Wanted: Cheap bike for conversion

im looking for a full bike for converting as i currently am riding a borrowed bike (as my previous bike was stolen)

preferablly id like something with 120mm spacing and not too big but anything will do really, as long as its cheap and has wheels and cranks and everything

yes, i have been trawling ebay and gumtree etc. but thought id post here aswell

thanks

dude elaborate on a frame size or your height / inside leg - 'twill garner better responses..

• if you're converting there's goin to be at least some crank involvement in the process.
  

54cm frame size or thereabouts - ive got a 32" inside leg

i was hoping i wouldn't need any crank involvement - never converted fixed before only singlespeed(!)
what kind of thing do you mean by that - something to do with chainline or what...?

well yeah I think it's fairly accepted that it's a better move to go for a single chainring setup, so if you get an old roadbike (unless it's a five speed) you'd at least be wanting to strip one of the chainrings off.

eg 52/42T at the front gives you options of something like 52/19 or 52/20 or whatever, or 42/14 etc. if you keep the smaller one. Gear inches are a matter of preference and practicality - people have posted about this before and Sheldon Brown has a nice table charting it.

It's slightly bewildering at first but you get hip to it.

I'm going to be doing the same thing this month with an old road bike but installing a different chainring.

i converted a raleigh last week, it had biopace chairings which are oval, so no use. i swapped them both out for a 39t, which i put on with half chainring bolts. running 39:14 which is 73", perfect.

conversion was very easy.

thanks pajamas (btw i do understand gear inches but info on chainrings is useful)

pj - does that mean you're running a suicide hub?
i don't know what you mean by "put on with half chainring bolts"

thanks guys

Re: Half chainring bolts, these are bolts that are shorter than regular chainring bolts that are designed to go through 2 chain rings and the crank, half chainring bolts are used for single chainrings and the crank. I expect PJ built a new rear wheel for the bike using a track hub.

I imagine he would have. I'd be wary of pj's "conversion was very easy" too. I expect it's only difficult for pj when he wants it to be for his own amusement..

Bernhard Re: Half chainring bolts, these are bolts that are shorter than regular chainring bolts that are designed to go through 2 chain rings and the crank, half chainring bolts are used for single chainrings and the crank. I expect PJ built a new rear wheel for the bike using a track hub.

bernhard - your powers of deducution are amazing

thanks very much for the half chainring bolts explanation

No problemo Cohen, good luck with your build.
I did pretty much the same thing as pj (pics in my gallery), I was lucky with chainline so had a 'very easy conversion' as well, pretty much built new rear wheel using an on-one hub (they have now doubled in price) shoved on a 16t cog and 44 at the front and a shiny new chain. It is possible to do it dirt cheap you just have to be patient.
Defo check Sheldon Brown (if you don't know who this fella is shame on you)

thanks,
out of interest do you use a 3/32 or 1/8 chain?
im thinking 1/8 would be preferable but does this mean I need a 1/8 chainring? (and definitley sprocket)
what im trying to say is can you use a 1/8 chain on a 3/32 chainring.

thanks yet again
(of course i know who sheldon brown is!)

I went all 3/32 but plenty of people use 1/8 cog with a 3/32 chainring and a 1/8 chain. I think its more down to personal preference than practicality, a big fat 1/8 chain does look pretty sweet.

3/32 cogs are available most places if thats what worried you, 'on one' do them for £15 or so, make sure you go for steel though, aluminium will not last half as long.

(good)