Cross Check Conversion

onespeedesq · #1 11-09-2004, 01:14 PM

I want to temporarily convert my Surly Cross Check (built as a CX bike) to a single speed commuter with flat bars, so I'm looking for some suggestions.

First, I have a DurAce rear hub. Is there a good spacer/conversion kit that I can put on this hub without too much risk of damaging the hub or it becoming permanent?

Second, will some standard MTB style levers adequately pull the CX brakes?

Third, anyone running a Cross Check single? How are the "semi-horizontal" drop outs treating you?

Thanks for your input.

scorcher · #2 11-09-2004, 01:38 PM

i've not converted a cross check, specifically, but i've converted two other bikes to singlespeed/fixed, so here's my $.02....

get a shimano dx cog and some spacers from your lbs. the dx isn't ramped at all, so it won't throw your chain at all. i've never noticed any great advantage with particular spacers.

those semi-horizontal drops are plenty long, and i've seen plenty of cross checks running either singlespeed or fixed. you should have any problems at all.

onespeedesq · #3 11-09-2004, 02:52 PM

Thanks for the info Scorcher. I think I actually have a cog and some spacers I bought once for an MTB conversion that never happened. Is the diameter/size of the cassette body the same?

Do you know anything about the brake lever Q. I defeintely have an old set of XT/XTR brakes around here some where. Can I use those?

I found a old track wheel for sale at MTBR.com. Is hooking up a fixy just like hooking up any other one speed?

Thanks

model3224 · #4 11-09-2004, 08:23 PM

cantilever brakes will work fine with just about any lever, so no worries there.

and yeah, a fixed gear is just the same amount of work as a single, only the cog threads direcly onto the hub body, since there's no freewheel. you might want to check to see if the wheel you're looking has the proper spacing you need, and whether or not it's an actual track wheel, or just a normal wheel built for fixed gear riding. the latter would be preferred. however, imho, you should go ahead with the ss conversion, and if you're down with that and want to take it a step further, build up your own fixed wheel to match the bike's usage as a whole.

onespeedesq · #5 11-09-2004, 09:34 PM

Thanks for the input Drek. I'm going to dig through the parts boxes and try to put this thing together. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the snow's finally coming, and the bike riding will be slim. But, I'll post with the result.

davkatreb · #6 11-10-2004, 05:42 AM

Actually, cantis will work better with a non-vbrake lever. Shouldn't be too hard to dig a pair up for cheap. Or, if you want a flat bar (or riser, even) you might want to think about switching to vbrakes. They fit the studs same as cantis, and you ought to be able to pick up a set (brakes AND levers) for maybe $50 American.

You say you want to use a fix-hub wheel? No worries, ought to work fine. A bmx freewheel will screw right on to either side. Spacing will be different; track is 120 and Surly, if memory serves, is 132.5, but a spacer or two on the track hub and maybe a slight redish should have you up and running.Or if it's a flipflop hub, just space each side the same. Got that setup on my old road bike and it works just fine.

But why not just make the jump to light speed and go fixed? You got the wheel, right?

onespeedesq · #7 11-10-2004, 12:54 PM

Actaully, I don't have the wheel yet. I was just surfing around to check what was out there and saw one, described as a "track wheel" for US$50. Since then, I've gotten a line on one through a buddy for possibly US$0. So, that would obviously be better.

I was also chekcing out: http://fixedgeargallery.com/

and I notice a lot of people have those cow horn track bars. Is there a disadvantage to just using a flat MTB bar?

The next question is can I put a cross tire on a "track" wheel? This will be an townie, but my town (Steamboat, CO) will involve some mild dirt excursions.

Thanks for your input.

Goride · #8 11-10-2004, 01:01 PM

One Speed - I wrote up my personal CrossCheck in Dirt Rag #107. It is set up as fixed, on/offroad these days, but has been singlespeed, gearded, road, cross and everything in between. Awesome bike.

I think ultimately, if I were to have only one of my bikes for whatever reason, the CrossCheck would be it. 38x16/18 fixed/fixed with flat bars and 38c tires.

-brad

onespeedesq · #9 11-10-2004, 01:16 PM

It is your bike then! That's the inspiration here.

I saw that article and it looked like a sweet ride. I'm going for the on/off (cross tires) with fenders built out of stuff I own or can get cheap, and preserving the ability to go back to a cross bike with realtive ease. I still entertain the idea of doing a cross race one day. Thanks for the info on ratios too. Hadn't really occurred to me, but I have a 16 somewhere.

Do you run a front brake?

I'll have to go back and dig out #107.

Thanks.

Goride · #10 11-10-2004, 02:01 PM

Front brake all the way. All of my fixies have a front brake. The engineer in me likes redundancy in life preserving systems - a front brake is pretty handy when your chain inevitably throws or breaks someday. No matter how well you take care of your machine, mechanical failure does happen, and having a bailout is nice. Plus, for riding offroad, the front brake is pretty much a necessity.

-brad

onespeedesq · #11 11-10-2004, 02:58 PM

Words to live by.

Went through my crap and found some v-brakes and some levers, some spacers and two 16T cogs. All I need is a flat bar and some grips, and I'm in business. But, back to work for now.

Anyone know how to paint flames on a frame?

Thanks to all for the input.

ESQ

Johnny · #12 11-10-2004, 06:35 PM

Cut the negative of the flames out of masking tape, then you can blend the colors from front to back and it'll loook sweet.

onespeedesq · #13 11-24-2004, 12:54 PM

So, I built up the bike, one speed with some cool moustache bars, but not fixy, yet. I wanted to post a picture, but I can't figure out how to do that. Any guidance on that?

onespeedesq · #14 12-17-2004, 06:30 PM

Ok I figured it out. Here's pictures of the bike. I found a set of XT V-brakes and levers; they work great. But, alas, I'm not that happy with the moustache bars. They definitely have the "bike geek cred", but I'm just not comfortable on them. So, Flush the Fashion. Anybody know if Shi#mano 105 road levers with pull the V-brakes OK? I wonder if I can just put the drops back on?

model3224 · #15 12-18-2004, 04:19 PM

niiice...

and the 105 levers won't pull very well unless you get one of those "doubler" doohickies they sell to replace that silly noodle on v-brakes.