frankenbike's frankenbikes

Hey all, new here, looking for a bit of advice as you seem like a knowledgeable bunch...

I've acquired a horribly garish 26" Marin MTB frame, which I was looking to turn in a pub bike/frankenbike/monstercross/fixie/beater thing. I'm trying to do it on the cheap, and I'm wondering what the best way to go about it is. I think I have 5 or more options mainly related to wheel sizes and I'd like to know what you think will be the cheapest/easiest.

Parts I have already, or have bought:

• 3x8 Microshift/Shimano groupset (inc. STI levers, brakes, crankset, BB, cassettes, derailleurs)
  
• cheapo wheelset with Shimano spline that I built myself
  
• 700c fork with canti posts, quill stem, bars - all for £30, mostly new. Will return if not needed.
  
• decent cantilever brakes that I've been given for free
  
• a 42t single-speed chainring, which will in theory fit to the Shimano cranks above
  
• seatpost to fit this frame (£5) plus two spare saddles
  
  

My options for converting this thing, as far as I can tell:

Option 1: 26" front and rear wheels with 3x8 groupset
The cheapest option (?) but by far the least cool. What I'll need:

• wheelset (£10-20)
  
• tyres (£10)
  
• new bars and stem (£20)
  
• effort required to remove seized stem from existing fork. Really not keen on doing that.
  
  

Option 2: 700c front and rear wheels with 3x8 groupset
Second-least cool option. Seems horribly expensive for an end result that's pretty un-exotic. What I'll need:

• Brake post adapter or long-arm V-brakes for the back (£36 on eBay)
  
• A travel agent device (£15 on SJS)
  
• Fork, bars, stem (purchased already for £30).
  
  

Option 3: 700c front wheel, 26" rear with 3x8 groupset
Now we're getting into the crazy stuff. Handling would almost certainly be awful but it would get major comedy points. Relatively cheap. What I'll need:

• 26" rear wheel and tyre. (£15?)
  
• Fork, bars, stem (£30).
  
  

Option 4: 700c front wheel, 26" fixed rear
Even madder. This one I'd be sort of worried about riding. However, it does have the advantage of two brakes. What I'll need:

• Either a pre-built 26" fixed rear wheel, which doesn't seem to exist, or
  
• Track hub, spokes, 26" rim, build a questionable wheel myself (£30+)
  
• 26" tyre (£5)
  
• Cogs (£0 - £5)
  
• Fork, bars, stem (£30)
  
• Single speed levers (£0 if I use my STI levers, £5 off eBay)
  
  
  

Option 5: 700c front wheel, 700c fixed rear
A proper single speed, but no possibility of a back brake. What I'll need:

• Fork, bars, stem (£30)
  
• 700c fixed rear wheel (£10?)
  
• Cogs (£0 - £5)
  
• Single speed levers (£0 - £5)
  
  

Option 6: Just buy a fixie and chuck this frame
What I'll need:

• Fixie (£100?)
  This frame is truly horrid and I doubt I'll be able to find anything else as nasty for sale. Which would be a shame.
  
  

Other things I'm thinking about:

• fitting caliper brakes on the seat-stay bridge and using a 700c rear. The hole is drilled the wrong way, but there's probably a way to make it work? I could even just make something that bolts to the seatstays. Would solve a lot of my problems.
  
• I like down-tube shifters, and with any of the 3x8 options I could switch to them (£15 on eBay).
  
• if I get 700c wheels, I might fit fat CX tyres so I can ride it anywhere.
  
• would love to chuck a front rack on that fits to the brake posts.
  
  

What would you do in this situation? Do you know of any cheap bits going that'll help me get this working? Is it an all-round terrible idea?

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