Ok so the rear brake was not the headache I imagined. The headache turned out to be keeping the rear axle from sliding in the horizontal dropouts. Couldn’t make the axle tight enough to avoid movement and the resulting dechaining which would inevitably occur every mile or so. Tried a Surly Tugnut and it did not fit the Transition dropouts. ( heads up to all you Transition owners who are considering a Surly Tugnut ) I’m sure there is a way to keep the axle from moving ( bolt on axle and a chain tug ? ) but I’m back to vertical dropouts and a tensioner. Not how I envisioned my single speed build going but this should be a very satisfactory solution.
Hopefully ride tomorrow morning if it doesn’t rain..