examples of mountain bike fixed conversions ? (pic)

Really considering making a cheap fixed mountain bike fixie for shitty Dublin streets over the summer. Was thinking something like this. Any other examples recommendations ?. Can most mountain bikes take 700c wheels or will it have to be 26" ?. Thanks

700c works - chaintension is your challenge

posting because I'm interested in doing something like this myself!!

Someone had a fun looking one on here a while back...

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/273968/#comment12525905

But yes, chain tension is your challenge, make sure the frame has sliding dropouts, use a half link chain for the ability to adjust the tension in smaller increments.

Single speed MTB with a chain tensioner is also a hell of a lot of fun. This is mine:

Now that is sick, love them GT seatstays, but don't know if I could go with SS

Should be easy enough to find a frame with sliding dropouts - mine was £28 off eBay.

Good luck!

I have just finished fitting brakes to this old unknown MTB frame. I was going to go all elaborate and get plates to mount the cantilever brakes but there were holes for reflector mounts so this is what I used. Currently single speed on a flip-flop hub but I've got nothing else to flip to. A lofty 52/18 at present as I don't have any alternative set-ups but no changes required to BB which was nice.

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v nice, how is the ride compared to a road frame

I only rode it around the garden last night. I will take it down the road today. It's just a bit of a laugh.

Also been looking at doing something like this. Missed out on a perfect beater bike on ebay a couple of months back and have been keeping an eye out since then.

Experimented with fixed on my old Kona a few years ago. Vertical drop-outs so chain tension was a problem, I used a half link to get it pretty good but as soon as the chain started to wear it became slack until it started to skip. After a few months I eventually reverted to single speed with a chain tensioner.

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It transpires it is quite a nice ride. I had to add a washer to each end of the quick release rear axle as the drop-outs are quite thin so every time I pushed hard the rear wheel was twisting left. If I continue with it I will probably resort to a solid axle and nuts and some chubbier tyres.

Yea half link, and a lucky gear ratio/ chainstay length.

Any progress on your MTB conversion?

Second that, currently on a pomp, but debating a ss for winter riding, Gardiner street alone warrants that

Anyone got any tips for tensioning a chain (32x16) without using a chain tensioner when you don't have slidey (Technical term) dropouts.

you could try using an eccentric bottom bracket
http://www.trickstuff.de/en/products/exzentriker_KL.php

or eccentric rear hub

Try a ghost ring setup

Cheers for the info, all. I feel considerably enlightned. Given the relative expense of some of the eccentric solutions when compared with my intent for more of a beater SS MTB, I will keep my eyes peeled for frames with sliding dropouts. I like the Marin you posted, t0-ster, very clean looking chainline.