Current Projects chat and miscellany

Alright boys and Girls,

Half way through my first conversion and wanted to ask about the drop outs.....

I've lovingly sanded down a steel frame from an old rigid mbt, cut all the brake bits off (never fear I will have a front brake!!) and I'm now very close to having it Powder coated.....

My problem is the drop outs, the original ones I have sawn off the rear derailier hanger to just leave the drop out 'slot'......Is it worth now that i've put quite a bit of effort into it converting the original drop outs to horizontal drop outs??

I've seen these....would a joe bloggs welder be able to do it or would I have to go to a bike specialist.....http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/userimages/procart12.htm

Or should I just buy a half link??.......do these pose any problems with the running of the chain??

Get it done properly. Dropouts are often brazed in place even if the rest of the bike is welded, because the stays are rather thin at the ends.

Vertical dropouts and fixed are always unsatisfactory. You might get lucky with a magic gear after trying five chainrings and three sprockets, but even then chain wear will catch up with you much quicker than normal. Half-links are not good because they stretch before the rest of the chain and have a bit of a reputation for breaking (pedalling tries to straighten the bent side plates). The ENO hub works for some people, slips for others, and costs just as much as having new dropouts fitted by the best framebuilder you can find (Argos in Bristol are the most expensive I know).