I want to get my own fixed-gear, but problem is I live in Bangkok

here in Bangkok, Thailand. I cant find the store that sell fixed gear parts and frames.
they only has a dealer of Fuji and Bianchi, and those dealer only provide mountain bike, and other rode bike
i ask them if i can order a fixed gear bike from those dealers such as Bianchi Pista and they say yes. but i would have to wait for
4-5 months

question are
Should i get a fully bult track bike like Bianchi Pista? or Get a custom built one?
Here in Bangkok, has some rode bike with multiple speeds, could i used it frame to build a fixed gear bike?
What's requirement of the fixed gear frame ?

Thx u so much

If you want to make a fixed gear from a road bike (multiple speed) the thing to look for is a frame with horizontal dropouts.

This is so you can move the back wheel forwards and backwards to make the chain tight - normally this is done with the gears on a multiple speed bike - but on a fixed gear bike there are no gears - so you need to move the wheel to keep the chain tight.

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The Bianchi Pista is an excellent bike, good reviews.

Can you order a bike online from somewhere ? - 4-5 month for delivery is very very long !

semi-horizontal dropouts are also OK.

get yourself on e-bay, many selles will post worldwide, it'll take time but it'll be worth it.
get to know parts first then start buying them, if you want it to be your dream bike, make sure you take your time.

Stef get yourself on e-bay, many selles will post worldwide, it'll take time but it'll be worth it.
get to know parts first then start buying them, if you want it to be your dream bike, make sure you take your time.

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. . . ask lots of questions here.

great... thx u so much all of ur gus.

my another question come out... can i use any type of road bike that have horizontal dropouts?

and how a fixed gear frame different from those road bike frames ? and if i used the road bike frame it will effect me to change to fixed gear frame later on?

not that much, i suggest you get a road frame, then build it up with track parts and when you can get a track frame.

Issues with road frames usually only rear dopout spacing (ie. they use wider hubs 126m, 130mm rather than track 120mm) and bottom bracket height is lower which means taking it easier around tight corners.

fireball one other important thing:

On road bikes (and mountain bikes) 175mm is usually the standard crank length.

For fixed it is wise to get shorter crank arms - 165mm is good.

The reason is when you go around corners on a road bike you usually level your cranks so they are away from the ground and hold them there for a couple seconds until you have completed the corner - on a fixed wheel bike of course you cannot stop your cranks going around or keep your cranks in one position (they will always be moving) so shorter cranks will mean you are less likely to hit your pedals on the ground = crash !

Yeah, don't let geography get you down. You should still be able to source frames and parts with a little extra research and patience.

that's really helpful..

i'll look for a frame and start building it asap. if i got more questions, i'll ask here again.

Thx u so much

Yeah, doing it yourself is definitely the way to go. Especially if you'd have to wait 4-5 months for an off-the-peg bike anyway. Picking up parts on eBay is quite a slow business, but I reckon it's still faster than that. It took me about 11 weeks to get my bike on the road.

Don't rush in and buy something that takes your fancy first thing tomorrow morning. Take your time about it. Reading all the posts on this messageboard would be a good start. There's an awful lot of handy hints in between all the daft jokes. :-) Even just by looking at photos of bikes, you'll build up and idea of what you like and what you don't like. Building a bike could turn into a very expensive venture if you start buying lots of stuff without engaging your brain. Good luck!

I reckon this is as good a place to start as any:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/columns/bobgarage/indexb.htm

if i get right road bike with the dropout that you show above, the thing that i need to replace is only hubs. am i correct?

i can use any rear cog and crank set from the old road bike , correct? any other parts that i need to get ?? Bottom Bracket ??

Thx u so much in advance

confuscious say "Man who goes through airport turnstyles sideways is going to Bangkok" boom cha!

jimmy somerville

whisper me your email add - i know a guy wo imports frames into bangkok. i met him when i was over there and wasnt really into ridding then but i know he gets stuff from all over the world and is based in bangkok.he could help you build it up to.

I always think getting into fixed wheel bikes is a bit like becoming a DJ. You start off with some crap decks and then buy technics which are infinately better. In my opinion conversions are almost always a compromise and with the availability of cheap track bikes noadays makes them unnessessary. Getting the chainline right can be complicated and every converted frame I've used the chainstays flexed so much under power and braking that the chain could come off, I am heavy though so it probably won't be a problem with most people. By the time you've built up your conversion it will have cost you close to an off the peg track bike, and by this point you will want a track bike!

In my opinion you should get a Bianchi or a Fuji or even better get a old fully built up track bike and convert it for the road. The best thing in my opinion about making conversions is you learn alot about bike building and maintanence but the bike is never as nice to ride as a proper track bike.

Some googling revels that Bangkok has a velodrome. Try going down there see if they have any bits for sale or people who do and ask where they get their stuff from.

From Wikipedia

Thailand Changmai Bangkok ??? 2007 Sea Games Venue