right singlespeeding can someone explain what is meant by sliding dropouts, ebb, chain tensioners etc.
any how they work.

Sliding dropout, the whole dropout slides back and forth to allow chain tensioning


Eccentric BB, the BB can be rotated through an arc to...................allow chain tensioning


Chain tensioners, allow you to pull the bach wheel axle backwards to ...............................you can guess the rest

so sliding drop outs would be the best option, are they the ones that also allow you to run gears as well?

Yes


I'd imagine an EBB one would too

cheers alan one last question which would be better for a rohloff hub ebb or sliding dropouts?

Better?



Both should be OK


Ebb looks tidier I'd say but the sliding dropout may turn out to be more robust in the long term I think

cheers alan

wot about eccentric rear hubs? dont wtb or someone make htem?

"Ebb looks tidier I'd say but the sliding dropout may turn out to be more robust in the long term I think"

i can't see the logic in that statement, an EBB has 2 set screws that are tightened which hold the ebb shell in place (well my phil wood ebb does, the cheaper bushnell ones have sliding wedges which mean more moving parts) wheareas sliding drops have up to 8 bolts to tighten(2 for each dropout, 2 tensioning bolts and 2 disk bolts) some sliding drops have the tensioning screws sticking out the back instead of within the rear triangle (like voodoo and paragon) some heavyweight riders have flexed the 'plates' of the sliding drops on some current frames.

Sliding dropouts allow you to bolt on the long "rohloff" dropout on the disc side. Of course you can run a rohloff with a speedbone off the disc mount if you don't have the long rohloff dropout.

>some heavyweight riders have flexed the 'plates' of the
>sliding drops on some current frames.

yeah - we had a bit of that in the USA. Strangley, Steve Makin, who I sold a frame that was returned due to "tug flex" at a discount, has had no such problems inspite of his 210lb weight. Operator error? I guess. Perhaps EBB's are more "idiot proof".

But then I've heard of riders of lots of EBB's - phil wood, bushnell, all sorts... claiming that they "rotate" under load. But having ridden a bushnell around loose (to test!), I've always been suspicious of that claim.

We've made both - our early SS/disc frames were EBB. Our current frames are sliding dropout. We stopped making EBB frames as Bushnell were even wierder to work with than we are.

White Industries make the ENO eccentric hub. Which they even do with a disc mount, and matching eccentric caliper adaptor!

I personally can't see the logic in saying that "less bolts = more robustness". Strip the threads out on your ebb locking bosses on your frame and you're buggered unless you get the welding torch out or helicoil them. Strip them on a sliding dropout frame, and you just put a new dropout plate on.
Sliding drops won't seize without maintenance.
Sliding drops won't distend and stretch your BB over time.

But I'm sure there are arguements the other way.

Currently I prefer sliding dropouts, due to their ability to have different bits (rohloff, singlespeed, gear hanger) bolted on and off. It's a bit less commiting than taking a hacksaw to your frame if you want to SS, then regretting it later :-).

http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml

just about every ss question answered here :-)

cheers, looks like sliding drop outs then.

Have had both, EBB on a Cannondale 1FG and sliding on a Kona Eplosif.

Ebb gave no problems untill as Brant states earlier it siezed up and had to be dismantled completely to tension chain.

Sliding drop outs on the Kona were awfull!!!.

Had to "beef" up the bolts to stop them shifting under load, and then the frame started to flex and it started to drop the chain a lot.

Overall my choice would be EBB but carefull maintenance is reqd.

>Overall my choice would be EBB but carefull maintenance is reqd.

or how about a geared bike, and cut your thumbs off?

Seizing of the EBB was my feeling as toy why it may not be so robust in the long term but I think either if well built is fine