Vertical dropouts tensioner options

[BenGraham]

So yes I have vertical dropouts on my mtb and I like single speed. My friends have questioned my sanity on numerous occasions. I have one foot in each camp I know.

 

I've got a rapide tensioner - its this one https://www.rapide.co.za/product/rapide-tension-r-single-speed-chain-tensioner/

 

But it leaves some things to be desired. It was a great start but now that I'm somewhat committed to riding single speed I want something that works better. I must say that rapide are a fantastic brand and one of the few local brands that seems committed to single speed so I'm a believer in supporting them whenever I can. Money is such that a new frame with horizontal dropouts is definitely not an option, also I really like my bike.

 

So what options do we have on the market here? I would prefer not to import at this point.

 

Oh and wrt to my issues. Too much chain slap, also the little guard gets lose and rotates back and grinds against the chain. The chain loves to jump off the little jockey wheel. I think that about covers it. Part of the bliss of single speed is not dealing with mechanicals and so any time I have to dismount to deal with my bike I'm annoyed.

 

Been looking but everything I'd be keen to try is only available in the northern hemisphere. I like the idea of a push up style fixed tensioner. I've seen the blackspire iscg mounted one which would probably work well in my case if I could find one.

 

Anyway I appreciate your thoughts.

[Steady Spin]

Hi Ben 

 

Years ago I still had the knees to grind my way to the top of the hills and I advocated the SS life to the point where I no longer had riding friends :D  

 

I had the same experience with the tensioner that you mention and before I bought a frame with a Phil Wood BB I was able to get my chain tension close to perfect by using a 34x19 setup with a half-link chain. 

 

This might be an option for you. Chat to Wayne, I see he carries the YBN chains. 

https://www.rapide.co.za/product/ybn-mk918n-half-link-single-speed-chain-12-x-332/

 

Hope this helps. 

[BenGraham]

Hi Ben 

 

Years ago I still had the knees to grind my way to the top of the hills and I advocated the SS life to the point where I no longer had riding friends :D

 

I had the same experience with the tensioner that you mention and before I bought a frame with a Phil Wood BB I was able to get my chain tension close to perfect by using a 34x19 setup with a half-link chain. 

 

This might be an option for you. Chat to Wayne, I see he carries the YBN chains. 

https://www.rapide.co.za/product/ybn-mk918n-half-link-single-speed-chain-12-x-332/

 

Hope this helps. 

Thanks I'll definitely have a look at this. I see half links don't work with NW chainrings so I'll need to see if I can track down a non NW chainring. But still an interesting option to have a look at.

[BogusOne]

For a simple but effective tensioner you can use a ghost ring...

 

[shaper]

That's a first, never seen that before!!

[Eldron]

For a simple but effective tensioner you can use a ghost ring...

 

 

I am dumbfounded, curious, skeptical and amazed - all at once :-)

[BaGearA]

For a simple but effective tensioner you can use a ghost ring...

 

https://youtu.be/LDyObKloVrI

Every single thing I know about bicycles and physics has just been called into question 0_0

[Eldron]

Every single thing I know about bicycles and physics has just been called into question 0_0

 

It makes complete sense that it would stay in place because the chain moves the exact same amount of links top and bottom and it terms of tension the bottom slackens as the top tensions but my brain can't stop screaming NOOOOOOOO.

 

What would work even better is a narrow wide chainring - with an even amount of teeth of course.

 

Bizarre.....

 

Edit: Some more info: https://www.mtbr.com/threads/ghost-rings-do-they-work.231146/

Edited February 9, 2021 by Eldron

[BenGraham]

Thanks everyone for the entertainment and the advice. I'll continue my search. Might even get into some DIY.

[Hairy]

If you have ISG tabs, or use a threaded BB with an ISG adapter you can then use a bottom guide as per the older gen DH setups.

 

Compared to a tensioner on the dropouts, this solution is far sexier, the friction in the drive is far less and it is really easy to remove the rear wheel.

 

Should I have to go SS again on a conventional frame, then this would be the route I take.

 

[NotSoBigBen]

In my experience if you do a lot of single speed riding it doesn't matter what 'system' you use the chains stretch quicker than you can keep up by adjusting etc.

 

No it doesn't matter what chain ... half link, single speed specific etc. makes no difference.

 

A tensioner whether up or down always looks a bit crappy IMHO and finding a magic gear may sound simple but you can't just replicate some one elses suggestion unless it's the exact same frame and size.

 

Having said that running a magic gear does look cool but there'll be too much slack pretty quick if you ride lots!

 

Just one of those things you need to live with if you have a frame not intended for single speed and even if you did you'd still be adjusting the sliding dropouts ... I'm sure some may even disagree with me but that is MY experience for what it's worth

 

Fortunately I don't ride mine that much anymore so the magic gear suits me just fine and looks good to my mind [emoji41]

[Hairy]

In my experience if you do a lot of single speed riding it doesn't matter what 'system' you use the chains stretch quicker than you can keep up by adjusting etc.

 

No it doesn't matter what chain ... half link, single speed specific etc. makes no difference.

 

A tensioner whether up or down always looks a bit crappy IMHO and finding a magic gear may sound simple but you can't just replicate some one elses suggestion unless it's the exact same frame and size.

 

Having said that running a magic gear does look cool but there'll be too much slack pretty quick if you ride lots!

 

Just one of those things you need to live with if you have a frame not intended for single speed and even if you did you'd still be adjusting the sliding dropouts ... I'm sure some may even disagree with me but that is MY experience for what it's worth

 

Fortunately I don't ride mine that much anymore so the magic gear suits me just fine and looks good to my mind [emoji41]

I tried the magic gear thingie and 1000k's later and it was way too loose .... but up and till that point it was all rock and roll.

[BenGraham]

If you have ISG tabs, or use a threaded BB with an ISG adapter you can then use a bottom guide as per the older gen DH setups.

 

Compared to a tensioner on the dropouts, this solution is far sexier, the friction in the drive is far less and it is really easy to remove the rear wheel.

 

Should I have to go SS again on a conventional frame, then this would be the route I take.

 

20160515_125416 - Copy.jpg

 

This would work for me actually as I have iscg 05 tabs. But where can I find such a thing? No one seems to offer them as DH rigs don't seem to use them anymore. Or its just that I'm not looking in the right places. Any thoughts?

[BaGearA]

This would work for me actually as I have iscg 05 tabs. But where can I find such a thing? No one seems to offer them as DH rigs don't seem to use them anymore. Or its just that I'm not looking in the right places. Any thoughts?

PM me I have A csixx one you can take cheap cheap 

[MORNE]

Wont lie, surprised by the amount champion hubbers who didn't know about ‘ghost rings’ ????.

It doesn't really work on anything rougher than a brick paved surface though, so not really suitable for a mtb. A decent bump - like climbing a non mountable curb or a pothole etc - can unseat it. Looks cool though.

 

Tensioners dont look as clean for sure, but there are some nice ones out there that cost more than mid-high end derailleurs do, they even come with clutches. Singlespeed DH/FR rigs are a thing.

But considering chainstretch...having something to take up SOME slack isn't a bad thing imo. Also, if you use oval chainrings on SS bike like a lot of people do, a tensioner comes in handy too if you don't like your chain to be all sloppy mid rotation.

If you don't mind that amount of chain droop then a mildly stretched chain on a ‘clean’ SS setup shouldn't really bother you.

Some guys will even say that is where the drivetrain is most efficient (less friction). If you get it to a point where you can get a bigger chainring or cog in there to take up the slop you probably need a new chain anyway.

[BenGraham]

Okay it's official I've bought the csixx chain guide from BaGearA. Hoping it installs without any gotchas. Will post a pic assuming it all goes together smoothly.

Edited February 17, 2021 by BenGraham