Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Thinking of Fixie conversion.. where to start ?

I'm thinking of taking my old Centurion 6 speed and converting it to a fixie... but I really have no idea where to start... what is the least expensive way to do this... I can really only make it happen if I can do it on the cheap... but fixies look like a load of fun.... and I just have it sitting on my trainer now... .lemme know !!

Jeff

Very easy. The best thing to start with is just simply taking the shifters and all deraillers off the bike. Front brake is necessary, back not really as you have the backpressure of your legs. The hardcore will yank the front brake off as well. Next, remove the freewheel and on the cheap and reliable simply tread a track cog on to the freewheel threading and get it nice and tight. Next, get a bottom bracket lockring and thread it up against the track cog. Use a bit of blue loctite on this portion for extra protection. With a little redishing of the rear wheel for better chainline, and your almost done. As for the front ring, you really only need the inner.

That is the quick and cheap approach.

Riding them is very addictive and more fun than you ever had since your first bike as a kid.

Have fun and good luck.

Dave


[QUOTE=SipperPhoto]I'm thinking of taking my old Centurion 6 speed and converting it to a fixie... but I really have no idea where to start... what is the least expensive way to do this...

One thing you forgot auk is if you just take off the freewheel you will have to redish the wheel to make it centered over the hub. THen remove the one chain ring off your crank.

You could always get a cheep rear wheel like the van dessel for around $80, or you can find them on e-bay fairly cheap at times.

I was checking out Ebay for some stuff... what do you guys think about the flashpoint kits they have on there ? any good... or junk ?

also... How do I take the freewheel off... it's a pretty old wheel (11-13 years)... is it the same as a newer hub style with the locking nut ?

Thanks for the advice

Jeff

Check otu park tools web site
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQcogs.shtml
Or sheldon brown how to remove the freewheel.
http://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html#remove

For a complete article on the conversion here
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html


Are the flashpoint kits the one that sells you a cog, and chainring bolts and how to do it? Honestly with the info on sheldon brown's web site you probably could do it for less.. a shimano/surly cog is $16 and BB lockring couple bucks.. and chain ring bolts so you can remove one $5...

the flashpoint kits are for converting a multi-speed cassette-type hub to single speed (mostly for mtn bikes)... not converting to fixed gear... i made the mistake of buying one last year...

Jeff.....I knew one day you would cross over to fixed.....it was just a matter of time. And watch out....this is gonna be very addictive. Hehehe....you may even end up converting your racing bike as well! We definitely need more fixxers here in LA.

George

...this is gonna be very addictive.

{reality**Very much so{/reality**

Jeff.....I knew one day you would cross over to fixed.....it was just a matter of time. And watch out....this is gonna be very addictive. Hehehe....you may even end up converting your racing bike as well! We definitely need more fixxers here in LA.

George

I've been thinking about it for awhile now... and once I can get my Lemond's frame repaired, and back up and running... I'll go forth with the fixie conversion I think on the Centurion... if anything, jsut for a cruiser around the neighbohood...

Jeff

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think riding a converted freewheel hub as a fixed is like riding a ticking time bomb. Having said that, a well seasoned bike mechanic here in Philly once told me that the track lockring is little more than a good luck charm on the track. He told me that if a track cog comes loose during a high torque back pedaling manuever, it will likely shear the threads off the lockring - reverse thread or not. I can dig that, and the dude is probably speaking from experience. Still, I have also seen freewheel conversions lose their track cogs in normal commuting conditions a few times. Life is precious, and so I recommend that you a) invest in a proper track hub/rear wheel, and/or b) go ape with your chainwhip and crank that track cog on real tight (no matter which hub you use). And if you think lock-tite is going to keep your rear assembly together when things start to come loose...well that's what I call Faith.

BK

Alot of people use a freewheel hub, I even used a single speed hub with a BB lockring for a while and it worked fine. YOu definately want to run a brake if you do it this way but I don't think the chances of it coming undone are that great. Best is to get a true fixed gear wheel but if you want to try it out first it is cheaper to just redo your current wheel. It is definately addictive to ride a fixed bike though, I hardly ride my road bike anymore.

While riding I've only seen one other track/fixed gear bike so far that was a few weeks ago riding down towards the beek. I was stopped at the light and saw another guy heading opposite direction, of course I looked over the bike and noticed he was trackstanding first thing, and did not see any derailleur another Fixed gear!!! :) Maybe we will pass each other sometime sipper :)


I have a centurion bike also it would make a great fixed gear but I have mine fixed up so I can use it for touring someday since it has eyelets for rack and is all set to go that way.

Not a timebomb at all. If done correctly it is fine. Is there a alternative? Sure a true track hub. Loctite the BB lockring on after the track cog and make sure everything is nice and tight and you will be fine.

I would never run just a track cog with locktite without a lockring as this is what really keeps things on the up.

Dave


I don't know about the rest of you, but I think riding a converted freewheel hub as a fixed is like riding a ticking time bomb. And if you think lock-tite is going to keep your rear assembly together when things start to come loose...well that's what I call Faith.

BK

I would never run just a track cog with locktite without a lockring as this is what really keeps things on the up.Dave

Oh, hay-ell no!

BK

The way you are describing it to me sounds confusing Auk.. if you use a track hub you do not use a BB lockring you use a track lockring which is reverse threaded.

I have to say from experience that It really isn't that hard to strip out the threads on the lockring portion of the hub. Especially when you have a cheap hub and a super hardened steel lockring... *Note to self, don't cheap out on hub*

Sorry for the confusion. Let me try again. If you have a track hub, you will have the cog and then of course the reverse thread track lockring.

If however you choose to use a freewheel hub, you will use the cog with some locktite AND a BB lockring with locktite that is snugged up nice and tight against the cog.

I guess I was running the two applications together in my above post.

Dave


The way you are describing it to me sounds confusing Auk.. if you use a track hub you do not use a BB lockring you use a track lockring which is reverse threaded.