Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car Hubs. Rear hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 speed freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about a single speed city bike frame.
I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White Ind. freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed builds discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. In a somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only works well with granny gears. As I would be looking to set up the bike with 44 -16 or 18 gearing, Sheldon's remark has me worried.
Sadly, Sheldon is not around to present follow up questions. Have any of you done a similar build? Ideally using Maxi-Car (but probably not any difference for this question, really between MC and any other 127.5 fw hub.) .
On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote:
> Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
> I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car Hubs. Rear
> hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 speed
> freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about a single
> speed city bike frame.
> I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White Ind.
> freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed builds
> discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. In a
> somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only works well
> with granny gears. As I would be looking to set up the bike with 44
> -16 or 18 gearing, Sheldon's remark has me worried.
> Sadly, Sheldon is not around to present follow up questions. Have any
> of you done a similar build? Ideally using Maxi-Car (but probably not
> any difference for this question, really between MC and any other
> 127.5 fw hub.) .
On Saturday, July 21, 2012 8:25:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote:
> On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
> > I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car Hubs. Rear > > hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 speed > > freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about a single > > speed city bike frame.
> > I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White Ind. > > freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed builds > > discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. In a > > somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only works well > > with granny gears. As I would be looking to set up the bike with 44 > > -16 or 18 gearing, Sheldon's remark has me worried.
> > Sadly, Sheldon is not around to present follow up questions. Have any > > of you done a similar build? Ideally using Maxi-Car (but probably not > > any difference for this question, really between MC and any other > > 127.5 fw hub.) .
On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:57 -0700, Matthew J wrote:
> Not all. Mine are definitely BSA (English).
> On Saturday, July 21, 2012 8:25:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote:
> On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
> > I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car
> Hubs. Rear > > hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6
> speed > > freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about
> a single > > speed city bike frame.
> > I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White
> Ind. > > freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed
> builds > > discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels.
> In a > > somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only
> works well > > with granny gears.
Maybe I found a different article on Sheldon's site than you did. This
one seems to explain the problem pretty clearly:
<quote>
The cheapest way to convert a multi-speed bicycle into a singlespeed is
to use the original rear hub, assuming that it is made for a
conventional threaded freewheel. A single BMX freewheel will thread
right on. Unfortunately, the chainline is likely to only work with your
granny gear unless you re-space the rear axle and re-dish the wheel.
</quote>
--http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html#freewheelhub
So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to
be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
That is the article. Bad chain line is what I want to avoid. I've read from other sources, albeit less respected than Sheldon, that the problem can be addressed with freewheel spacers. The wheel set in question is 40h built with vintage rims. As far as I know, there are no 40h 650B rims made any longer, so I am stuck with what I have.
Making do with a bad chain line is fine for building a beater, but seems short sighted for a new build. If bad chain line is the only result I can expect, then I may as well sell the wonderful but apparently persnickety Maxi Car wheel set (depressing as that may be) and have the bike built around a more practical single speed hub and 700C rims.
On Saturday, July 21, 2012 9:10:42 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote:
> On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:57 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > Not all. Mine are definitely BSA (English).
> > On Saturday, July 21, 2012 8:25:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote: > > On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > > Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
> > > I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car > > Hubs. Rear > > > hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 > > speed > > > freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about > > a single > > > speed city bike frame.
> > > I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White > > Ind. > > > freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed > > builds > > > discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. > > In a > > > somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only > > works well > > > with granny gears.
> Maybe I found a different article on Sheldon's site than you did. This > one seems to explain the problem pretty clearly:
> <quote> > The cheapest way to convert a multi-speed bicycle into a singlespeed is > to use the original rear hub, assuming that it is made for a > conventional threaded freewheel. A single BMX freewheel will thread > right on. Unfortunately, the chainline is likely to only work with your > granny gear unless you re-space the rear axle and re-dish the wheel. > </quote> > --http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html#freewheelhub
> So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to > be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew J To: bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2012 7:22 AM
Subject: Re: {BL} Maxi-Car Hub As Single Speed?
So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
That is the article. Bad chain line is what I want to avoid. I've read from other sources, albeit less respected than Sheldon, that the problem can be addressed with freewheel spacers. The wheel set in question is 40h built with vintage rims. As far as I know, there are no 40h 650B rims made any longer, so I am stuck with what I have.
Making do with a bad chain line is fine for building a beater, but seems short sighted for a new build. If bad chain line is the only result I can expect, then I may as well sell the wonderful but apparently persnickety Maxi Car wheel set (depressing as that may be) and have the bike built around a more practical single speed hub and 700C rims.
On Saturday, July 21, 2012 9:10:42 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote:
On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:57 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > Not all. Mine are definitely BSA (English).
> On Saturday, July 21, 2012 8:25:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote: > On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
> > I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car > Hubs. Rear > > hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 > speed > > freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about > a single > > speed city bike frame.
> > I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White > Ind. > > freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed > builds > > discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. > In a > > somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only > works well > > with granny gears.
Maybe I found a different article on Sheldon's site than you did. This one seems to explain the problem pretty clearly:
<quote> The cheapest way to convert a multi-speed bicycle into a singlespeed is to use the original rear hub, assuming that it is made for a conventional threaded freewheel. A single BMX freewheel will thread right on. Unfortunately, the chainline is likely to only work with your granny gear unless you re-space the rear axle and re-dish the wheel. </quote> --http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html#freewheelhub
So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bicyclelifestyle/-/spJVCUXNS34J.
To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.
This is very promising. I intend to use my Carmina crankset set up as single speed with a 44 ring on the inside and the lovely Specialities chain guard on the outside. (Believe Peter sells them as he mentions them as available for Tout builds - I've not been able to find a separate listing on the site)
If I am following Peter's right up on the Carmina correctly, I have an older model that will take a 103 bb. Sounds as though there is hope for my wheel set after all!
> ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Matthew J <matthewj...@gmail.com> > *To:* bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com > *Sent:* Saturday, July 21, 2012 7:22 AM > *Subject:* Re: {BL} Maxi-Car Hub As Single Speed?
> So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to > be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
> That is the article. Bad chain line is what I want to avoid. I've read > from other sources, albeit less respected than Sheldon, that the problem > can be addressed with freewheel spacers. The wheel set in question is 40h > built with vintage rims. As far as I know, there are no 40h 650B rims made > any longer, so I am stuck with what I have.
> Making do with a bad chain line is fine for building a beater, but seems > short sighted for a new build. If bad chain line is the only result I can > expect, then I may as well sell the wonderful but apparently persnickety > Maxi Car wheel set (depressing as that may be) and have the bike built > around a more practical single speed hub and 700C rims.
> On Saturday, July 21, 2012 9:10:42 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote:
>> On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:57 -0700, Matthew J wrote: >> > Not all. Mine are definitely BSA (English).
>> > On Saturday, July 21, 2012 8:25:26 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote: >> > On Sat, 2012-07-21 at 06:15 -0700, Matthew J wrote: >> > > Questions for the engineers and technically inclined.
>> > > I have a beautiful 650B wheel set built around Maxi Car >> > Hubs. Rear >> > > hub spacing is 127.5 suggesting it was meant for a 5 - 6 >> > speed >> > > freewheel. Next week I will be speaking to a builder about >> > a single >> > > speed city bike frame.
>> > > I would like to use the Maxi Car wheel set with a White >> > Ind. >> > > freewheel. However, Sheldon Brown's article on single speed >> > builds >> > > discourages using road freewheel hubs with BMX freewheels. >> > In a >> > > somewhat cryptic sentence he says this set up usually only >> > works well >> > > with granny gears.
>> Maybe I found a different article on Sheldon's site than you did. This >> one seems to explain the problem pretty clearly:
>> <quote> >> The cheapest way to convert a multi-speed bicycle into a singlespeed is >> to use the original rear hub, assuming that it is made for a >> conventional threaded freewheel. A single BMX freewheel will thread >> right on. Unfortunately, the chainline is likely to only work with your >> granny gear unless you re-space the rear axle and re-dish the wheel. >> </quote> >> --http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html#freewheelhub
>> So in other words, the problem is simply that the sprocket is going to >> be in the wrong place, giving you a bad chain line.
>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bicyclelifestyle/-/spJVCUXNS34J. > To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.
It has been a few years, but I remember having one (French) Motobecane mixte tandem with Maxicar hubs that was all French threaded and another one that was oddly enough Italian threaded for the freewheel but otherwise French. But I think most were BSA//English for the freewheel as I have worked on several that were that way (these were French elsewhere for the parts that I happened to open up for work but can't say if there were all French except the FW). It could be a matter of what country they were originally intended/built to be imported into (which may not have been where they finally got shipped to). Have to wonder if anyone has collected or written a history of importers such as Mel Pinto, etc. Would be interestings..
My hubs came from Belgium. I believe the person who sold them bought a large lot of them after Maxicar announced it was stopping production. They certainly could have been made with the U.S. or British market in mind.
I do have a French thread hub as well. That one is just looking pretty in my living room display case.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:44:13 PM UTC-5, Plodder2Seats2wheels wrote: > It has been a few years, but I remember having one (French) Motobecane > mixte tandem with Maxicar hubs that was all French threaded and another one > that was oddly enough Italian threaded for the freewheel but otherwise > French. But I think most were BSA//English for the freewheel as I have > worked on several that were that way (these were French elsewhere for the > parts that I happened to open up for work but can't say if there were all > French except the FW). It could be a matter of what country they were > originally intended/built to be imported into (which may not have been > where they finally got shipped to). Have to wonder if anyone has collected > or written a history of importers such as Mel Pinto, etc. Would be > interestings..
