Old dog new tricks? Litespeed Obed as single speed commuter?

Hi all,

I've got a beautiful (in my eyes anyway) circa 1999 Litespeed Obed built as an MTB with Shimano XT all round. Only Marzocchi z2-xfly fork and Selle Italia saddle changed from stock.

I've recently acquired a 10 mile (each way) commute through central london (E1 to W12). Currently I'm doing the ride on my other bike (Brompton S2L-X), and while it doesn't happen often I hate being overtaken. I'm rarely grinding and spinning out a little too often. So I'm thinking I need to ditch the work clothes and get something light, fast and tuned for eactly this job.

So what do you all think of turning the Litespeed into a singlespeed? What would you change? what would you keep? If I take this route I'm thinking I'd probably get another hard-tail MTB frame (maybe an upgrade model Litespeed or Merlin) and use any left-over parts on that.

Or is the poor guy just going to end up a mongrel? Would I be better of leaving him to do what he knows best get something bred for road work?

I'm not going to be able to be quite so careful with parking the new bike. So whatever machine I get/build how much should i consider the bling factor? While it will be secure during the day, it might need to sit outside bars/clubs etc on the way home at night. Do theives know what they are looking at or do they just steal what ever and figure out what it's worth later?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Joachim

p.s. I'm open to hear about things you might want to sell me to fulfil my need. I'm 5'11" and believe I'm about a 56cm road frame size, but I'm going to do the http://www.wrenchscience.com fit program when I have a minute and a friend to hold a book between my legs.

Pictures, pictures!

hmm, despite being my favourite little baby I don't actually many at hand. And nothing too close up...

For a start here's me doing a little delivery job (old fridge to the recycling depot)

http://tinyurl.com/2mrjzr (don't all hit it at once - it's hosted at home on my adsl link :-) )

Joachim

oh and the blue squeeky shark wasn't stock either :-)

oh, here's a trick to get a larger version if you want to get up close and personal

http://tinyurl.com/2dsnc5

I used to ride a commuterised singlespeed MTB (still would if it hadnt been nicked!) but one fine day had a go on my friends fixed with 700c. I thought it was a bit jarring and unstable but within one ride I appreciated that the speed, lightness, and fun were quite a big improvement.
The solidity of the mTB was reassuring, and I didn't have to ride around as much stuff, but I have improved my bike handling (and speed) as a reslt of this change. For a 20 mile-a-day commute you could make your frame work, but as you know, the geometry and construction are not perfectly suited to doing the miles... Also, if you have a go on a 700c road bike, I think you will agree that having 2 different bikes is better than 2 similar but different ones!

Personally I would say try and get a 2nd hand road bike and use that for commuting. I would not feel safe parking a lightspeed up anywhere regularly.

Going single speed is easy on a road bike or mbt. Take off the cogs you don't need space out the cog you want with some old casset spacers and use a chain tenssioner if you don't have enough room in the drop outs to adjust chain tension.

Good luck

no matter how light you make it it will not be as fast and effortless as a proper road bike, the q-factor of the cranks and the slack angles would mean personally i wouldn't bother.

Little bit 'nice' for commuter duties. Could SS it but I'd be more inclined to get another bike (road) for commuting.

joachim Hi all,
Do theives know what they are looking at or do they just steal what ever and figure out what it's worth later?

I've never had a bike nicked but then i;ve upgraded my locks as my bikes have got better - now i have an hardcore abus chain lock and a kryoptonight mini d-lock. that said, when i finished building my 'bling' bike i started getting a bit paranoid leaving it out in the dark - especially if it was left for long periods. that's when i decided to built up a pub bike from an old peugoet racer. although it has getting better as time's gone on ('bling' factor not helped with the addition of a brooks saddle my bro got me for christmas). i;d still contend it's not much of a looker but with two locks on it i;m confident it says 'move along' to potential thieves. thieves, no doubt, want to steal things as quickly as possible so will go for a more easy option.

• i scrutinise where i lock it. lock it to two things. lock it away from easy access to a main road (so not on the outside of railings or on corner posts) where a van can pull up and after a couple of minutes with bolt cutters (or whatever they use) be off with your bike. do lock it hidden in amongst loads of other bikes so it's somewhat camouflaged and doesn;t stand out.
  
  

I don;t know if i;m lucky and it;s just a matter of time but these are the things i've done and do.

botom line, make your bike look shit, get a good lock and be careful where you lock it.

If you want to give it a go, I've got a 135OLD SS/fixed rear wheel knocking around that you're welcome to borrow. Then you'll just need a freewheel and a tensioner.

Catch me in the office.

Your colleague,

roberto always with the pics man you are a perv!

1999 was a good year for litespeed-Lynskey make some really good stuff.