First single speed project - help!

'lo all. I'm a keen Roadie and I currently commute on my winter trainer - a 2 year old Specialized Allez, whilst my lovely Wilier is kept for non commuting duties, weekend, evening rides etc. The Spesh is total overkill for my 15 min commute and I'm thinking about selling it and going single-speed (love the idea of fixed but reckon it would be unwise to jump straight into it). I don't want to spend more than £400 and am wondering what my best bet would be. I reckon something that can easily be converted to fixed (flip-flop hub??), but not really sure where to start looking. Is the Langster alright (not the silly white London one) or are there better choices out there? I don't want to look like a wanna be courier, just like the idea of a simple low maintenance commuter with roadie gemoetry, bars and styling etc. As a newbie I don't really want to try building my own from scratch either!

I also have a pair of Fulcrum Racing wheels going spare (campy freehub), can they be converted for single-speed/fixed use?

Finally, my Wilier has a compact chainset (50/34) with a 12/25 cassette and I am a fairly fast, fairly strong rider (can average 22mph+ for extended periods), what size freewheel/cog should i be looking at getting? Basically i want to be able to spin at 23/24 mph with a cadence of 100 rpm or so.

Sorry for the rambling post but I'm really not sure where to start, so any wisdom you care to impart would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

James.

Here's something for your speed/cadence/gearing choice: http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/ecadence.htm

As for singlespeeding a geared bike, the easiest/cheapest way (after buying one built, that is) is to remove the cogs you don't need and replace with spacers.
Remove shifters. Shorten chain. Leave derailler for tensioner.

If you really don't need the Spesh - sell that to fund the purchase of an off-the-shelf ss. Many threads on here about 'em. There's a few under £400.

Had an offer on the Spesh, so gonna buy a new/2nd hand SS.

The Genesis flyer is on at £399 in Cycle Surgery at the moment - could be worth a test ride.

Also, fixed is not really that big a deal. If you fancy it then go for it; I went SS on a flip-flop hub (freewheel on one side, fixed on the other) to begin with and regret it. If I had got a fixed-fixed hub to begin with, I would be able to run two different fixed gears easily.

After about 5 days of riding fixed, and one big descent, you will be completely at home...

speshalaaaaaaized...

Ebay, On-One, Langster, Kona, Flyer, any bike with a conversion.. there's a few options.

You can get a Fuji for that kind of money. Comes with a Flip-Flop hub, and nice strong 48/16 gearing.

I agree with mashton, gor for fixed, don't be buggering about with single speed - more trouble than it's worth...

5 days? You're a quick adopter.. I'm still working out how to ride mine :)

Well, maybe give it 6 or 7 days to get the backward circles perfect ;-)

Why is SS "more trouble than it's worth..." or am I just being dense?

I'm a tad worried about jumping strainght into fixed for a commute through London, I 've had a few close calls even with brakes and a freewheel as it is...

Hey, BTW jash - I remember you from Cycling Plus forums, I think? Welcome to LFGSS.

Beware: it's kinda addictive in here, you may find yourself not logging on over there much anymore. And your Willier may get a tad jealous when you get a lovely fixie and pay her less attention than she's used to...

i was in your position few mths ago. wanted flipflop but in the end jumped straight onto fixed. its actually a lot easier than i thought. wouldnt go speeding through busy borough high street in pm rush hour just yet tho. but i got used to fixed ridin in just a couple of days riding.

46x16 is alright for fast commute. you'll easily 'cruise' at 30kph

Not a lot of people try fixed and bother with ss again.. unless maybe mtb'ers. It's just more fun.
There's slightly less to maintain with a fix but it is a little trickier to come to terms with. It's just diff.
I'd still get a fixed/free flip-flop, it's not like you are gonna need to change cogs that often (and when you do I can charge you a beer for loan of tools) :)

You remember correctly mashton, Cheers! Haven't really bothered with CPlus after the whole bikeradar rubbish.

Wilier's getting the boot for a Pinarello Prince anyway (in my dreams....)

yeah jb, if, like you say, you love the idea of fixed, don't bother with SS. other than that i would concur with the rest of the advice above

I have the Mortirolo with campy Centaur and I absolutely love it, best bike I've ever ridden by miles. Lovely lovely bike. Are there no Italian off the shelf singlespeeds? Can i convert a Bianchi pista to SS or will I get sneered at?!

if i can just go fixed any one can, trust me once your on there is no going back-

Willier do a Pista - know next to nothing about it, seen one once, it looked OK. Expensive though - £700 ish I think.

It seems we are not convivncing you opf the wisdom of fixed over SS? Why not come along to Critical Mass or Bike Polo or the social ride etc and blag a go on one of our bikes to see how you get on? I'd be more than happy to swap my Condor for your Willier for 20 minutes or so :-)

Yeah they're not cheap.. although they're still cheaper than Stuey's 2005 Giro fix. :)

Don't spend too much - you may fall off.

i think the wilier pista comes with a flipflop hub. but pricey

It's also cheaper than wappingwarrior's conversion from BLB, but maybe we should sink that conversation ;-)

£800 ouch! But they had a sale a while back for £700 like you said mashypeaston..
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/1026569

I want this...