What would be the cheapest way of singlespeeding my commuter MTB?

It’s an old 2004 GT avalanche. Do I have to buy a new rear wheel or can i use the one i have now and loose the 9spd cassette and fit something that only has the one sprocket?

Then just loose the middle and granny rings off the front and adjust the chain length to suit?

Or do I ‘need’ to buy specialist stuff. This bike is just for commuting and i don’t want the options of lower gears so i’m forced to get stronger/fitter.

any help appreciated.

here ya go

Fir a tensioner and shorten the chain is all you need to do.

Superstar Components have tensioners for around £10.

cheers both.

with the superstar tensioners do i just leave the 9spd cassette on or do i have to fit the singlespeed kit also?

Sorry SS beginer here!!

You can use and old rear mech as the tensioner if you want to be uber-cheapskate.

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/faqs-4-w.asp

If you’re planning to run 44T up front then the usual option would be to mount that in the middle ring position – you may need to file some tabs off the back of your crank spider to achieve that though. You’ll also need some single ring chainring bolts as normal ones go through both big & middle ring & so are too long for a single ring setup.

Then once you’re sorted on the front whip off the cassette and use the spacers to align the sprocket with the chainring to give a nice straight chainline, and add a tensioner of your choice. I’d steer clear of the SSC one and go for Charlie the Bikemonger’s copy of the Surly one. In fact, give Charlie a call and he’ll sort you out with the works.

Cheapest = don’t change gear
Next cheapest = remove shifters and cable, lock rear mech in position for chosen gear
Then = shorter chainring boltss to only use middle ring, remove cassette and use a single sprocket with spacers.
Then = replace rear mech with a tensioner
Then = SS-specific chainring

A tensioner is about a tenner. Sprocket and spacer kit is also about a tenner. Chainring bolts are about a fiver. Chainring is between 10 and 30 depending what you get.

Any SS stuff in the On-One Indian Summer Sale?

I SS’ded my DMR.
I used a SS sprocket kit with a 16 tooth cog, this has notches in it which will slide onto the splines on your shimano-type freehub. You then use the spacers it should come with to get a good chainline.

I run a 38 tooth (I think)downhill/singlespeed chainring on the front but instead of using those chain tensioners that mount on the rear, I use an ISCG tab mounted(or BB mounted) chain-device such as a Blackspire Stinger and wind it up into the chain until desired tension is reached and then nip up the bolts through the gaps in the chainring/cranks.
as in the photo below(yes I know, pink tyres…)

It looks much better than a rear mounted setup and also helps ensure you dont drop a chain. Use a SRAM link to get the chain off and drop the back wheel.

Cheers fella’s, some good info there. sounds like i can do it failry easily/cheaply then.