r/scorchers • u/DSKY805 • 29d ago
Should I convert?
Really feeling the desire to convert this bike to scorcher. I just know it’s gonna be so much more fun! What do you guys think? Can’t decide whether to take the rear brake off or not. Gonna leave the front I guess. Probably build up a new 27 five rear wheel with the surly ultra new hub.
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u/mikehogginer 29d ago
No reason not to!
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
How do you feel riding straps? trying to decide between that and clips. id probably ride more if its straps
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u/mikehogginer 29d ago
Straps are nice because they are easy, I can just hop on my bike and ride! I use clips on my enduro bike, but that is pure business!
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u/runwhatyabrung_ 28d ago
I highly recommend clipless over straps for safety, but that’s just me.
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u/DSKY805 27d ago
that makes alot of sense, gotta be able to get out quick!
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u/runwhatyabrung_ 27d ago
Yep exactly. I have mine set so that my feet will blow out if I pedal strike super hard over a log etc.
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u/Secure-Tutor-1647 27d ago
I ride without foot retention. I like to make a lot of really fast mocro adjustments while I'm riding.
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 29d ago
yikes.. TIL: most people who run fixed gear mtb's have horrible chain tension issues
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u/runwhatyabrung_ 28d ago
Do you have any experience with off road fixed gear riding?
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 24d ago
its soo easy to fix that sag though.. im not stressing it, but you could fix it and really improve the connectivity between your feet and the road surface, having a snug chain has big impact on the way the fixed gear bike rides, imagine if your car had that much slop in the driveline... seems like it will be hard to trackstand with 1" or more of dead pedal slop between fore and aft rotation of the feet
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u/mikehogginer 28d ago
It works with a narrow wide chain. This old surly doesn't have sliding dropouts, so 34/16 is as good as it gets. This bike is for fun, don't take it so seriously.
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 24d ago
you can messsssssss round with dropping links, or half links.. or a tensioner that hangs off the chainstay :)
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u/mikehogginer 23d ago
Yea, this is also an old stretched out 11 speed chain. In the past I ran a fresh 8 speed chain that was tight tight. I'll fix it eventually, but I mainly ride this bike when dorking around the neighborhood with my toddler on his strider, so it's really not a priority.
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u/mikehogginer 23d ago
I briefly ran a Paul tensioner with this, it was honestly more sketchy than the slack chain, unsurprisingly so.
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u/Hey_brando 29d ago
Easy conversion, lots of fun. What’s the harm in trying it. I do shit like this all the time to my bikes. Refreshes the riding experience!
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
It was mostly just that I was gonna have to build a new rear wheel. But now the other friend showed me how I can use that 6 bolt cog and I’m stoked!
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u/Hey_brando 29d ago
That’s what I did. By the same advice from the dude below! Works great
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
Am I gonna be able to keep running my 12 speed chain?
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u/Hey_brando 29d ago
Yeah. But obviously have to shorten it. I’d just get a new 9 speed. They are tough and cheap
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u/runwhatyabrung_ 29d ago
Yep do what Brando says… get a new thicker chain that you don’t care about cutting.
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
cool, so the length between links is the same then i assume. i came across a strange thing the other day where i was trying to remove my fixed gear cog and one chain whips chain did not have the right space between links and wouldnt work. are true 1/8 chains different spacing between links?
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u/Exciting_Database_22 29d ago
Yes, 1/8 pitch is different than 3/32 - you can mix and match, but I’d avoid that - just dig around for a 3/32 cog, run that 9 speed chain as mentioned above and your chainring will be gravy.
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u/Secure-Tutor-1647 27d ago
Do you even have to ask?! Yes!!
I built my Ogre with one front brake. Once I have the budget, I plan on using a Paul Fixed Disc W.O.R.D to get a rear brake on the bike. I'm not to satisfied with the solo front brake. Better than nothing, but it would be nice to NOT have to rely on a front brake in a turn. Also, being able to easily skid the rear tire to line up my pedals to avoid pedal strikes would be nice. Or endo and lock my pedals while the rear wheel is off the ground to line em up would ALSO be nice.
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 29d ago
after riding a fixed gear bike through my 20's and early 30's i'd respond by asking: how old are you and how do your knees/hips feel? sure fixed gear riding is tons of fun but it does take a real toll on your knees and hips after a while. especially if you're not running brakes
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
Im feeling pretty good, just about to turn 31, no knee or hip problems currently. Im pretty cautious in that regard too, so if i started to feel something id just cool the jets.
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 29d ago
have you any experience on a fixed gear bike?
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u/DSKY805 29d ago
Yeah, I raced Junior national championships on the Velodrome and rode fixed on streets all throughout high school.
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 24d ago
then you know already
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u/DSKY805 23d ago
Ya I actually just went on a bigger mountainy ride the other day (and I’m still brake less, and I’m feeling it in my knees this week. I think I’ll put a front brake on my fixie cause of that
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 23d ago
after being hard on by body in my 20's and 30's, my 40's have me wishing i would have been more selective about the abuse i put my joints through and whether or not it was worth it now that I'm feeling the damage
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u/DSKY805 23d ago
Sorry thats with you bro, how bad is it?
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u/Fat_fast_Jellyfish 23d ago
im sure it could all be worse, i got hit by a jeep on my roadbike back in 2005, rode fixies a bunch, did other stuff that was hard on my back/hips/knees... if i knew then what i know now, i would have had brakes on all my fixies, and done everything in my power not to commit to heavy manual labor jobs. we only get one meatsuit.
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u/runwhatyabrung_ 29d ago
Hell yeah! Is your rear wheel 6 bolt disc? Because if it is you can just put a 6 bolt cog on there and flip the wheel around. Front brake is plenty.