Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Your urban road bikes

After deciding against a light, fast, Carbon-Fiber De Rosa, I decided I don't feel like being broke and I don't want to wear spandex. So instead, I'm about to build a geared road bike from my old Paramount that I used to race in high school. I just had it powder-coated black. I want a geared bike, but since I won't be wearing spandex, I felt this would be a better place to post than the Roadies thread. I don't like posting there.

Show me your pics, I need build ideas!

Later!

P.S. I want to go medium-low budget on this, but I plan on splurging a little on the wheels.

Why not post in Classic and Vintage? I'm sure they'd love to see your Paramount, and they're knowledgeable all around.

I might do that, too. But I also don't really care about preserving it's "vintage" properties. I want to build a solid road bike for urban use and some occasional long rides.

what you wear when you ride should be dictated by HOW you want to ride, not what kind of bike you are riding. just a thought on the whole spandex issue.

I might do that, too. But I also don't really care about preserving it's "vintage" properties. I want to build a solid road bike for urban use and some occasional long rides.

I see a lot of bikes in there with modern brifters, wheels, and such on older frames. It actually looks VERY slick if done properly. I think that if you want gears, but you don't want to look like a superhero riding in the TdF, C&V is the place to go. Not everyone there is a retrogrouch.

Exactly Catnap. You are understanding me perfectly.

I sometimes wear spandex when I ride fixed or go mountian biking. OTOH, I sometimes wear baggies and a T-shirt when I ride my road bike.
For me, it's mostly "where" I'm going with the bike rather than how or type of bike I'm riding.

Exactly Catnap. You are understanding me perfectly.

You should build it like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCb_9ubQ1U

since the roadbike forum on here sucks soooo hard, i'll show you mine.

from an xrl frame to a closest parts i could grab mashup to see what it would look like:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2569220549_813aba1903_b.jpg
to this
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2598888167_3643081257.jpg
to this
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2638123360_10ae16ddab.jpg
it's an 8 speed but i'm hoping to find a double in my unemployed price range.

it's nice. i'm trying to get faster on it but it's pretty much got a lot of unfulfilled potential with me on it.

that and it's too small, so its 51cm with 53cm tt are awesome for zig zagging around downtown when my 5'7'' light-medium body is on it. a little unstable down hills but then again i did put the handlebars pretty far forward to compensate for the smallness of the frame.

i had a lot of parts just laying around after building my kilo. the bars, brakes, saddle, and front wheel were all just collecting dust in my living room. so given the fairly nice deal that i got the frame/headset/fork and rear wheel for, this was pretty affordable for its weight. i think with everything on it, pump lights and all, it's about 17-18, maybe 19 pounds. and it has gears. that i can change. which, let's face it, is nice.

i think your paramount will be a great base. just work on getting components that work well together, don't spend a lot of money on one thing like a thomson seatpost(i love it, but it was a massive hemmorage of moolah that i could have done without)

I see a lot of bikes in there with modern brifters, wheels, and such on older frames. It actually looks VERY slick if done properly. I think that if you want gears, but you don't want to look like a superhero riding in the TdF, C&V is the place to go. Not everyone there is a retrogrouch.


Like this?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/sacbikekitchen/R139DiG9NoI/AAAAAAAACME/GXkg1WGhj1Q/s400/IMG_2366.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/sacbikekitchen/R139ECG9NrI/AAAAAAAACMc/GduyRXlU4lM/s400/IMG_2356.JPG

I have a 70's Windsor Professional. It has a good mix of classic and modern parts. It came with very early dura ace components which I kept. Had the hubs laced to velocity fusions and got some delta locking skewers so I dont have to worry about them getting stolen. I also added some bar end lights which works well for urban riding.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2648670140_a46a4468ef.jpg?v=0


As for your bike, I would suggest spending some money on a new wheel set (I really like my wheel set) and maybe try to squeeze a few more speeds in the rear wheel. I have a friend who recently turned his rear wheel on his motobecane from a 5 speed into an 8 speed. Either keep it simple with downtube friction shifters or modernize it with bar end shifters or brifters. Don't really know the condition your bike is in but maybe some new brakes as well?

Oh god, PLEASE don't *******ize a Paramount! That's borderline criminal.

Never mind. Saw in your sig it's a 94.

exactly.


Never mind. Saw in your sig it's a 94.

Either keep it simple with downtube friction shifters or modernize it with bar end shifters or brifters. Don't really know the condition your bike is in but maybe some new brakes as well?

bar end shifters can be friction too.

whatever you do just match the cassette to the shifter.

honestly, i'd try to find at least a sora 8 speed set that's been scrapped. indexing is nice and it won't shift when you go over bumps.

!!

This is my do everything road bike. It's getting a bit porky, so I'm supplementing it with a lightweight fixed gear for "light and fast" rides.

It's a Surly LHT with a mix of Vintage Dura-Ace and new Ultegra. Wheels are Ultegra/Open Pro, seat is Brooks, saddlebag is Carradice Barley, Sks Fenders, etc. Great riding bike for the looooong rides. Pic is about 1/3rd way through the 100 mile portion of the MS150.

http://mysite.verizon.net/allencb/ms.jpg

Chris

I might do that, too. But I also don't really care about preserving it's "vintage" properties. I want to build a solid road bike for urban use and some occasional long rides.

C&V people aren't sniffy, usually, about people modernising their bikes, as long as they're not cutting bits off them. They might have a better eye on this than the non-geary folks in here.

Mod - Move this to appropriate forum.


I felt this would be a better place to post than the Roadies thread. I don't like posting there.

I don't know how you came to that conclusion, or decided to post here over C&V.


since the roadbike forum on here sucks soooo hard,

No.

FOr the record I posted this in the Road bike forum. I got one reply: "I once saw a steel bike with ZIPPS, and it looked like a fat man dancing with a hot chick". (I never mentioned wanting ZIPPS on my bike.)
That was pretty much the type of response I would have expected from that forum.

I just posted on CV and got something like, "if it's been powdercoated, then it's just a used bike". So they turned their nose up at this as well.
That was also the type of response I would have expected from THAT forum.

So I don't believe there is an appropriate forum. I'll just go and build my bike, thanks! :thumb:

Actually thanks for real to the peeps who actually posted photos.

This forum was more help than the rest of em!



Mod - Move this to appropriate forum.



I don't know how you came to that conclusion, or decided to post here over C&V.



No.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2516592715_cea3b87d88_b.jpg

this is what i ride when im not riding fixed (at leasted until the cross rig is done...). I got it off craigslist for about 500 dollars, but it needed ALOT of work (guess who got to learn how to rebuild campy shifters!). Though for a mix of record and chorus, im not complaining. total steal. It usually has a little saddlebag and a frame pump, and now has more stickers. Geometry is steep, as it was originally built for crit riding. its not going to win any beauty contests, but it gets the job done :)

^^^ Very nice!

since the roadbike forum on here sucks soooo hard, i'll show you mine.

from an xrl frame to a closest parts i could grab mashup to see what it would look like:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2569220549_813aba1903_b.jpg


Holy cow, you should probably flip your stem back up and save yourself a few inches of exposed steerer tube. This is one of those situations where flipping the stem up is good for your bike and recommended.

holy cow, i left as much steerer tube as i did for a reason. first off, that's a negative rise stem and it's supposed to be like that. i know flipping it up is fine for it but then where it says "super oner" it would say "reno repus" which may roll off the tongue easier but is a little more confusing.
second, that bike at that time was not yet set up to my measurements, as you can see that it doesn't even have a chain or clips. when i got it built enough to ride it, i put the seat lower and it now fits just fine thanks. maybe you would rather see a positive rise stem? that's fine but that's not how the stem was designed and i got a good deal on that one so i'm happy with it.
thirdly, i have played around with the handlebar position a lot because the frame is a little small. flipping the stem and cutting the tube will decrease my options. maybe i will, and maybe it will be better... but i'm not going to go cut the steerer tube. the bike is light enough already and i like the adjustability.

Here's mine. I've ridden the hell out of this bike and it has a lot of sentimental value to me.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/947174058_6e63acb79d_b.jpg

TIGHT


Here's mine. I've ridden the hell out of this bike and it has a lot of sentimental value to me.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/947174058_6e63acb79d_b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/wnatw/DSCN2055.jpg

Holy cow, you should probably flip your stem back up and save yourself a few inches of exposed steerer tube. This is one of those situations where flipping the stem up is good for your bike and recommended.

I cannot speak for goodall but I do belive that over 40mm of steer tube spacers is not advised and that may be the reason he suggested flipping your stem and trimming your steer tube.

Here's my urban road bike. Early 80's Schwinn Traveler. The urban factor is 27" wheels built by Harris Cyclery, wrapped in 1 1/4" Gatorskins, and powered by 7 speed freewheel including 32 tooth "drop out" gear for hills.

Don't mind my blank rear reflector bracket. Its a spot for another blinkie.
http://gallery.krautfed.com/d/355-1/DSC_0064.jpg

My Ciocc. Not much to say except that it is a Ciocc, heh.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/march010-1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f211/sfrazi2/huffy.jpg

I've got some 9speed dt shifters on the way (hopefully arriving today) to make it the ultimate updated vintage ride.

I don't have a handy pic of my everyday around-towner, but it's a Novara Randonee from the 80s with fattish tires, a huge gear range, and plenty of carrying capacity. And it's ugly enough to lock up.

holy cow, i left as much steerer tube as i did for a reason.

holy cow...if that's a carbon steerer, you're an idiot. if not, well, it's just ugly.

Well I didn't get much love from the fixed gear ss forum, as expected I guess, but I know that lots of people who are fixed gear / ss riders at heart, also love their urban road bikes. I sure love mine now that it's done. What do you think? It's a bomber ride. My Paramount is back to life and now it's BLACK!

Thanks to everyone who shared their rides even though it has... GEARS they all look rad

http://www.sixpeeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/paramount.jpg

Looks sharp. I have a second entry to this now..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2787933238_c666b226ed_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2787935036_d7585dbc19_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2787940012_28df9a6081.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2787942866_b141059f29.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2789622165_844e263351.jpg

Miles CX bike, hand made in hunters point, san francisco. Record 9 speed shifters, chorus crankset, XTR Shadow Midcage derailleur (JTEK shiftmate ftw!), paul brakes, chirs king hubs to ceramic open pros. carbon fork will be replaced by a steel one, and im adding cross top levers but otherwise theres some tweaks to the brazeons to be done, then paint, then its done.

sorry for the **** photo, theres not a lot of light in my apartment.

I don't see why it matters what kind of snarky crap people write. Between the usual BS (that, to be fair, you get everywhere on the 'net...it's like static on a CB, but we don't have a good squelch knob) you'll get some real responses. I've been riding bikes since i was like 6 and built up BMX bikes from old Schwinns in the '70s, made some kind of bike that would probably garner respect here today out of a stripped/modded '60s Schwinn Suburban in college & then got a decent higher end mountain bike (I posted a pic here a few days ago) that I rode for 20+ years & more recently have been collecting all sorts of bikes - steel-framed machines, mountain & road. I have a '80s vintage Italian frame with all new (well, '05) Campy gear on it - 27 speeds of non-fixed/non-single fun...still very cool (the original paint is good & I think that's a cool detail, but if it weren't good why not paint it how I want it?), but with modern technology. I've got a pic or two of it in the C&V forum. Some of the C & V are a little tight for my taste & some of the the Road folks are a bit poseur/superficial...but is there not a real element of hip/cool/poseur crap associated with fixed gear bikes too! It's about the bikes, not what you wear or how friggen cool you think you are. Back 20 years ago, I saw the snobby roadie scene & thought I'd have nothing to do with it it. I would intentionally try to make my bike look as POS as possible & my idea of biker shorts was wearing flannel boxers. Helmet? Ha. But, being a little older now (and hopefully wiser!), I realize there's something to learn from any "scene" & there are parts to each that have some soul. I'd say post your questions all over & either ignore or punch back on the BS responses.....in time you get real responses. Good luck with the project. Sounds like a great kind of bike to have.

ok...i added pics...'cause i realized others had already....

this is the updated italian road bike thing.....i'd describe it as the best in gaudy, Italian, pimp.....but a great riding bike & nice construction
http://www.fiataccompli.com/rattle/photos/bertoni_4s-thumb-450xauto.jpg

and, another urban machine....of non-road bike roots (but, actually probably more like a road bike frame than a mountain bike frame..)
http://www.fiataccompli.com/bike/photos/gt_k1_7-thumb-350x232.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2516592715_cea3b87d88_b.jpg

this is what i ride when im not riding fixed (at leasted until the cross rig is done...). I got it off craigslist for about 500 dollars, but it needed ALOT of work (guess who got to learn how to rebuild campy shifters!). Though for a mix of record and chorus, im not complaining. total steal. It usually has a little saddlebag and a frame pump, and now has more stickers. Geometry is steep, as it was originally built for crit riding. its not going to win any beauty contests, but it gets the job done :)

very nice!

I don't see why it matters what kind of snarky crap people write. Between the usual BS (that, to be fair, you get everywhere on the 'net...it's like static on a CB, but we don't have a good squelch knob) you'll get some real responses. I've been riding bikes since i was like 6 and built up BMX bikes from old Schwinns in the '70s, made some kind of bike that would probably garner respect here today out of a stripped/modded '60s Schwinn Suburban in college & then got a decent higher end mountain bike (I posted a pic here a few days ago) that I rode for 20+ years & more recently have been collecting all sorts of bikes - steel-framed machines, mountain & road. I have a '80s vintage Italian frame with all new (well, '05) Campy gear on it - 27 speeds of non-fixed/non-single fun...still very cool (the original paint is good & I think that's a cool detail, but if it weren't good why not paint it how I want it?), but with modern technology. I've got a pic or two of it in the C&V forum. Some of the C & V are a little tight for my taste & some of the the Road folks are a bit poseur/superficial...but is there not a real element of hip/cool/poseur crap associated with fixed gear bikes too! It's about the bikes, not what you wear or how friggen cool you think you are. Back 20 years ago, I saw the snobby roadie scene & thought I'd have nothing to do with it it. I would intentionally try to make my bike look as POS as possible & my idea of biker shorts was wearing flannel boxers. Helmet? Ha. But, being a little older now (and hopefully wiser!), I realize there's something to learn from any "scene" & there are parts to each that have some soul. I'd say post your questions all over & either ignore or punch back on the BS responses.....in time you get real responses. Good luck with the project. Sounds like a great kind of bike to have.

See, I think the thing with most roadies is that they're extreme type-a personalities, so basically, a bunch of azzholes? I don't look at this thread as "people who ride fixed but also have a road bike," so much as "normal" people who own road bikes.

Not sure exactly what point you are trying to make here... but I wanted to build a road bike that was neither an over-the top racing machine (since I don't race), nor a classic Vintage bike. I just wanted what I will call myself, "Urban Road". The geared bike suitable for city commuting / cruising around. I made the remark about the spandex simply to say that I don't want a bike for getting all dressed up to ride. I want a bomber city bike. I think that's what I got, here - I love it!

When I was starting to build this I went to ss forum, CV, and Road and posted in all three. I got noses turned up against my motives for this in all three forums, but less so here in FG?/SS

P.S. I also want one of these someday and I'd most definitely put on the tight stuff and go for long aggressive rides when I get it:
http://www.sixpeeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/derosa1.jpg


I don't see why it matters what kind of snarky crap people write. Between the usual BS (that, to be fair, you get everywhere on the 'net...it's like static on a CB, but we don't have a good squelch knob) you'll get some real responses. I've been riding bikes since i was like 6 and built up BMX bikes from old Schwinns in the '70s, made some kind of bike that would probably garner respect here today out of a stripped/modded '60s Schwinn Suburban in college & then got a decent higher end mountain bike (I posted a pic here a few days ago) that I rode for 20+ years & more recently have been collecting all sorts of bikes - steel-framed machines, mountain & road. I have a '80s vintage Italian frame with all new (well, '05) Campy gear on it - 27 speeds of non-fixed/non-single fun...still very cool (the original paint is good & I think that's a cool detail, but if it weren't good why not paint it how I want it?), but with modern technology. I've got a pic or two of it in the C&V forum. Some of the C & V are a little tight for my taste & some of the the Road folks are a bit poseur/superficial...but is there not a real element of hip/cool/poseur crap associated with fixed gear bikes too! It's about the bikes, not what you wear or how friggen cool you think you are. Back 20 years ago, I saw the snobby roadie scene & thought I'd have nothing to do with it it. I would intentionally try to make my bike look as POS as possible & my idea of biker shorts was wearing flannel boxers. Helmet? Ha. But, being a little older now (and hopefully wiser!), I realize there's something to learn from any "scene" & there are parts to each that have some soul. I'd say post your questions all over & either ignore or punch back on the BS responses.....in time you get real responses. Good luck with the project. Sounds like a great kind of bike to have.

ok...i added pics...'cause i realized others had already....

this is the updated italian road bike thing.....i'd describe it as the best in gaudy, Italian, pimp.....but a great riding bike & nice construction
http://www.fiataccompli.com/rattle/photos/bertoni_4s-thumb-450xauto.jpg

and, another urban machine....of non-road bike roots (but, actually probably more like a road bike frame than a mountain bike frame..)
http://www.fiataccompli.com/bike/photos/gt_k1_7-thumb-350x232.jpg

Looks sharp. I have a second entry to this now..


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2789622165_844e263351.jpg

Miles CX bike, hand made in hunters point, san francisco. Record 9 speed shifters, chorus crankset, XTR Shadow Midcage derailleur (JTEK shiftmate ftw!), paul brakes, chirs king hubs to ceramic open pros. carbon fork will be replaced by a steel one, and im adding cross top levers but otherwise theres some tweaks to the brazeons to be done, then paint, then its done.


excellent bike. that's a setup that I envy in apparently every respect!

maybe there needs to be a 'just for the love of riding' ego-free, expert-free forum! :) heck, i've realized after years of reverse snobbery on my part that i am clueless as to the pros/cons of various pedal/shoe/clip setups & I still use plastic pedal cages with nylon straps. Not that I tried terribly hard to search, but i didn't really see where was a good place to put a question out there about pros/cons & pedal/clip tech.....i guess that's one of those projects for when i've got nothing better to do & have the laptop handy...

i just ride a stock Trek Soho 1.0

http://www.crankshafted.com/upload/files/13/trek-soho-1.0.jpg

maybe there needs to be a 'just for the love of riding' ego-free, expert-free forum! :) heck, i've realized after years of reverse snobbery on my part that i am clueless as to the pros/cons of various pedal/shoe/clip setups & I still use plastic pedal cages with nylon straps. Not that I tried terribly hard to search, but i didn't really see where was a good place to put a question out there about pros/cons & pedal/clip tech.....i guess that's one of those projects for when i've got nothing better to do & have the laptop handy...

I AGREE!

I ride my 1999 Kona Kapu in an urban environment. I've rode and won alleycats with it. I take it off curbs, lightly, but I still ride it like I mean it.

It's a 7005 series alum frame with no carbon. It makes it a more rigid ride but I'm ok with that. My wheel set are handbuilt CXP 23's, with Ultegra hubs, and Michelin Krylion Carbon tires. I don't get many flats, but I have had a few just because there's no light road tire that will stop large glass chunks.

The thing I noticed since I fitted it to more of a traditional road bike (120mm stem -6d drop) that the handling isn't as tight as when I had my 90mm stem with a +6 rise. So be careful around those traffic back ups.

After deciding against a light, fast, Carbon-Fiber De Rosa, I decided I don't feel like being broke and I don't want to wear spandex.

FAIL

carbon and spandex own you.

FAIL

carbon and spandex own you.

Hahhahha Well not for this project in particular, but if I could afford a pimp De Rosa, you better believe I'd ride it like it oughta! You're a woman so maybe you can relate to this; I like bikes the way women like shoes. I like to have a different bike for different terrain, business, or whatever mood I might be in. I haven't yet fulfilled my desire for the fast and light. It's on the end of my list, after I get my winter Surly Pugsley built!

P.S. I'm jokingly making generalizations about women, so you better be able to laugh that off!

I have the same disposition with cars...but thankfully I am able to calibrate my taste to suit my budget (I have spent much less on many cars I've owned than on some of the bikes I see in *any* of these forums.....but, to hell with the internal combustion engined crap, I want to hear about bikes!). That's all to say I know what you mean.