Classic & Vintage - full circle between the old and new

My objective is to find an older lighter frame on ebay or a flee market,
Find a good frame for my first attempt at a full rebuild.
I have been riding all my life and have now come full circle between the old and new.
A boomer who grew up riding a Motobecane, Schwinn and peuqeot,
I want to go back for the fun of it.
I am guessing a single/set gear may be the way to go for my first attempt?
What older frame would be good?
Anything to avoid?
Where would you begin?

Thank you in advance,
Chris

Do you mean a fixed gear? If so, you want horizontal or at least semi-horizontal dropouts.

I would avoid rust buckets and also pristine bikes. (No reason to tear down something truly nice.) If you find something with broken derailleurs or missing wheels, you can probably save some money on the initial purchase, and new wheels are fun to build and just the ticket for a fixie.

If you want light ... (insert Schwinn joke here) ... I would concentrate on tubing made from the better known Columbus and Reynolds steels. Frankly, if I lived in the land of the wild onion, I'd ride a Schwinn. I'd comb the thrift stores and yard sales.

Do you mean a fixed gear? If so, you want horizontal or at least semi-horizontal dropouts.

I would avoid rust buckets and also pristine bikes. (No reason to tear down something truly nice.) If you find something with broken derailleurs or missing wheels, you can probably save some money on the initial purchase, and new wheels are fun to build and just the ticket for a fixie.

If you want light ... (insert Schwinn joke here) ... I would concentrate on tubing made from the better known Columbus and Reynolds steels. Frankly, if I lived in the land of the wild onion, I'd ride a Schwinn. I'd comb the thrift stores and yard sales.


Yes, fixed gear

I hate to sound like an idiot, but what the hell
(born in New Orleans as a matter of fact)
Could you give a little more info on the drop outs
Going by way of a fixed gear would potentially save a novice some grey hair vs other alternatives

this should help: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html#frameroad

and

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_dr-z.html#dropout

I just built up my first fixie but Im not new to building bikes...been doing it for many years now. I found a 70's German frame and put on 70's Campy Nuovo Record on it...minus the new BB and chain. I ran into a couple of minor snags but nothing to worry about. In your case (I dont know you but just going by what you have written) I would start looking around Goodwills, flea markets, garage sales, etc. Definitely start looking at 70's early 80's bikes. Lower end Peugeots, M-canes, Schwinns, etc...start by going to craigslist.com and click the nearest city to which you live and click on bikes... some really good deals there. Look for something with a good horizontal drop out. REMEMBER: 1 chainlink equals 1/8"!!!! That will save you some headache trying to figure out what size cog you will need. The cool think about fixies is that you can do what you want. Go check out other fixies and get some ideas...

Good things to remember...check out your BB shell and the distance between your chainstays at the dropouts. Depending on whether you will personally build your wheelset, have it built for you, or buy one from a shop/ebay/etc....things to look at...hub/cog/wheel dishing.

BB/shell... dont assume anything here. Mine is a 68mm and people where telling my to get a BB length of 102... I put in a 111 and I still had to machine down the inner chainring supports on the crank arms due to interference with the chainstay....DONT ASSUME....gotta do your homework. Dont expect to have everything done overnight. I purchased everything off of ebay, minus chain and BB and it took me a few months but I was being particular of what I wanted. If you need help, give me an email ...good luck and have fun building!

One important thing about building a fixed wheel bike, get a proper rear hub that takes a LH lock ring. Some folks use a derailleur hub with a bottom bracket lock ring, but because it's a RH thread, it can still unscrew. Most folks just put a front brake on a fixed bike and some even ride with no brakes. The guy I bought my Jeunet track bike from rode on club rides with no brakes and a whopping 75" gear, but I ended up putting a front brake on it after the BB lock ring on the replacement hub started to loosen. (The way you stop these with no brakes is to hop the back wheel and lock your legs in the 3 o'clock - 9 o'clock position and slide the back wheel.) Eventually I found a Brampton track hub at the LBS. It's also probably illegal to ride track bikes with no brakes on the road, but I doubt if any cop would know that.

It's also probably illegal to ride track bikes with no brakes on the road, but I doubt if any cop would know that.

Most places in the states require a brake capable of making the bike skid, which as you point out can be done (with practice) without a hand-operated brake.

Some day I'll add a fixed gear to my stable - just so I can say I have one I guess.

One suggestion to add to the other good ones which have been made - Raleigh Grand Prix - A relatively light bike once you change out the wheels and crankset - relatively plentiful, quite durable, and not very expensive.

I don't know what size you need, but item # 7173632311 on eBay is a frame that I've actually been losing sleep over. I don't need it , but I want it! The sultanofschwag always has nice old frames and components for sale on ebay. I've never bought anything, but I like to check his site once in a while just to see what interesting things he has for sale.

As for the fixed gear thing, I have to admit that I just don't get it. Maybe it's because I'm getting old and I need those gears.

Actually, you can do a "suicide hub" conversion (slapping a cog and a BB lockring on an old freewheel hub) and ride along perfectly safe. Just leave the brakes on the bike; don't try to get all hip and remove them with this set-up. In fact, no matter what you do, leave the front brake on; if you're older like me your knees won't like skid stopping that much. I can do it, but rarely do. It's kinda fun, so now and then I cannot resist; esp on gravel.

Rode with the "suicide" set-up thru a number of Wisconsin winters/springs/falls in the 80s; works fine. Lotsa old roadies did it.

Z is right about the Gran Prix... surprisingly light, as are the low end Peugeots once you strip the heavy steel parts off 'em. But the Raleighs have one big advantage: they are British threading, which makes upgrades and repairs easier for most folks.

Also, lest I forget, stock on some Gran Prixs was a Brampton flip/flop track hub, as mentioned in old yeller's post.

Some day I'll add a fixed gear to my stable - just so I can say I have one I guess.



Hah! I'll believe that when I see it! :D

And quit encouraging people to desecrate Grand Prix. :mad:

"And quit encouraging people to desecrate Grand Prix. "

Since they sold the bike with a flip flop, it's less of a desecration than other rides... but then, I am a well known philistine, willing to desecrate any and all temples, unless I find a really nice stock version of something...

Aaahhh, I was only half-kidding. They only used that Brampton hub the first couple years, anyway.