Single speed build, should i remove the cablestops ?

jimihendrix

MacRetro Rider
Recently stripped my Orange E3 down, intending on re-spraying it orange/white fade and building it as a single speed.

Would i be mad to remove/grind off the redundant gear cable stops/guides ?

Got this idea from a single speed converted Prestige (i think ?) that had the guides removed i seen on here a while back.

Possible arguments for are, frame already has a cable stop mysteriously missing on the top tube so i've had to run it without a front mech anyway, the frame is sound but is well used, i.e far from NOS so i'd hardly be guilty of butchering a mint frame, the frame will look tidier without the redundant stops.

Possible arguments against, i've never tried a single speed before so if i dont like it and i've ground off the cable stops i'm stuffed, i'd need to sell the frame as well as the single speed bits.

Er, that's the only argument against i can think of :)

I could build it back up as a single speed as it is, try it out and if i get on ok with it strip it back down then remove the guides and paint it before building it back up again but that sounds like a load of work :roll:
 
jimihendrix":13ykviqs said:
I could build it back up as a single speed as it is, try it out and if i get on ok with it strip it back down then remove the guides and paint it before building it back up again but that sounds like a load of work :roll:



this one, this one. use it all winter a bit ratty and see how you get on. if you like it, get some bits and bobs and finishing ideas and have it all fresh to go to the SS championship in dalby :D
 
yeah that sounds a good idea. plus it lets you thrash about on it all winter without worrying too much about the state it'll get in 8)
 
I'd do as kaiser suggests - get a singlespeed conversion kit, a tensioner and ideally a deep tooth chainring too and try it out over the winter.
If you don't like it (and here's betting that you will 8) ) then you can easily flog the SS stuff and you're no worse off. However, if you become hooked on the whole SS thing then if you want you could remove the cable stops and repaint.

I've been using my 1988 Explosif singlespeed and I've left the frame intact on that, but I also have a 1995 Explosif that has now irreversibly become SS. It has no gear cable stops or rear mech hanger and also has the rear brake cable stop removed and hose guides brazed on along with a rear disc tab on the frame.
 
funnily enough I have a singlespeed kit and a 3/32 half link that I'll be punting soon :roll:
 
Yep measure twice, cut once, been looking at my freshly converted modern commuter and would love to rid the guides but only when am really sure :D
 
kaiser":1nvnl5ne said:
funnily enough I have a singlespeed kit and a 3/32 half link that I'll be punting soon :roll:

I'll discuss that with you tomorrow :D

Yeah, i think you all are right, although it will be more work in the end i'm better converting it as it is first before doing anything irreversible (sic ?), i recon i will like it as a single speed especially as it'll only weigh about 22 Lb i recon 8)

My Sunn will be fully geared anyway :)
 
I was thinking about you're mysterious missing cable stop the other day (not sure why now) and wondered if you can still get the rivet on stops that were fitted to some of the early alloy frames....I think Yeti used them.
Anyhoo, that's completely off topic but may be a fix for an otherwise cracking frame.

Oh, and as for your original question......keep the stops and give it a try as a SS. if you like it then have another think about getting shot of them. :wink:
 
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