Magic Ratio for Single Speed. Any Experiences?

[novocaine]

find (or make) a tensioner that pushes up from underneath. you can get a much nicer look without having the tensioner hanging off the back end like a wart.

you can use your half link to get close then use the tensioner to take out the last bit.

 

[Thame Game]

I've ordered a ZTTO tensioner to try out. The half link method sounds good except I'll be running an Izumi 'jet black' chain which has gold pins. Where would I get a march for that 1/2"?

Ive had ZTTO bits before. Made somewhere in China, but the CNC work looks good. Can't get any other colour than purple, but I'm guessing that will swap out.

https://ebay.us/m/4tLbvp

 

[Gtpulse]

Izumi Half Link you could maybe change the screw for a gold one? Probs you won’t need a half link if you’re running a tensioner.

 

[Thame Game]

Izumi Half Link you could maybe change the screw for a gold one? Probs you won’t need a half link if you’re running a tensioner.

Excellent recommendation.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Eccentric hub (White Industries).

Eccentric BB (which will mean an outboard bearing type crank which I assume from the chainring being "non-optional" that you want to keep the cranks so an eccentric BB might be out of the question).

Half link, or half link type BMX chain.

As noted above, the chain will wear and you will need to take up the slack over time. I'd run a tensioner or a derailleur set to the right chainlink and be done with it. May not look as simple as a dedicated single speed but that's what happens with a conversion of a gearie to a single speed.

Or learn brazing, sweat the dropouts out and braze in some track tips. No such thing as overkill.

 

[Tayside]

find (or make) a tensioner that pushes up from underneath.

This.

If it's going to be an every day ride,it's less faff with a
tensioner and I always liked the push up ones for a quick adjustment.

 

[Thame Game]

This.

If it's going to be an every day ride,it's less faff with a
tensioner and I always liked the push up ones for a quick adjustment.

Are the jockey wheels compatible with other dérailleurs? Purple is Out for me.

 

[Woz]

Done it loads of times in the past. The Magic Gear calculator is excellent to get you in the ball park and try combinations.

In my experience a brand new chain can quickly develop some slack - which is sort of frustrating when experimenting. Always found it best to use chains from a bike with a derailleur first for while. I would always keep low wear chains back for future fiddling about. Also tried one half link, but it was crap and was certainly the weakest link to be honest. Didn't get along with the Gusset tensioner either - rusted to hell in one winter. An old super short cage mech like 105 would have been better.

The best modification / trick I did was file the rear axle where it meets the drop-out in a progressive "cam" shape - dead easy and good enough to take up most chain slack. St Sheldon mentions the "kludge" here, but he filed a flat on the axle.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/no-derailers.html#workarounds

Plenty of spare rear axles about so it is also a reversible hack so to speak. Would not recommend filing the drop-outs.