Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I got a burr up my @$$ to convert my Colnago to SS

I've been thinking of doing it for a couple of weeks now, and just picked it up from my ex-gf tonight (don't ask). It's still in great shape, even after having been stored in a shed for 4 years. It still shifts beautifully (gotta love Campy Retro Friction), which is a shame, since I'll be yanking it off for the conversion. I'm going single speed, and not fixed gear. I'm looking to replace the Scott Drop Ins with some standard drop bars.

Here's the best pic I can do for now:

http://photos8.flickr.com/9769668_330896f574.jpg

I've got two sets of wheels I'll use with it, the Mavic hub/Campy Ypsilon rims shown, and a set of Campy High Flange/Nisi Mixers. I hope to have the conversion complete in about a month or so, and will let y'all know how it turns out.

nice bars, i won a pair of those in a crit back in the day ;)

seems like a shame to convet that to ss, why not build up a thriftstore frame first before you do anything you might regret to that gorgeous piece of cycling history?

It'll be cheaper to convert it than to buy another bike, and my wife is limiting me to the 5 bikes I already have. I'd rather convert it than my Eddy Merckx or Vitus or Catamount. The 5th bike is a city bike for her, so it's not an option, either.

If I find I don't enjoy riding SS, I can always convert back to 7-speed. Besides, I've crashed it once (only damage came from the flexy Drop Ins hitting the head tube), and I bought it used for $100 back in 1990 and paid $250 for the repaint.

monogodo,
The answer is contained in your email. You said she is limiting 'you' to five bikes. The city bike for 'her' is not yours, you only have four and have room for one more.

Just don't break up that beautiful Colnago, such a shame to have all that shiny Camp art without a bike to hang it on. Take those high flange Campy with the Nisi rims and find yourself a used frame to put them on. Then send the Colnago to me in Portland. :D

One would think I'd get more support for the conversion in a SS forum. I guess I was wrong.

One would think I'd get more support for the conversion in a SS forum. I guess I was wrong.

It's not like you're going to listen to anybody's opinion anyway.

i don't believe that i've ever seen such glorious bar tape in my entire life. oy vey.

if you're going to convert, at least convert to fixed.

I just did something similar to what you are doing. I converted an old Colnago in to a fixed gear. I just had the frame and some old campy parts. I couldn't really spend the money on a restorations with campy parts costing$$$$. The most important thing is to ride the bike. If you have other geared bikes why not convert the bike to a SS. If you don't like go back to the 7 speed.

nice bars, i won a pair of those in a crit back in the day ;)

seems like a shame to convet that to ss, why not build up a thriftstore frame first before you do anything you might regret to that gorgeous piece of cycling history?

those scotts, yeah that low position that nobody rides anymore is fabulously comfy for an areo position you can go distance on. I guess they just went out of fashoin, never see em much anymore. I've never tried it but I'd bet they'd be great bars for a fixed trainer/distance rider, get out on the open road, drop down and spin all day long, they always seemed way more comfy than sitting in the drops and less hassle less ugly than aero bars.