HowTo? Fixed / Singlespeed conversion from an old bike

wheels brother

wheels brother

Getting some wheels is a good start...

then figure out what ratio you want to ride, 52/14 maybe lol?

then figure out what ratio you want to ride, 52/14 maybe lol?

you literally laugh out loud after writing that?

Good on you if you manage to do it for 150GN.
I tried this a couple of years back and including the price of the frame and "nothing fancy" parts, probably cost closer to 300.

Sounds like you've got a better frame than I had for starters, you may be lucky and have an English threaded BB. CHECK THE BB and HEADSET! Make sure they are standard English threads, not Raleigh ones.

See what you can beg or borrow first, especially if you can borrow cranks, chainring and sprockets and maybe stem, it'll give you a better idea of what suits your riding style. I find I spend more money on these three items than anything else getting the gearing and fit right.

Good luck

If you are new to the bike world then you will have a shitload of questions as you proceed to plan and execute your conversion, and I would point out to you that the majority of these will be answered by existing 'how to' articles on conversions.

You could do worse then starting at the school of sheldon brown. There are many other such articles that I found by googling specific questions, or by using the search on this site, when i went through this process.

http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

I second that you will need wheels. You'll be lucky to get much change from £150 on these, unless you are looking to to secondhand market.

CHECK THE BB and HEADSET! Make sure they are standard English threads, not Raleigh ones.

What he said.

Sheldon has a good section on how to spot a Raleigh threaded bike without having to use a BB to check. If it's Raleigh threaded then prepare to spend a lot more money making it compatible with modern bits and pieces.

Hi lfgss people,

This is my first thread. I've been lurking here for a while and reading through sheldonbrown, but now the time has come to get some specific info...

I bought this, originally as the frame (+ crankset & saddle) for £10 off ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230387510304&ssPageName=ADME:X:eRTM:GB:1123. The guy then threw in the wheels and handlebars you see in the pics. It's built with Reynolds 453, about which there is practically no info on the net. BB to seatpost measures 60cm. Gap between rear dropouts ~ 125mm.
So is this a good candidate for a fixie? I'm concerned it might be a little short top-tube wise. I'm about 6'5" ~ 195cm, ~85kg.

First step was to go to a bike shop where they took off the crankset brakes derailleurs etc.

Now I would love some advice/recommendations on how to turn this frame into a fixie for riding around the flats of central London. Cheap as possible.

So what do I need and where do I get it?

Wheels - Going to need new wheels, these ones are rusty and crap. I understand that 700c rims/tyres come in different widths. What would you suggest for a good weight/durability for my weight? Where from?
Gear ratio - I'm a strong guy and going to be riding around central. Good numbers?
BB - looks pretty gunky. Should I be taking it apart and cleaning it out? Will need a special tool right? Also this is just a standard square taper BB right?

Other than that the forks and seatpost are pretty rusty and everybody has a preferred way of getting rust off chrome...

Thanks very much. To be honest just writing this all out was pretty helpful in getting it straight in my head ;)

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the cheapest thing would be to get a track hubbed rear wheel, front brake, and toe straps. done.

and to learn to do it yourself.

Come to one of the weekly forum drinks. Bribe people with beer. Ask questions.

Looks like it would make a good beater although I expect you're right about the sizing, it does sound a little small for you.

Wire wool and 400 grade wet & dry sandpaper is best for getting the surface rust off chrome.

Coke is also very good at cleaning surface rust from chrome. The real thing, is better than homebrad.

You need to find out of it is possible to adjust the seat post; is it rusted in or can you move it up and down? Because if it is rusted in then you'll need to get it out; which isn't always possible. Unless it happens to be at just the right height for you already. Similarly with the stem; if you think the reach is too short you might want to fir a new stem if you can get the old one out. Given the rust elsewhere on the bike you'll be lucky if both the stem and seat post come out without a fight.

A little bit of Info on 453 here: http://home.comcast.net/~bobequus/images/bikepictures/Reynolds-transfers.jpg

And an amusing thread on the subject here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread24307.html

Generally considered to be not very good, used on cheap 'sports' bikes and the like.

That said, if you ever decide to redo the paint and need a high quality 453 decal, I made one on illustrator for my bike and can send you the file if you'd like.

Seatpost is fine, plus there is actually loads of room for adjustment.
Getting the handlebars out however is proving very tricky. I should be able to loosen the bolt on top and slide the stem out right? Getting a longer stem is a good idea to make me less scrunched.

Got a BB lockring tool coming, so will clean the BB out/replace bearings when that arrives.
Will get some wire wool/sandpaper/polish/coke for the chrome.

Wheels- worth buying rims+hubs+tyres and getting them built? Or just buying a wheelset? Help..

Loosen the hex bolt at the top of the stem then give it a gentle whack with a hammer, this should push the wedge down and free everything up allowing you to remove the stem easily.

Loosen the hex bolt at the top of the stem then give it a gentle whack with a hammer, this should push the wedge down and free everything up allowing you to remove the stem easily.

I see, makes sense. Cheers

scrunched up tin foil with a bit of water also is pretty good for gettin rust off chrome, my forks turned out pretty nice after a bit of elbow grease

Now I would love some advice/recommendations on how to turn this frame into a fixie for riding around the flats of central London. Cheap as possible.

Everyone always says this. That's what I tried to do with my first conversion.
It took me about a month to get bored of the rusty old steed and develop my appreciation for shiney things.
My bank balance has never been the same since.

ok so I want to build a fixie and just want some advise

I have an alex 9 speed back wheel, if i want to make that a fixe back wheel is it possible to just remove the 9 speed cog and put on a fixed one with a lock ring ?, i also have a single speed back weel would it be possible to do the same with that, or would that be a better option, i.e lining up the the chain line

and one last question regarding cranks, can i use any cranks on a fixie or do I need to get a fixed chainring or new cranks altogether

oh btw I looked up sheldon but they he didn't go into datail about cranks or converting a wheel

any help greatly appriciated

cheers

You won't have the reversed thread a lockring needs on a 9spd hub.

I think you need to re-read Sheldon's articles.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html#chain
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

Paging Platini!

it will be a nine speed cassette on a freehub body, you can't make this fixed without a surly fixxer.

the freewheel hub will have no reverse threads, you can't make this fixed, period.

any cranks can be used provided they give a reasonable chainline.

didn't search sheldon properly, I thought it was a bit off that he wouldn't have anything, cheers hippy

it will be a nine speed cassette on a freehub body, you can't make this fixed without a surly fixxer.

the freewheel hub will have no reverse threads, you can't make this fixed, period.

any cranks can be used provided they give a reasonable chainline.

so my only option is to buy a fixed back wheel ?