Is a conversion a lesser beast? (a long poorly focused ramble here)

Without quoting from the man himself, Sheldon lead me into my scurillous life of ss and fixed with something like: track frames are always going to be stiffer and twitchier (and less forgiving on your derriere) than a road bike - they're built to ride in circles on wood. Road frames are made of (often) better tubing and designed to deal with bumps and pot holes and heavy braking and the rest. I've always wondered why folk prefer a track frame for riding london streets. They look good - no question, but I see no other obvious bonus. If you're shelling out for a frame you would like to keep for the foreseeable, why not go for a conversion - you might end up gearing that motherfucker up and strapping some (HEAVEN FORBID) panniers to it and riding yourself across a continent. Conversions rule.

I enjoyed that, you should be a life coach or something.

As for the gears+panniers=trekking thing.

I have this:

Im using it as my temporary ride, but I cant go very fast because the the steel wheels are full of knocks and slightly egg shaped. Plus the brakes have no effect (again steel rims)

I wanted to slowly turn it into a classic reliable 5 speed, for leisuirly winter rides in harsh weather. With a big front loading rack of course.

But Ive had to use it as an emegency bike, so I stuck on my fixed wheel so I can stop a little (just flat pedals) and some large path racer style bars. The bike looks a little awesome now, but it is a bad bodge job and very dangerous to ride! The super long wheelbase is definetely better for cruising about freewheel.

It cost me £10 aswell, from a chap who knew the whole history of the coventry bicycle manufacture and even gave me the name of the builder who made the bike!

Oh and PJ,

you may joke, but if you have any ebay skills and a little patience. You can find a quality italian road frame for £100. I mentioned the colnago, because that is what a friend recently bought.