Search results for:

Fair cop,

I'll downgrade to reliable and cheap items, but better than the conversion i've just done (www.photosinthedark.com/Personal/Conversion) just be nice to have something that will get me from A-B fast without the creaking and slack geometry.

Still aiming to high?

I'm looking into building up a reasonable bike to replace my dirty conversion for my commute and general riding. I'd like something solid light and dependable, I've looked at new bikes like the Pista, Plug etc, but I prefer the feel of older bikes, and I enjoy the process! So i'm happy to spend around £200 - 300 to build up something nice.

So, i'm just looking for advice on sourcing parts and any advice on good manufacturers and components. Frame is a good place to start, so for my budget what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Lovvers in support, they're a good show! http://www.photosinthedark.com/Lovvers%20L/

Not much I can do about the clearance I suppose, bigger wheels? see if I can get another link out of the chain and set wheel a little forward. Shame.

Oh, shame. Someone update urban dictionary asap.

Ah, I've deciphered the red light jibe too, unfortunately the geometry of the frame is not something I can alter particularly, it was my dads bike from the 70's so it was the one bit I didn't want to change.

According to urban dictionary,

Pengy could be
a Adj. A term used to describe very potent Marijuana
b A penguin, usually a baby, which is very cute.
c Someone who is pigeon-toed or waddles like a penguin

I'm rooting for b.

To address all concerned:

dogsballs: Pengy?
RPM: explain?
the-smiling-buddha: Yes, it is my first.
tynan: what else exactly?
Greasy Slag: old crank was bent to hell, cotter style attached jobby so it's in the bin..
hippy: I would probably rate my photo taking skills higher than my bike fixing skills, I'll remove my reflectors forthwith.

Thank you all.x

Well, at least for now... need to take the rear brake off and work out how best to remove the weld on parts on the frame... then possibly respray, although it looks much less nickable in present state. Anyway, before and after shots..

www.photosinthedark.com/Personal/Conversion

Or just the after shot...

I've now sorted out my two identicle back wheels with different setups.. One has a 16T freewheel which rides wonderfully smoothly, and feels like 4 gears in one on the hills/flat.

Then today i recieved a 15T fixed and put it on the other wheel, with a bottom bracket screwed up with it.. It seems pretty tight.

Riding home was very strange, lots of moments of half panic, you never realise how you coast whenever you sense you might need to stop or slow.. Haven't managed skids, but with bone dry roads it might not be easiest time to learn... after getting off my legs feel like they want to be turning.. very strange.

Anyway, i'll post some pictures of it soon..

Excellent, I went with a 15T steel fixed cyclo sprocket. Cheap and cheerful, but I figure if i'm just having a go with my spare wheel and i've got breaks it shouldn't be a problem, i'll avoid the roads until I decide whether to get a proper fixed flip flop hub.

I'll also see if I need more clearance for the cranks.. If I do then it'll be abit pricey I expect, as I'd also need a new BB cranks and chainring (mine is a cotter pin style attachement) Any ideas how much a soild set would cost me?

Cheers

Toby

Thats good to know! cheers.

I've batted a few emails about, I'd like them to sell a flipflop wheel made up... I'd pay about 50 quid for something solid.

My chainline is dead straight, thats without re-dishing or anything, just stuck a singlespeed onto my hub, runs really smoothly. I'm going to check out i've got the right size before getting a fixed, and putting it onto my other identicle wheel and hub... then i'll have two options!

Now, slight issue is whether my singlespeed alignment will translate to fixed alignment, as the singlespeed mechanism puts the sprocket a good cm out from the hub side, just hopeing I can space a fixed properly...

Still, very pleased it lined up so easily!

you might be right, but i'd need to buy a hub, spokes, (not to mention i've got very old rims), potentially new cranks and bb, and a chain ring. So I thought it would be cheaper to go through these guys, their bikes go for about £100...

However, i'm nearly there on my own conversion (just from my old stuff) so I'll get an idea of whether it will suit my commute..

http://www.bikes4all.org.uk/

They sell put together bikes on ebay. Think I can get a fixed hub road bike, can cannibalize onto my own.. I think it'll be cheaper than buying cranks, bb, chain, hub, spokes to properly convert mine.

Still in the process of single speeding mine to check ratio, then I'll try a suicide hub before going across.

Question is, do these guys look like the know what they're doing?

Cheers in advance folks.

I went for a Shimano single speed 15 tooth.. with 70mm cranks and 27" wheel and a 46 on the front that should be ok.. I'm going to try the alignment when it arrives, and then redish and organise spacing.. exciting.

Can always swap to a fixed at some point...

Yes, think re-dishing and a suicide hub would be best.. I've got the spare wheel to work with so if it all goes to pot I can just return to my old wheel chain etc...

Thats a coincidence! Well i'm assuming it's not me.. photography is only on the side. I'm doing a PhD in engineering as my main entertainment.

Nope. Nottingham. But close. Why?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7805

Something like that? or will it require different chain type..

Well, luckily I have a spare wheel of the same type to play with...

I've removed the threaded freewheel from the back. I've put it back on the bike and it looks like the thread lines up with the chainline... now must I re-dish the wheel before continuing...

If not, what should I be looking for...

Either a fixed gear, i've heard suicide hub mentioned before, this seems to be the route... if i've still got a front brake, is it a big issue? locktite and a bottom bracket lock ring not up to it?

OR a singlespeed screw on (BMX type?) ebay?

I can post a snap of the chainline...

Cheers

Toby

If I went for a wheel, would something like the following be suitable?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAVIC-OPEN-SPORT-36H-NOVATEC-SEALED-TRACK-WHEEL-FIXED_W0QQitemZ220245657823QQihZ012QQcategoryZ58089QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

I think it's relativly overpriced, then thats ebay I suppose. I've watched a few wheel building vids online, I could make one up from scratch..

Very hard to keep them out to be honest, had to throw Shitdisco out of my girlfriends bedroom for snoting coke off her desk. Tisk. I use a Canon 350D, 30mm F1.4 Sigma, 50mm F1.4 Canon, 430ex flash. and two manual focus pentax (with adaptor) 50mm F1.7, 85mm F2. My geeky love of the functional yet asthetic will never end.

Thats true. Might be better to get something higher quality. Really I'm trying to sort something on the cheap then if it works for my cycling style (i've not had many oppertunites to try fixed gear bikes) then i'll put something better together if it does!

Aye, thats what I was afraid of.. for about £100 you can get a fixed wheel bike complete of ebay, might just get hold of one and cannibalise some bits... If I check sizes shouldn't be a problem..