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First two things to do;

• Look at the mech and fixing section. There's a sticky with recommended websites/videos. I think this is a great introduction, but have a general look through them all.
  
• Read Sheldon Brown to fill in the gaps.
  
  

With that frame, I'd use swept back bars like the North Roads (which are cheap), and go for 700s with big tyres to fill up the clearances (prob 32c). If you want some 27" rims, I have some nice classic looking 36h NOS ones. That way you'll end up with a cool crusing style bike.

Also bear in mind that it isn't an amazing frame, so keep the cost of parts in perspective.

Good points all, thanks.

I have read Sheldon Brown so I've probably filled the gaps before I knew what they were.

I am in two minds about the frame TBH. On one hand a small frame with a long seat post, MTB stem and the North Road bars would be more akin to the MTB riding positions I'm used to (albeit with a different hand position).

On the other hand it isn't a brilliant frame and it might prove too small for what I really end up desiring from a fixie road hack.

I have maybe let the fact that it was free cloud my judgement and make me want to use it.

I started with mtbs myself

You got a decent steel frame there but you'll find the angles very slack and wheelbase long major clearances ahead even more if you fit 700c wheels, you might try fitting a fork with less of a rake as I did with this one . The hoops are probably 27" and look proportional to the frame I'll bet the block is a screw on, you will not get away with removing it and screwing on a fixed sprocket, there is no room for the lockring plus it screws on the same way as the sprocket major danger when braking!
I found out the hard way!
Good luck with your build but you'll find yourself drooling over the pics in Bike Porn and coveting some of the current projects.

Cheers, dude!

The wheels unfortunately have very little going for them and are just a means of wheeling the frame and fork out of the way. They will undoubtedly be ditched.

The angles were what attracted me to it and why I said I'd have it before it got taken to the tip.

I'm really starting from scratch here. It wiull probably inherit an MTB stem and flat bars from my spares but I'm stuck as to where to start with the bottom bracket. ie do I try to convert to sealed cartridge? Is that even possible? If not where do I start looking for parts?

So, any suggestions will be most welcome and undoubtedly followed up with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile I'm riding the hack single speed MTB I just built up for free.

I can see that now... should have looked closer! D'oh!

Finished this off today. Had fun on the rolling Essex country roads and walking paths.

Like!

Could you talk me through the conversion of the MTB rear wheel to fixie please? I'd love to do that with my rat.

The latest acquisition. The frame is stamped BCM which research has shown to refer to Bocama lugs. The frame may well be a '70s 5 speed budget Gitane.

Whatever, I'm thinking rat fixie, very minimal and I'm going to need plenty of advice as to what may fit as I've been lucky enough to mess round with MTBs and a big box of miscellaneous bits over the last 15 years so I'm out of my depth here.

...and this is my Winter hack for snow traversing.

'78 MkII Raleigh Grifter converted to single speed, Raleigh Wildcat mags, a Raleigh Mk1 Burner seat and chinese BMX knobblies cheap from ebay.

This is my daily rider.

Early 90s Raleigh ATT23 frame with unknown forks, Rigida wheels and most of the groupset from a 1990 Marin and some V brakes from my bits bin.

Converted to single speed using one cog of the 7 speed rear cassette and the XT (I believe) middle chainring. Ratio is 2.25 to 1 so I can use it off road on loose rocky bridlepaths and still climb hills.

Tyres are some cheng shin dual purpose ones that a mate found by the side of the road in Brighton.

I guess it counts as a rat.

Hey all! Cap here from West Sussex but born in the smoke so maybe that counts for something?

Currently riding a rat single speed MTB and an M3 Brompton and building a retro fixie.

Love the forum, guys!

Cheers.

Hey all! Cap here from West Sussex but born in the smoke so maybe that counts for something?

Currently riding a rat single speed MTB and an M3 Brompton and building a retro fixie.

Love the forum, guys!

Cheers.