HowTo? Fixed / Singlespeed conversion from an old bike

Depends on your budget. But get the same axle length as you have at the moment I guess. Unless your chainline is awful in which case a shorter axle will bring the chainring closer to the frame or vice versa (provided the cranks don't start rubbing on the shell or stays).

Bottom bracket finally gave up the ghost (on Holland Park roundabout no less).

So Campag veloce bb and tool ordered. Fingers crossed.

If the threads on the BB shell are knackered you could always try a threadless BB. Never tried so have absolutely no opinions on it, but it might end up being a cheaper fix than getting the frame re-threaded.

VeloSolo have one for £14: http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shopchain.html

Just got back from an AMAZING ride. The veloce has done the trick.

"Thanks lfgss!"

Another quickie lfgss, if you please...

The stock seatpost says 26,4 mm. Now I just bought a new seatpost (zoom), also sized 26,4, which is too big. It's taken a load of paint off the inside of the tube (grr).

So firstly - what's with that? The mm didn't get bigger in the last 30 years did it..?

And how much smaller should I go? I can easily get a 26,0 as a replacement, that sound about right?

Ta

There shouldn't be paint inside the tubes. Get rid of that and it'll probably fit.

Sometimes, (apparently) the tube can permanantly deform at the top, leaving the opening fractionally narrower than it should be. Either get it reamed (expensive) or you could try the screwdriver trick (at your own risk...)

Yeah, get yourself a good reaming.

Got a nice zig zag scratch down half the post now, nice. Might be hard to return it.

Ye there's a bit of paint inside the top inch or so of tube.

The frame really isn't worth anything fancy like reaming. It was £10 remember.

So, it looks the problem is in fact the top of the tube being a little off circular. Will get some grease tomorrow and see

All sorted. Bent the top back to more circular, and got some proper grease. Power output is up lots of %

What are the 'mechanical' options when it comes to converting a 700c cross bike to singlespeed.
It's modern so no almost horizontal drop outs.
I'm aware of tensioners, but wondered if there was anything else available.
Also cost, as I already have a cross bike and winter hack and this is purely for winter rides.
Ta.

magic gear
chain tensioners
eno hub
weld/braze in new dropouts
buy a different frame

ghost cog.

Also you can get an eccentric BB that fits a standard BB shell, but it costs the earth.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread1513.html

http://www.lfgss.com/thread4646.html

Saw a guy this morning on Blackfriars Road, he rode a black bike with red lettering. It was the noisiest singlespeed conversion that I've ever known.
Nice bike, but the horrible sound of the ratcheting from the spaced out rear hub, was really something else.

It almost had this much spacing.

half link chain

http://www.eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

Ok, so a year too late but bought a 70s "Moser" today to convert and have done a bit of homework

Basically, there are (or at least were) 2 Moser brands, the original started in the 1930s, then an offshoot, the more recognisable "F.Moser" started in 1980 by Francesco Moser. The Originals refused to put his name on the frame so he started his own brand. or something along those lines. Frames with the Trident Brand are from the original 1930s established company.

I dont suppose you have much info on the old mosers? No amount of googling I did ever turned up anything on them

Not a bit am afraid, been doing the same (googleing etc) and am now more confused than before. I bought it off Hilary Stone who suggests that mine is of the older company. The I just checked out

http://velobase.com/HeadbadgeGallery.aspx?Offset=8

which suggests it's a third company altogether (there are 3 mosers on the site), as mine has a trident in the bottom bracket.

Scratches head and apologises for initial, partly true but essentially flawed statement.

How did you get on with yours by the way? This will be my first conversion; any tips?

So, I'm building up a bike using this frame, (kindly found and sold by Hilary Stone),

Any advice on what parts i'll need, where to buy them and any ideas would be much appreciated as this will be my first fixed gear conversion!

Cheers

Wheels. You'll definitely need some wheels. And something to sit on.

first and foremost, you will need a rear mech. fixies = so last year.

yep that beauty deserves gears