You are reading a single comment by @bristlypioneer and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@bristlypioneer
Hello,
I've just been given an old dawes galaxy road bike as a freebie, and want to convert it into a (very cheap) fixed wheel.
It's got horizontal drop outs and lovely 531 tubing, so seems to be an ideal candidate.
I went along to Brick Lane Bikes and asked them about it today, but they started quoting me for new wheels, Bottom Bracket, cranks, everything. By the time she had reached £250 of new stuff I told her to stop. The wheels are 27 1/4 not 700cc so I'd prefer not to have to switch everything.
Surely I can do this on the cheap without switching to a 1/8 chain, new wheels etc.
So I thought I'd come here for some tips.
Can I just take off the outer cog from the crank and use the inner one? It's 40 or 42 teeth I think.
can't I just remove the rear freewheel cassette and add a fixed sproket, lock ring and some spacers?
for spacers can I just use wheel nuts like suggested here:
http://paulm.com/on/cycling/fixed_gear.html
is it possible just to shorten the existing chain, by removing links rather than buying a new one?
is there a lot more to it? Do I have to rebuild the rear wheel to make it more even?
HELP please.