which work fine with 1/8" chains) for the price of one WI...But still, I really want that $90 freewheel on my $500 SS bike.

ofajen

Yeah, I bought a $10 freewheel from the local shop with no expectations and it has been through 1500 miles already without complaint. The cost of the WI freewheel just seems out of proportion for my Schwinn.

Otto

79pmooney

The cogs on a double have to be further apart to use an 1/8" chain. I've never owned or measured a White Industries or Surly 3/32" double but I am sure they are narrower than my 1/8" double. (I stopped using 3/32" for fix gears 20 years ago and am not going back.)

Fun aside - that bike is set up with a flip-flop fix-fix hub. Built with a touch of dish so the three cogs sit at different chainlines. An 1/8" triple up front. Runs 3 very different gear ratios on their respective chainlines. (Or I can run two close cogs, flipping one around, off the middle chainring and have a standard flip-flop with two close gears.) The whole point of this is to have a true mountain fix gear. With gears of (say) 46-13 (= 96"), 42-17 (= 67") and 36-24 (= 41"). I set this up on my Peter Mooney to ride the week long Cycle Oregon up Crater Lake's north entrance AND ride the promised 30 miles of mountain gravel on fat tires that won't fit on my other fix gears, Sadly, first the gravel got canceled, then the whole ride (fires) but I got "stuck" with a bike that is a blast! Love having a fix gear where 1) the Oregon uphills aren't 67 yo body breakers and 2) the descents are fun!

If someone wants to get crazy and do this, I can tell them how I had my double cog made. (It wasn't cheap.) For the triple, get an old crankset, Sugino or the like. Chainrings will be too narrow for 1/8" chain but this isn't really an issue barring OCD. The chain will scrape the adjacent larger chainring until it has created deep enough gouges. Once gouged, everything runs just fine. (It's all turning the same speed. The protruding rivet pins on the chain always hit the neighboring chainring exactly the same way,. The gouges are not deep, don't affect strength at all, are on the inside of the rings where they are quite hard to see and simply mean that you can never pass those rings of as NOS!)

Chainline will be an issue. You need to bring the crankset as far inboard as possible; to the inner chainring almost scraping the chainstay. Easy way to do this is go Phil Wood. First, set this up with a stock Sugino BB. Measure clearances on both sides. Calculate a new spindle length that brings the crankset in the full distance and the left crank where you want it. Order from PW that length and asymmetry. (You get wiggle room with PW BBs so fine tune the asymmetry after putting the right crank on.)

I know no one's going to do this, but I tell you, once done it is a blast! (Some fellow forumites can vouch for me riding that bike over the Oregon Coast range with its 18% up, 18% down on logging roads and doing just fine. In fact, with the the big fixed gear I had the best downhill gravel setup!)

79pmooney

I suspect you will be old and grey long before your rubbing chain does any damage to either the WI freewheel or itself beyond cosmetic. The chain pins will simple create a scratch adjacent to that tooth and shorten themselves a little. Eventual they'll clear. It's al pretty hard steel so it will be a slow process. (Now scratching a WI freewheel - that might not be forgiveable. Funny that the "who cares" Shimano does just fine.)

Koyote

Too late. I’m already old and grey.

veganbikes

As in the bike needs to be fixie'd? You shouldn't have brokie'd it. If you were trying to be generic I would have just said bike. If I was talking about a single speed bike I would say single speed bike as that is pretty generic.


In terms of White Industries freewheels both of mine are 1/8 though I got them several years ago. I went 17t so that might also play a factor in 1/8 compatibility. Honestly I would rather just have larger gears over all probably leads to a longer lasting set up and potentially smoother running?! I would happily run 3/32 chains to keep running WI freewheels, they are the absolute finest freewheel out there.

Jicafold

Most single speed / fixie bikes have a flip flop rear hub for both a single speed freewheel and fixed gear. It's awkward to refer to it as a single speed/fixed gear bike when you can just say fixie. Hence, I used the term "fixie" in the generic sense.

Learn to be nice to others on the forum. Relax. Read this link. Then spend some time in self-reflection.

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...ign-times.html

Thank you to the others for their information. I think this thread has run it's course.

veganbikes

You think I am not relaxed? Oy vey you have a lot to learn. I am generally at least 2˚ cooler than a cucumber 98% of the time here on the forum. I come here and relax a lot of the time. As far as self reflection you don't know the half of it.

Just call it a single speed and be done. It isn't awkward it is accurate. If you aren't running it as a fixed gear it is not a fixed gear keep it simple. Or do what I did on my Cinelli Mash which has the official working title of Single Speed/Fixed Gear RandoCross Fun Time Machine (and this one has been ridden in both fixed and single speed though spends much of its life now as a single speeder leaving fixed duties to the Langster Rio which has no fancy name yet)

Jicafold

Holy ****, man. Just ride your bike.

veganbikes

I did, a bunch had a great time. Pulled my boss' daughter in a trailer and she had a blast and was out camping. Everything else I said still rings true, though I might be calmer than you, dude, right now after the riding and camping.