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The budget is a few hundred quid.
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I'm building my first fixed gear at the moment. I've been pretty frugal - OK some parts weren't bargain basement but I've skimped where I can get away with it.
That said, I've spent about 400. Don't think you'd make a bike worth riding for 200. A cheap OTP is probably your best bet, then you can upgrade as and when. Should be able to pick up a 2008 Fuji Track for 250-300.
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Is it better to buy a decent frame and not-quite-so-good components to start with and gradually upgrade, or the other way around?
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• #7
Get the best frame you can afford, then gradually upgrade.
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Check out Sheldon Brown's website for lots of advice. Also Park Tools has a good section on repairs, etc.. You can also search the forum here for lots of helpful advice.
Enjoy!
Just had a quick gander at his website - the man's a genius! Any recommendations on frames etc. Is aluminium really any good and are horizontal dropouts a necessity?
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i did my first conversion for £180 pounds, it's possible.
find a very very cheap old road bike preferably with a single front chainring, and brakes seatpost in a servicable condition, buy a wheel set off here or ebay for as little as possible, get a new chain, service the headset and bottom bracket as far as it possible.
upgrade things as and when the break
then chuck on some new bar tape and hey presto you have a new bike!
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You had 7 minute "gander" dude...
Gander further
Gandering further now!
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Just had a quick gander at his website - the man's a genius! Any recommendations on frames etc. Is aluminium really any good and are horizontal dropouts a necessity?
Life will be easier with horizontal drop-outs.
Watch your rear spacing if you are converting a alu road frame, as aluminium drop-outs cant be 're-spaced' so easily.
A good list of track frames:
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread527-2.html -
i did my first conversion for £180 pounds, it's possible.
find a very very cheap old road bike preferably with a single front chainring, and brakes seatpost in a servicable condition, buy a wheel set off here or ebay for as little as possible, get a new chain, service the headset and bottom bracket as far as it possible.
upgrade things as and when the break
then chuck on some new bar tape and hey presto you have a new bike!
+1, I did the same. At that time Gumtree wasn't so full of stolen bikes, I picked my 70s racer up for £50, most of it was re-useable and is still on my daily ride.
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definitely buy a whole bike for conversion, you get a pretty good bike in need of work, single speed much cheaper than fixed as you can use a normal hub, 70's or 80's road bike with screw on rear hub cassette. You could do with a friend with tools, you're welcome to use some of mine but I'm in birmingham. Having said all that, buying one built up on here if you're quick is the easiest option.
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How about these, briliant or bobbins?
DO NOT BUY THIS. It is a Unipac. Search the forum for this term.
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How about these, briliant or bobbins?
Those wheels don't look round to me. I wouldn't trust it.
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But they are made of GOLD! You could melt them down and be RICH!
Have you seen the price of gold these days?
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Funny thing, gold... We've apportioned an arbitrary value to an essentially useless commodity exclusively for the purpose of trading. Its not even rare and no longer backs currency.
They are even making bloody unipak wheels out of it.
Good point well made, but it's not bloody useless actually - check out the engine bay of the McLaren F1. Lined in 24 carat gold because it's the best conductor of heat. A trifle pricey for the average household radiator.
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Most people who purchase gold have no intention of using it to line the engine bays of their Formula 1 cars.
People used to make fillings for their teeth from gold, and electronic circuits also make use of it due to its conductive properties.
You seem like nice folk, Bodie and Doyle... please use the fucking search.
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Most people who purchase gold have no intention of using it to line the engine bays of their Formula 1 cars.
People used to make fillings for their teeth from gold, and electronic circuits also make use of it due to its conductive properties.
You seem like nice folk, Bodie and Doyle... please use the fucking search.
You're a bit fucking tetchy for a Thursday morning!
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I'll show you fuckin tetchy.
I only asked for some advice and now I get you giving it Billy Big Bollocks!
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Wanted: Bike build
Posted by
@handtightenonly
Can anyone offer me any advice on building a bike from scratch? I don't have the worlds largest budget, but can probably stretch to a few hundred quid. Please help!