conversion

[pbxnj37]

hey guys/girls. i'm interested in converting a diamondback sorrento that i found on the side of the road into a single speed. you see, when i was younger, i rode bmx bikes...then i got older (and 50 pounds heavier), so i decided to try out mountain biking. best decision of my life, except for one small thing....gears. coming from years of bmx riding, i'm just not feeling them. i want them gone, but i have no clue how. i looked at some websites and they gave me some sort of idea, but i'm still a bit lost. i heard somewhere that it isn't possible to convert if you have a flip-flop hub...is this true and if it is, is there a way around it? thanks in advance for the help!!!

-eric from jersey

[rockhound]

If your Sorrento still has its wheels on it, then all you need is to remove all the shifters and derailleurs, get a BMX cog that will fit your freewheel, some spacers (keep your lockring, you'll need it), a chain tensioner (like a Surly Singleator), and possibly a non-ramped chainring for the front.

[rockyrider]

You can buy an all inclusive conversion kit (http://psyclestore.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_38&products_id=160) from a guy in Ontario.

[pbxnj37]

i'm digging the conversion kit...nice and simple. just one question...any special tools or anything i should know before taking old components off the bike?

[rockhound]

A lockring tool will be necessary. And a chain tool.

Everything else can be done with allen wrenches.

[S. cerevisiae]

Welcome to the land of the addicted.

One speed=all you need.

B=n+1

[pbxnj37]

yeah, i never really did the gear thing in my life. all i did was ride bmx bikes from as far back as i can remember. whether it was cruising around town, or hitting some jump trails, i was always riding with one gear.

so i started taking everything apart on the bike...seems to be going pretty smooth. i can't wait for the final product!

[davkatreb]

Does the bike have horizontal dropouts? If so, you won't need a chain tensioning device. Just pull 'er tight like a coaster brake cruiser or whatnot.

Is the hub freewheel or cassette? If it's freewheel, all you need to do is spin the old one off and thread on a BMX (Sound familiar?:D ) freewheel. Maybe try about a 16 tooth for starters. Should line up pretty decent with the middle ring.

Other than that, have fun!

[rockyrider]

Does your Sorrento look like this 1999 model?