Just in case you thought single speed meant less maintenance...

[PaulF]

I've just had to spend 10 minutes cleaning and lubing the freewheel.


I mean, I've only had the bike six years and I ride it in all weathers


(and, yes, I know if I went fixed I wouldn't have to do it at all!)

[rogerzilla]

Sturmey-Archer FTW.  Open one up years later and it's still clean inside!

[zigzag]

the annoying bit of maintenance with ss bikes is adjusting chain tension every 200-300km. i used to wear out two chains on geared bike and not touch anything else during that time (apart from lubing the chain / pumping tyres)

[Crumbling Nick]

the annoying bit of maintenance with ss bikes is adjusting chain tension every 200-300km. i used to wear out two chains on geared bike and not touch anything else during that time (apart from lubing the chain / pumping tyres)

I doubt that chain tension is that critical with a freewheel, unless, as is my habit, you avoid freewheeling downhill. That's not an option with a fixed wheel.
Meanwhile, one of the advantages of a fixed transmission is that brake usage is reduced & consequently rim life is dramatically improved.
YMMV.

[Ivan]

the annoying bit of maintenance with ss bikes is adjusting chain tension every 200-300km. i used to wear out two chains on geared bike and not touch anything else during that time (apart from lubing the chain / pumping tyres)

But you run 3/32" not 1/8" don't you? I can get about 600km out of mine before someone starts making sarky comments.

[zigzag]

yes, 8sp chain. this makes 20 adjustments throughout the chain's life, could use that time better

[Biggsy]

yes, 8sp chain. this makes 20 adjustments throughout the chain's life, could use that time better

Freewheel or fixed?  You shouldn't have to adjust it anything like that often with a freewheel.

[zigzag]

freewheel, but i like the tension just right. i had a chain jumping off couple of times in the past and once it's resulted a bent (alloy) axle. there's a sweet spot between too tight and too slack and it lasts for 200-300km depending on conditions, before another adjustment.

[Tim Hall]

freewheel, but i like the tension just right. i had a chain jumping off couple of times in the past and once it's resulted a bent (alloy) axle. there's a sweet spot between too tight and too slack and it lasts for 200-300km depending on conditions, before another adjustment.

When I suffered a spate of chain jumping off on my fixer, I finally got round to fitting a new chain ring.  As the unworn teeth were much longer than the stumps of metal on the old ring this improved things no end.

[zigzag]

the chainring teeth weren't worn as far as i could tell, just forgot to check the tension for couple of months. but yes, worn out teeth would definitely drop the chain if it's not super-tight

[Pickled Onion]

freewheel, but i like the tension just right. i had a chain jumping off couple of times in the past and once it's resulted a bent (alloy) axle. there's a sweet spot between too tight and too slack and it lasts for 200-300km depending on conditions, before another adjustment.

20 times over the life of one chain is a helluva lot of stretch! Presumably what's actually happening is the axle is moving...

[PaulF]

Either that or chain stays being irreversibly compressed. I think in the average chain like of my single speeds I move it the equivalent of several links

[zigzag]

1% stretch is about a half-link of the chain, so re-adjustment would be needed for every 0.6mm stretch. from what i noticed, the tiniest adjustment of rear axle (fore-aft) affects chain tension substantially.

in fact it would be interesting to do the calculations - how much vertical movement of chain (the whole amplitude) increases by moving rear axle 1mm.

[Jakob]

Since I had to replace the broken brake cable, I decided to do the semi-annual maintenance of my fixed gear bike. 5 minutes later and I was done.
Having said that, after having the brake cable going *PING* at a rather critical moment, I will now replace it every two year rather than waiting 8 years for it to break!. (First thing apart from tyres  & brake blocks to get replaced on this bike)

[Gog yn y De]

the annoying bit of maintenance with ss bikes is adjusting chain tension every 200-300km.

I've fitted a chain from a Honda Fireblade to my fixed - don't have any problems with the chain stretching 

[zigzag]

^ this post is useless without photos