Converting an old Ritchey to single-speed

I've got a mid-1980s Ritchey Ultra frame: tig-welded prestige tubing I
think, unicrown fork, u-brake posts under chainstay removed and cantilever
posts added to the seat stay, and a bad respray.

I want to make it into a single-speed mountain bike.

Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

I doubt I'd convert it to disc brakes, will probably go with V brakes. Do
have a set of ancient Magura rim brakes in the garage, but they're not so
great.

I'm a big guy, 6'2", 235lbs, frame is 20.5". I ride a lot. Never ridden a
single-speed mtn bike but I've been riding "normal" mtn bikes for 20 years,
also track, road.

Advice?

Morgan

"Morgan Fletcher" wrote in message
...
I've got a mid-1980s Ritchey Ultra frame: tig-welded prestige tubing I
think, unicrown fork, u-brake posts under chainstay removed and cantilever
posts added to the seat stay, and a bad respray.

I want to make it into a single-speed mountain bike.

Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it
to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

I doubt I'd convert it to disc brakes, will probably go with V brakes. Do
have a set of ancient Magura rim brakes in the garage, but they're not so
great.

I'm a big guy, 6'2", 235lbs, frame is 20.5". I ride a lot. Never ridden a
single-speed mtn bike but I've been riding "normal" mtn bikes for 20
years,
also track, road.

Advice?

Morgan

If it were me and I could get the thing welded locally, I'd put some of
those nice Paul dropouts on it. You can order them direct from Paul
(http://www.paulcomp.com/frmbk.html - click on the dropout pic).
Those are what Independent Fabrications uses on their SS frames and they
come highly recommended.

Matt

Morgan Fletcher wrote:

Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

I'm a big guy, 6'2", 235lbs, frame is 20.5". I ride a lot. Never ridden a
single-speed mtn bike but I've been riding "normal" mtn bikes for 20 years,
also track, road.

This is something you can do in stages. I would build it up as is and use
a rear derailleur as a chain tensioner, or buy a "real" tensioner.
Play with this: http://www.peak.org/~fixin/
and maybe you can find a gear combo that works without the tensioner.
If you have an extra cassette rear wheel, use spacers (I know you said you
didn't want to, but it's a start). If you have an extra freewheel rear,
even better, redish to make it less-dished and use a singlespeed freewheel.

Then ride it around and see how you like it and what if anything should
be changed. Go rigid for the time being: 1" forks are too expensive and
if it's old enough to have once had chainstay mounted brakes, it probably
isn't designed for a tall sus fork, so putting one on will slacken the
head tube angle quite a bit. I like the simplicity of no suspension
anyway. A Softride stem can take some load off your wrists, another
thing that can be retrofitted.

It's cooler, or at least quieter, to make an SS without the tensioner;
most of the Bay Area framebuilders probably have experience replacing
dropouts (I can think of some more names also: Hunter, Rock Lobster,
Sycip, Steelman, Soulcraft, etc).
Being cheap, I converted a frame that actually had road-style short
horizontal dropouts, but it was luck finding one, an old Reflex, and
it isn't the lightest thing out there (but who cares).

Morgan Fletcher wrote:

I've got a mid-1980s Ritchey Ultra frame: tig-welded prestige tubing I
think, unicrown fork, u-brake posts under chainstay removed and cantilever
posts added to the seat stay, and a bad respray.

I want to make it into a single-speed mountain bike.


An ideal candidate. My conversion was similar. Just kept it fully
rigid, got horiz dropouts welded on, and used a converter to go from 1"
to 1-1/8" to add a good Azonic stem and riser. Scrapped the U-brakes
for good avids, got some great wheels built up, and it's simple and fun:

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/we...rayLady002.jpg

Have fun. Paladin



Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

I doubt I'd convert it to disc brakes, will probably go with V brakes. Do
have a set of ancient Magura rim brakes in the garage, but they're not so
great.

I'm a big guy, 6'2", 235lbs, frame is 20.5". I ride a lot. Never ridden a
single-speed mtn bike but I've been riding "normal" mtn bikes for 20 years,
also track, road.

Advice?

Morgan

No votes in favor of the ENO eccentric hub?

Morgan

"Morgan Fletcher" wrote in message
...
No votes in favor of the ENO eccentric hub?

Morgan

If you were converting an aluminum frame I'd say go for it since it's harder
(way harder and generally not recommended) to replace the dropouts on most
alu frames. I was considering it for my old M4 hardtail but decided on a
different route (Surly). I believe someone here (Bloodcow?) got one a while
back and liked it. I just think it's an expensive solution and is relatively
new and therefore relatively untested. It's also a flip-flop hub with a
fixed gear on one side. I would never use that on a mountain bike, so I'd be
buying stuff I'd never use. I don't like to do that.

In the end I wanted to get something I knew would work well, Horizontal
dropouts do just that and have for years.

Let us know which way you go. I'd be interested in hearing about how the ENO
performs if you do go that route.

Matt

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 19:05:36 GMT, Morgan Fletcher wrote:

Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

IMO, if you've got an old beater that you are
converting, the cost of welding new drops,
painting, the White Industries Hub, pieces/parts
or whatever starts to get pretty close to just
buying a new SS.

Plus with the new SS you get modern geometry
that'll run fine rigid or with a fork.

So IF I were stuck on the oldie-but-goodie bike, I
wouldn't be too worried about spacing out a dished
hub and/or running a rigid fork. As in:
http://www.geocities.com/glaprade/SS/

....but it sounds like when all is said and done
you are willing to put down enough cash for:
http://www.geocities.com/glaprade/Surly/

Regardless, you will love it, just ask Wheeler. (8^)

Gman out

Morgan Fletcher wrote in message ...
I've got a mid-1980s Ritchey Ultra frame: tig-welded prestige tubing I
think, unicrown fork, u-brake posts under chainstay removed and cantilever
posts added to the seat stay, and a bad respray.

I want to make it into a single-speed mountain bike.

Should I go with the White Industries ENO (ONE) hub with the eccentric
axle, or have a local framebuilder (Ed Litton, Otis Guy, or?) convert it to
rear horizontal drop-outs? If I'm gonna go single-speed I want a no-dish
singlespeed rear hub. I'm not into putting spacers on a
freehub. (Interestingly, it's theoretically possible to build an
all-Ritchey single-speed: except for the hubs and spokes.)

The headset is 1", threaded. I can put a JP Morgen suspension stem on it,
or hunt for a suspension fork. Any of you know of a modern suspension fork
that will fit a 1" threaded headset? Or I could be a macho man and
ride without suspension.

I doubt I'd convert it to disc brakes, will probably go with V brakes. Do
have a set of ancient Magura rim brakes in the garage, but they're not so
great.

I'm a big guy, 6'2", 235lbs, frame is 20.5". I ride a lot. Never ridden a
single-speed mtn bike but I've been riding "normal" mtn bikes for 20 years,
also track, road.

Advice?

Morgan

Mid 80's? And it doesn't have a horizontal dropout with enough room?
/s

Morgan Fletcher wrote in message ...
No votes in favor of the ENO eccentric hub?

Morgan

ENO is a bandage, horizontals are a fix. Of course if you believe in
free will, then do as you want.

Oh come on, get Otis to braze it up ... he does beautiful work ... and
he has a great christmas party.

R
"Sorry 'bout the mailbox Otis."

supabonbon wrote:
I've got a mid-1980s Ritchey Ultra frame: tig-welded prestige tubing I
think, unicrown fork, u-brake posts under chainstay removed and cantilever
posts added to the seat stay, and a bad respray.

Mid 80's? And it doesn't have a horizontal dropout with enough room?

Under chainstay brakes were around 1987-88. Then a big rock
fell on bike designers and brought them to their senses, or
something like that. Anyway, I have two beaters, including a
Bridgestone, with under chainstay brakes and both have vertical
dropouts. It is rare to find an mtb with both "modern" angles
(ie Bridgestone-inspired 71/73, as opposed to 68deg head angles
and long chainstays) and horizontal dropouts. IME, anyway.