[Closed] Alternatives to tradition single speed tensioners

I'm using a Blackspire stinger on my Alpine, no probs at all. You'll need a frame with an ISCG mount though as i dont think the BB mounted ones would work as well.

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There is the Alfine one, that just puts some tension on the chain (no spring) by adjusting it and then doing up the bolt. Tension can go over the top or underneath the jockey wheel. Works on the bolt through axle of the Alfine, but if you undo the middle bolt it can mount on the drop out (unless running on a single speed frame).

Having explained all that, it Sh**e and you would suffer as you do now. Bashed mine in a couple of times and it wears badly.

The push-up sprung ones work best and look neatest, but my push down on-one sprung one works just fine, if you can catch that on a rock you're doing well! Only thing better would be an SS frame, but I've not seen one I like yet, sorely tempted to send my geared one off to a frame builders to have sowp-outs brazed on.

I use an eccentric rotor chainring and no tensioner. Luckily the chain is the correct length by chance and the eccentric ring allows me to get the chain on and off (vertical drop outs). Don't know how unlikely this is?

I have used a stinger on a non-ISGC frame, its a little trickier to set up but works fine. You just need to tap the underside of the stinger with a rubber mallet to get a little more tension 😀

In my experience a rear mech works really well, looks rubbish though. Easy to get the wheel in and out and holds tension well.

Rohloff ones are like mini-rear-mechs and work really well. Surly seem to do the best "simple" option.
Neatest option is possibly an eccentric outboard BB, there're a couple of them around now.

Did you know the Surly Sungulator can be made to push up rather than down with a different spring. Just fitted one in place of the On-One Doofer which I occasionaly had chain skip with. The Surly in push up mode gives more chain wrap on the back cog and it more tucked up out of the way.

What tom says, rear mech wins on every front including ugliness.

I used one of these with no issue on a frame without ISCG tabs.

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Hollowtech BB made placing the tensioner and tightening the BB very easy.

Works too and if you have any BB flex moves with the flex.

I tried a couple of Surly tensioners and found them not to be as good a the hype.

I've got a Surly clone that I adapted to push up by removing the B-stop pin and switching the spring with a push up one from Charlie The Bikemongers shop.

Fitted it along with a half link so the chain is almost the correct length and then just set the tension.

Works absolutely perfect once set up (have to get it all in-line and then it goes quiet) but as it has a loop over the chain to keep it on the pulley it is a pain when taking the wheel out. I have an old chain device I picked up at a bike jumble with a jockey wheel that slides up and down to change position for different rings so I am going to cut the top bit off that should go to a guide and turn that into a tensioner that can be undone with a multitool instead of needing to undo the BB shell. I'm only doing that for neatness - no other reason as the push up works fine.

edit: another option is just use the powerlink in the chain to remove the back wheel. If you undo them regularly they won't get stuck out on the trail. Should be able to get just enough slack.

Ghost chainring? 😉

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I'm using the Gusset Bachelor (Push up non sprung one). Like you I thought it would be a hassle but I think it works great and they are cheap enough £13? Not difficult to get the wheel out and that's the only time I've had to adjust the chain tension as I had a puncture.

Trickstuff Excentricker? Or First Components EBB.