Vintage MTB Singlespeed build/ride

[@toastyrides]

Hey everyone, thanks for checking out the video! The next video will either be a “fleet update” or a pretty cool bike arrival/chat about its plans. I also have a few other builds in the works, but I have no idea which video will be out first- yet. Stay tuned! Cheers, ride safe and have fun 🥳🤙

[@Retrojunk0]

Love the bike ! Single speed conversions are always super nice , simple, and fun to ride ! Sweet build !

[@Retrojunk0]

I will be posting a video this week of a 1997 Gary fisher zebrano single speed “big bmx” build I e been working on , shaved the frame of the rack mounts and derailleur cable mounts as well as the derailleur mount and front brake posts and left it all raw metal for that rat bike feel. Really excited for it !

[@anielyantra1]

I purchased a 1986 rockhopper that I converted to a single speed. One tip; use locktite on the chainring bolts and the stem/handlebar bolts. They tend to loosen with the strain of a single speed riding.

[@zwicker5585]

how would stem/handlebar/chainring bolts loosen from ss but not geared bikes? Makes no sense to me

[@jp93309]

Setting up chain length and tension is easier when you lock down the rear wheel bolt or QR as close as possible to the front edge of the dropouts while you’re measuring the chain. Then you can fine tune the amount of slack with the remaining amount of space left in the dropouts. Learned this from RJ the Bike Guy.

[@toastyrides]

It’s the only way! Half link chains/links come in handy for those frames with shorter dropouts, too. Can really dial it in 😁🤌

[@karlnorgaard6077]

You are right. I'll add one suggestion. Having built up a bunch of singlespeed conversions, I've discovered the half link chain. The half link chain allows much greater accuracy in setting up chain length. But like all things mechanical, with every advantage comes a penalty. Two things...half link chains are sold for BMX bikes, and are quite short, one will likely need to buy two chains to make it work. Also, half link chains stretch a lot.

[@garysprojects]

Sweet bike! The thumbies were a good score. Also interesting to see you install the canti hanger facing the opposite way to I do, that’s pretty cool. probably makes access to the bolt and wire a bit easier too! Might need to try next time. always great to see how other people build thx for the video 💕💕

[@toastyrides]

Cheers, Gary! I’m stoked to have them, it showed up at the right time 😁 haha true, never thought about it 😆 I think this way is a bit easier to fiddle with/undo if needed, like you said! Oo and sometimes I put the bolt in the other way, if it’s too close to the frame/fork.

[@samherbert2394]

Hey, that bike came from my local bike shop growing up!! The shop is still there and I stop in to grab whatever I need whenever I'm back in town with my family! Very cool to see it's traveled all the way across the world!

[@Maik1968]

Hy Adam, just wondered what is going on in Auckland 😀And here you are again. Nice work again and I love to see the test ride showing the surroundings of Auckland. Thanks for sharing and I wish you a nice upcoming week. Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪👍🌞🍀

[@toastyrides]

Hey, thanks for coming back! 🙌 Thanks heaps, would love to show more of the city and different trails in the future 👍 Hope you have a great week, too! 🤙 take care!

[@EriebyCycle]

I appreciate you explaining the rust converter and automotive wax. It’s helped me out several times now. Thanks a bunch!

[@toastyrides]

You’re welcome! I tend to forget how much detail I’ve gone into in previous videos, but I’m guessing I repeat myself sometimes (for regular viewers) haha. Good that it’s helped you out 👍

[@TheMetabolicMadness]

I really love those early/ mid 80's mtb's with the slack parallel angles (headtube and seattube)! Theres something very aesthetically pleasing about them! Great build turned out awesome! 🙂🙌

[@toastyrides]

Me too! Love the look of them, especially with a cool fork like this one 🤌 Thanks heaps! Looking forward to the next bike 😉🥳

[@who6184]

Thank you for taking your time and giving us details.

[@MonkeyShred]

I find the best tool for those plastic dust caps is a blow torch.

[@toastyrides]

The notification for this comment was “I find the best tool for those plastic dust caps is a…” 😆 I hear the same tool works on seatposts and bottom brackets, too! 🫶

[@TheBassman396]

Useing a tube for single speed spacers is brilliant and cost affect , I put grease in zip loc bags to grease the bearing cage then I get nothing on my fingers

[@johnbrann75]

I like old mountain bikes, just rebuilt one today. I wish they all came with easy to remove bottom bracket cups though. Spent two days with all sorts of devices trying to get the drive side out but no luck. (I'm not a blow torch guy) So just settled on the old cup and cone bottom bracket. Its a bad weather fall and spring bike anyway. Love your builds, keep it up.

[@sparkybhp2238]

Another build turned out sweet, well done - I love your style of build. I’ve just picked up those exact Suntour thumbies - be interesting to see where yours end up.. 😉😁

[@toastyrides]

Thank you! Love the look of this, just wish it was a lot closer to my size haha. Ooh nice, I really like these shifters. Look very unique, completely different to a lot of the old Shimano shifters I have! 🤙

[@bosanderspublictheology]

That was terrific - Thank you!

[@toastyrides]

Glad you liked it, thank you! 🙌

[@raceface_m2579]

great tip on the spacers!

[@toastyrides]

Thank you! 🙌

[@gmista]

Always cool to be a subscriber of a soon//sure to be millions subs channel! Can't wait for the fleet update! All the best from Italy!

[@billnoren]

My first mountain bike was almost identical to this bike. It was a Ross but I’m not sure about the model name. I did a few mods like moving the shift levers to the bottom of the bar and trying a few different chainrings. Your video is a nice reminder of a bike that I spent a LOT of time riding. Thanks!!

[@glennpettersson9002]

I liked the local version of a skinny 😀

[@toastyrides]

Haha I loved that little part, it’s more to help with the swampy nature of that part than anything. But I treat it as a skinny! 🤌

[@Cro.Mo.Sapien]

Toasty the G.O.A.T.

[@viviennepatterson5950]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks again.

[@simant5361]

Or you can resemble the cassette with the sprocket you want moved to the nearest inline position. i did this on a freewheel, works very well. Yeah, it may not look as nice but it's a great way of trying single speed out with no extra cost

[@BryanByBike]

I recently bought a bike that is nearly identical except for the color & branding. I decided to upgrade the wheels & convert it to a 2x9 ATB. The only difference with the components was the stem & handlebars, which was a cool bull moose. Just wondering if that was typical back then.

[@Locojoe]

Another enjoyable and informative video. I guess I'm just now noticing... do you mostly run left brake lever - rear brake and right lever - front brake?

[@toastyrides]

Thank you! Glad you liked it 🤙 rear left, front right is how it’s setup here (and other countries who drive on the left I think) but I prefer mine the other way. I’m right handed, so the rear on the right feels better for me. In most of my other videos it’s probably how you’re used to seeing it. Something to do with hand signals, it’s pretty outdated!

[@peterharrer3261]

Perhaps single-speed was the best direction to go in with this bike. (And your pipe cutting modification was very interesting.) But unless the torque is just right for the rider, I find s-s boring. No variation, no improvement in torque. The ride gets old. The next person who owns this bike might just change it back to a 5, 6 or 7 speed.

[@BlueSuedeAsics]

I find single speed is often more interesting. Forces you to move around the bike more. Getting out of the saddle in the hard bits. On a geared bike I often stay in the saddle and just change gear to maintain cadence. Plus I live in a flat windy area and on any bike I rarely feel like I'm in the right great but on a single speed doesn't matter because I can't change. But with gears I spend a while messing with the right combo to no avail

[@peterharrer3261]

@@BlueSuedeAsics That's how I felt about my s-s when I bought mine back in 2012. I loved the simplicity. But change is life's only constant and one's responses fall into step with it.

[@toastyrides]

I quite like SS, but I ride my geared bikes more (because of hills and laziness I suppose). Good points! I normally offer the next owner an option to swap the gearing, even if it’s a geared bike I let them know I can SS convert it if they want 😁

[@MrBumslap]

the tool you need for the crank caps is a coin! be careful with a flathead cos it's too narrow and can mar the plastic or soft steel of the crank cap. Credit to Sheldon Brown RIP

[@vjasonp11]

I'm from and live in North Carolina

[@toastyrides]

Greetings! 🤙 cool to hear 👍 see many/any Renegades around?!

[@NikMartin-I-am]

Love your builds, I just built up an '83 Ross Mt. Whitney from a $10 boneyard find. What do you do with the bikes you build (besides ride them)? I'm not in a very active biking area, but love building bikes.

[@viviennepatterson5950]

What’s the trend with single-speeds?

[@TyBraek]

11:48 how have those grips held up? I've never had foam grips and always wanted to try some. I found those on aliexpress for about $2. Do you think they're worth trying for that price??

[@draggonhedd]

Bike stuff has a weird markup when its really nothing special as far as materials are concerned.

[@toastyrides]

I’ve noticed that! Quite crazy how some small items are priced at the moment 😵‍💫

[@draggonhedd]

@@toastyrides most of it isn't even special or precise or complex. no reason for it to be as pricey as it is

[@madisondeans5566]

🤣😅Giant riding a bike in woods,Beavis, huuh,huuh!

[@toastyrides]

Hahaha I have a smaller bike coming up 🤫 😂 (think Raleigh 20 size)

[@ajthmmht]

How tall are you? i bet 190-210cms haha

[@jokodigdoyo8584]

Send to me Groupset shfter etc 😁😁😁😁🙏

[@johne1956]

Interesting bike, never seen one of those, I don't think we ever had them in the UK. I've just uploaded a video on my 90's MTB fleet if your are interested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKKQloN-p7Cff5Y Cheers from the UK