Sometimes on occasion having one bike to rule them all can be as functionally limiting as it is financially liberating.

Case in point, off-roader singlespeeder types who want to ride to the trail head or covert suburban spies who also want to use their trusty steed around the town.  The former physically CANNOT bring two bikes, the latter (understandably) just can't wrap their heads around the appeal of Pabst, tight jeans and a pink brake less fixie.

Purists and zealots beware...what you are about to see may NOT be considered a TRUE singlespeed...The Empire is prepared for your tsk's and scorn, in fact such rejection and disdain are nearly entirely the reason that such a project holds any punk merit whatsoever.

The project for today is to convert the highly coveted, super popular and penile enlarging Misfit Psycles diSSent singlespeed 29er into a Swiss Army bicycle of category crushing death.


GETTING STARTED:

First things first, ratio's must be considered, perhaps even calculated.

The highly coveted White Industries DOS ratios utilize ONE chain length to accomplish two ratios.

PROS:

• NO slider or wheel adjustment
• NO chain adjustment
• Pretty

CONS:

• FIXED ratio based on wheel size
• Requires White Industry cranks and a freewheel rear hub
  
• Mucho Deneiro
  

Essentially the combined total number of teeth between the ratios is identical.
26" DOS 38/16 and 35/19 (54 teeth)
29" DOS 34/16 and 31/19 (50 teeth)

The ghetto DOS (as discussed here) will utilize a double master link to adjust for the ratios.

PROS:

• Increased ratio options
• Inexpensive, cheap even
• Works on most all cranks

CONS:

• Potential for wheel adjustment
• Chain adjustment required
• Thought required

Of course for your DOS/Dinglespeed project you are welcome to utilize the tried and true ratios of the White Industries DOS, however, there are a few things that you must consider:

• Not all chain rings are available in all sizes for all bolt patterns
• Not all cogs are available in all sizes
• Not all free hubs will accommodate multiple wide based cogs like the COD cog

For the purposes of our conversion the customer requested a large range 42:16 and 32:22.

CONVERTING THE CRANK:

In order to add the second chain ring you will need to either remove the bashring OR move the smaller outer ring to the inside position (if it isn't already).
Note:  If you are converting a single ring singlespeed crankset you will likely need to exchange the chain ring bolts for longer ones.


CONVERTING THE HUB:

During this conversion we are utilizing the DISSENT BUILD KIT, as such the freehub converted is the Misfit Psycles SingleSpeed hub.
Note:  The Misfit Psycles hub uses a short stack freehub (for a dishless build) - this short freehub will NOT fit two COD Cogs.


It may be necessary to REMOVE spacers from the freehub body and it may be necessary to utilize a small spacer between the cogs to ensure correct spacing and chainline.
Both should be eyeballed at this time.
Note:  If you are using a DOS freewheel, you get what you get...adjustments to cogs and spacing are not an option.

CALCULATING THE CHAIN v1:

Of course a proper bicycle scientist could most likely compose the correct length of chain required using an abacus and three triple A batteries, the Misfit Psycles Corporation believes that in addition to looking less pretentious the try and try and try again routine is tried and true enough for us.

In this case we will start with the SMALLER ratio (truth be told it doesn't matter which you begin with).  The chain of choice for the Empire is the KMC Z610HX, a 3/32" singlespeed chain with quite a nice masterlink set up. 


ONE masterlink is included when you buy the chain, if you are thinking of DOS'ing you will need to BUY a second masterlink.


Note:  In the interest of simplicity and brevity the part of the conversion where the 22t cog request FAILED was removed.  Suffice it to say that the 32:22 and 42:16 ratios required ONLY the removal of ONE complete link (one inner and one outer plate).  Although this sounds appealing and was ALMOST close enough to utilize ONE length of chain...it did not.  The 32:22 located the axle in the fore of the sliders, there was NOT enough room to slide the wheel forward for the 42:16 nor was there enough aft room to add a link and slide backward to tension the chain.  The 22t cog was scraped for a 21t.  See below for information concerning minimum chain sections.

Once chain length has been calculated for the SMALLER ratio tension the wheel. 


Once you have tensioned the wheel you will need to drop out the rear axle to open the master link and remove the chain.

CALCULATING THE CHAIN v2:

Now it's time to calculate the length of chain required for the LARGER ratio.


Obviously moving from 32:21 (53 teeth) to 42:16 (58 teeth) your chain will be too short.
Note:  As suggested earlier IN SOME CASES the drop outs will allow for enough forward movement to utilize the SAME chain length.  A difference of 5 teeth is well outside of this range not to mention that the axle is already located too far fore in the slider to allow for much movement...BUT...for some ratios some of the time this is worth a check.

Using the leftover chain from the initial length calculation select or create a section that will span the difference.  Remember the intent is to utilize TWO master links in order to make the transition from one ratio to the next as simple as possible.


For the purposes of regularly removing sections of chain this is the IDEAL length.  One additional master link, two inner plates and one outer plate.
Shown here:


It is possible (as was the case for the 22t cog) that the difference be as low as one single link or one inner plate and one master, unfortunately, when the masters are removed from the inner plate the bushings and plates will fall apart decorating your floor with steel litter...attempting to manage such a change trailside will only result in profuse use of profanity and (in some cases even) bicycular violence.

Tension the wheel for the second ratio, if there is enough room in the dropouts - VICTORY!  You are now almost and mostly complete.
If there is not enough room in the dropouts - FAIL!  You must reconsider your ratios, use the knowledge that larger rings use more chain...larger cogs in the back make you slow and weak while larger rings in the front may cause wind friction burns to unprotected skin.


GETTING READY TO ROLL:

Your dingle is now done the initial stages of setup.
It is now totally advisable for you to ensure that your bicycle is completely assembled, shame on all of you that did not notice the lack of rubber or stopping devices on this particular death machine.

Before you depart on your iron maiden voyage please review the following considerations;

• IF your sliders need to be adjusted BRING an allen key of the appropriate size
  Note:  The Empire strongly suggests that you use the beefier 6mm head allen bolts for such repeated use, they are tough as Liza Minnelli yet much less prone to stripping.
• IF you are starting in your smaller ratio BRING the extra link(s) and master as determined in the setup (above)
  
• Pack geek repellent, you WILL be accosted by looky-lou's frequently

USING YOUR DINGLE:

So you have your dingle (DOS) done OR maybe you purchased your dingle (DOS) OR maybe you are prone to destructive bouts of amnesia. 
Read forth.
Note: The following instructions assume that your chain length changes with each ratio, if you are able to utilize one length of chain simply loosen the sliders, move chain to the new ratio and tension the chain.

Starting in the LARGER ratio;

• Drop rear wheel
• Remove first master link and remove chain
• Remove second master link and excess chain link(s)
• Place excess link(s) and master in a pocket/baggy/nostril
  
• IF the sliders need to be moved, loosen sliders
• Install the now shorter chain
• Install the single master link
• Place chain on chain ring and cog
• Install rear wheel
• Tension chain by pulling back on wheel and tightening sliders
• Ride

Starting in the SMALLER ratio;

• Drop rear wheel
• Remove master link and remove chain
• IF the sliders need to be moved, loosen sliders
  
• Locate excess chain link(s) and second master from pocket/baggy/nostril
  
• Install link(s) and second master
• Install the now longer chain
• Install the first master link
  
• Place chain on chain ring and cog
• Install rear wheel
• Tension chain by pulling back on the wheel and tightening sliders
• Ride

Note:  Because you purchased your frame wisely and are using the Genuine Misfit Psycles diSSent of singlespeeding awesomeness, no brake adjustments are required in the dingle (DOS) mode.