hi all..i still have frame from my first real mtb(1999 kona nu nu)..can't bear to part with it..i'm hoping to build into singlespeed(mid life crisis possibly)  anyway want to build it very cheaply to use for hacking round local wood when weather shite to save good bike for better weather/weekends etc..i need to source most of the kit..

1.will singlespeed specific rear wheel bolt straight on and work without spacer kits etc..?

2.what's good size chainring for front/rear..flatish riding with a few hills(nothing crazy)

any info/ideas/ welcome..  cheers..

Assuming the bike has normal drop-outs some kind of chain tensioner will be needed. As for a gear ratio 2:1 is generally considered the norm. I run a 34:17 combo on my SS which is a good compromise for flat sections and hills though I do have to spin like an idiot to get any speed round where I live as it is mainly flat (but it is all good training IMO). If you only have a few hills then something a bit thicker might be an idea but those hills will really hurt!

Everything you need to know is here

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

But hurry up you've only got 17 days before the SSUK pi$$ up

http://ssuk09.com/

Keep it cheap and use a rear mech with the bottom of the cage cut off. The tension provided by the mech works fine, and works much better than a cheap non-adjustable tensioner.

It looks like the chain should fall off all the time, but mine hasn't yet despite the s/s being used mainly for pratting about/falling off things etc.

Charliethebikemonger is very helpful, and a 2:1 ratio works well off road but you will need to be patient on road!