Wanted: First Fixed Gear Bike - Beater

Hey guys.

I'm trying to get my first fixed gear and wondered what old bikes you had lying around, no longer used and looking for a loving home. I lack mechanical skill and so am looking for something pretty ready to ride.

I'm after a fixed gear, frame size 56 (ish), ready to ride, in alright condition, with not total shit components.

An old peugot conversion or something would be great. I was after the Bianchi Beater Jones was selling the other day but lost out. Anything in a similar vein would be great...

Been looking on ebay/craigslist but not found much that wasn't stolen...

Budget 175 ish, but can stretch a little bit for summat dead good.

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but anyone got anything?

Ta

Ur best plan of action is to buy an old/secondhand frame - probably a road frame as they are generally cheaper - then build it into a working fixed bike (with the help of ur local bike shop and sheldon brown). By doing this u will hopefully have enjoyed yourself, and have gained the skills to repair and adjust your bike, which will probably be needed regularly.
Building help and advice is always available on here as well.

Look for an old 70s 10 speed racer and convert it, could pick one up for 50 notes then spend 100 converting, you should get a lugged steel frame too then, help is always at hand on here along with a bit of piss taking too ;-)

You should really have a go at building one yourself, I love building fixed wheel bikes as their so simple to build :) the only special tools you need are for the bottom bracket but you could have your local bike shop do that and you do the rest.

I've given up trying to find cheap rear wheels, they do come up on here from time to time but nobody wants to post :D so thats going to be your biggest outlay so buy brand new and budget £60-70 for that alone.

Chainsets you can pic up for as little as £5 and a new chainring £15 ish.

Rear cog from about £10 but I'd go for a Surly one £18 upwards.

New chain £10-£12 I use KMC ones.

Bottom bracket from about £10 but I usually go for the Sugino ones about £18

I'll give you a front brake and lever :)

Front wheel from about £10 ebay.

Handlebars ebay for next to nothing.

You've got tyres and tubes on top of that as well so it all adds up, as P!mp said your best bet is a cheap 10 speed racer so you can use a lot of the parts already on it :)

The next one I'm building is a 54cm seat and top tube so probably a little small for you ? and its probably going to come out at about £220 as its a pretty one so I want to put some nice bits on it :) but I usually build one a fortnight sometimes more if I've got the parts hanging about :D

I'm not usually so mercenary about selling them as I was about the Bianchi but I've spent too much on bikes this month so had to claw some back sorry, I usually don't make much if anything on the ones I sell.

Ask friends and relatives what they've got, its suprising what people have hiding away in their sheds :D

You guys are right, it would be great to build one myself, it just seems such a daunting process. When people list parts, I often have no clue what they are talking about. The idea of trying to buy them and assemble the thing seems crazy...

Thanks for the advice, will give it some thought

p.s. No worries Jones, it was a lovely looking bike and I'm not surprised it got a lot of interest!

not that daunting really, it's pretty straightforward and all you need to do is to worry about removing all the gear, get a new/old fixed rear wheel and chain.

if stuck, sheldon brown.

I have a frame, some bars, some cranks, a bb, a stem and maybe a seat post flower. 150 the lot!

If you do a conversion and get all the bits separately it'll cost you lots of money, Or it did me, slowly getting bits online etc. The price people sell second hand bikes with some ok parts is crazy... buy a complete bike, if you enjoy it then embark on a building one.

If you do a conversion and get all the bits separately it'll cost you lots of money, Or it did me, slowly getting bits online etc. The price people sell second hand bikes with some ok parts is crazy... buy a complete bike, if you enjoy it then embark on a building one.

Errr.....see above Toby

Everything but the wheels?

thanks for the offer White flower, but by the time I have got myself a saddle, wheels, chain, brake etc etc I will be spending way more than I can afford.
If a back wheel alone will be 70quid ish, that would make that 220 and still nowhere near ready to ride...

thanks for the offer White flower, but by the time I have got myself a saddle, wheels, chain, brake etc etc I will be spending way more than I can afford.
If a back wheel alone will be 70quid ish, that would make that 220 and still nowhere near ready to ride...

Should be able to get yourself a set of wheels for around £60 really.

hey stallion i have a fixed gear falcon conversion, you could take it apart and do what you want with it.
heres a pic

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tour du hk, how much are you after for it?

I bought an old 10 speed racer off Gumtree for fifty notes, then a secondhand fixed/fixed rear wheel off the forum for 35 notes. then did the conversion using nearly all the original parts exept for a new brake lever which cost a tenner. you can make it as cheap or dear as you want. bite the bullet and give it a go! Oh and HTFU too.

You could try freecycle - join a few lists and submit a "wanted" post or just keep an eye out for people getting rid of bikes. I got a complete bike for nufin. It aint perfect, but it was the right price and hopefully will be able to convert it for cheap...

I bought an old 10 speed racer off Gumtree for fifty notes, then a secondhand fixed/fixed rear wheel off the forum for 35 notes. then did the conversion using nearly all the original parts exept for a new brake lever which cost a tenner. you can make it as cheap or dear as you want. bite the bullet and give it a go! Oh and HTFU too.
thats what i did, sort of. its easy to put a bike together, i'll give you a hand if you get stuck.

Mmm thanks for the advice guys. Will broaden out my search and see if I can find something old to convert... Or something ready made... or anything at all...

Tour de hk's bike looks ok, why not make him an offer? It would get you on the road.

stallion how bout 110 for it?

hey stallion i have a fixed gear falcon conversion, you could take it apart and do what you want with it.
heres a pic

this is a super long shot but ive been looking for something like this dont suppose you still have it laying around anywhere do you?

this is a super long shot but ive been looking for something like this dont suppose you still have it laying around anywhere do you?

Fucking kidding me.