Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Convert? (pics)

This was my bike that I used around campus last year. I hit a bad pot hole over the summer and the rear wheel was destroyed. I bought a new, much nicer bike over the summer and I only use that for training now.

I really dislike now having a bike just to ride around the city. I've had this recurring thought to convert it to a fixed bike. Any thoughts? Yeah it has its share of rust, but I kind of like it.

http://mattg.us/bike1.jpg
http://mattg.us/bike2.jpg
http://mattg.us/bike3.jpg

do it.

chrome forks are bomb ass. i say convert it using as little money as possible. that's always a fun game.

covert it, looks like everything on there is a clamp on rather than braze-ons, so it will look clean when you strip it.

chrome forks are bomb ass. i say convert it using as little money as possible. that's always a fun game.

without bumbikeing. that reckless slaughter of an operation scares the bejeezus out of me.

although i did learn skids on a bumbike.

chrome forks are bomb ass. i say convert it using as little money as possible. that's always a fun game.
That's the goal.. to convert safely using the least money possible.

If I do convert, I would do it during winter break. That will leave me roughly 2-3 weeks, and I'd like to have something to ride while I'm home (can't imagine not riding for almost a month!).

It should be fairly simple, right? I'd need at least a new wheel, hub, chain, anything else?

Those chainrings look kind of rusty, but if I could reuse one, I'd perfer to do that.

Tools of course would be needed. I'd probably order everything before so it would all be home when I get there.

dude that's what conversions start off as. it has to be converted. lose the kickstand

if your trying to stay cheap, slap a cog on useing the rotafixa method until you can build up a wheel (or order one later). you can get a cheap cog/free shipping here: https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/11147/

lose the safety (suicide) brakes and rap the handlebars with a sh*t load of orange h0cky tape (2bucks) to give it a nice clean look

you can get some tires at nashbar, these are 9 bucks: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=121&subcategory=1085&brand=&sku=4263&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

all it needs is some love, and an overhaul. and you can scrub away that seat post rust easy

Where do you go to school?

Where do you go to school?
George Washington University in DC.

that is some slack ass geometry

that is some slack ass geometry
it was like that when i bought it. the seat post is more or less rusted in place and i didn't feel like spending money on tools to free it. It does need to be raised a few inches.

But yeah, the handle bars are way too high. Not sure what I could do with regard to that. Looks like its the fork, eh?

Wondering why I am responding so fast? I have a paper due tomorrow, and someone doesn't feel like working on it ;)

orange bike are the best. Even with cottered cranks.

looks like you might have tapped something head on, though. That fork look a little bent to anyone else?

looks like you might have tapped something head on, though. That fork look a little bent to anyone else?
I never hit anything, but its possible the previous owner did. I don't know if its bent or not...

looks like the fork could be slightly bent right around the crown race area. but it's probably fine if there's no weird creaks or anything or it's not all flexy. you can just go to your local used bike parts carrying shop/second hand sports store dealy and find a longer stem for cheap to stretch you out a bit.

get all those little bits off of it (shifters, derailleurs, hangy bits, rear brake at least) adjust the seat to the right height, get your fixed wheel and you're good to go.

oh yeah, also you could probably save a lot of cash if you have a community bike shop. somewhere you can use a stand and tools for a cheap hourly rate and for a few dollars more you can have the wrenches help you out. tools are expensive man.

Converting rear wheel. Get a tube of blue loctite and a cog. Remove all those gears, clean threads thoroughly, get new fixed cog, apply loctite liberally, and screw the sucker on really tight. Clean up mess, shorten chain, place on the inner ring, and remove non essential parts like derraileurs and rear brake.

Fixed.

chrome forks are bomb ass. i say convert it using as little money as possible. that's always a fun game.

that's what i say, i like the feeling of riding fixed for free

tools needed:
-basic hand tools
-chain tool
-welder

in a few hours you have a fixie for free

No, offense metallo, but after seeing your bum-ass bike, I don't think I'd be willing to take or endorse your advice.

Besides, welders are usually far from free. ;)