Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.MrCjolsen
07-10-08, 07:44 AM
OK, so I've started on a project to build a road-worthy fixed gear almost entirely out of stuff that was either given to me by someone about to throw it away, that I found in a dumpster, or taken off of another junk bike that I converted.
I started with an old Rampar frame. The whole bike was given to me by a co-worker in trade for an old mtb that a student's parent had given me. There was hardly a decent part left on the bike, including the fork. I might use the seatpost. I've actually been using the saddle as well (and old Ideale, the main reason I even accepted the bike) But the frame was in good condition, so I sanded, primed and rattlecaned it black.
After several attempts to find a threaded fork, I discovered a matching flat black threadless 1" fork for $15. The headset was another $30. That, and $12 worth of spokes have been my only expenses so far. The "new fork" is a 700c fork with very tight clearances - I'll be limited to 23mm tires - but it looks real cool. I wonder how that will affect the bike's handling.
I had a number of old bottom bracket parts laying around, so I've assembled a bottom bracket that spins real nice. So now I have what I like to call a "long block" - that's a frame with the fork and bottom bracket installed.
So now on to the wheels. I had a old Dimension track hub where one side had stripped as a result of trying to use a cheap cog and not tightening it enough. It was on the wheel of my main ride, and I'd replaced it back in January.
In May, I found a Miyata 710 at the dump. The seatpost and stem were fused to the frame. I've yet been able to remove them. However, it had a few decent parts on it. The front wheel was good to go after I trued it and repacked the bearings. The rear rim was ok, but the hub and spokes were shot. So I disassembled the wheel so I could use the rim.
Also a while back, I traded a bunch of dumpster parts for a rear wheel that had a rim that was missing an eyelet. But it was in otherwise nice condition. Guess what! The spokes from that wheel were just the right size for the hub and the rim from the old Miyata. Well, at least half of them. So after purchasing 18 290mm spokes and nipples for $12, I was able to lace the wheel last night. I'll have to see how the truing and tensioning goes. It all goes well, I should have a pretty decent track wheel.
Like anyone else who rides fixed gear, I have a fairly extensive collection of old cogs and chainrings. And lots of old chains since I replace them every 1000 miles regardless.
I've got some 170mm Specialized cranks that were dangling on an old frame that I paid $35 for. I'm using the frame, so the cranks were essentially free.
I can use the brakes, handlbars, and lever from the Miyata. Or I can chop some old MTB bars and use those if I want to take the bike in that direction. Those bars are from and old Hardrock that another co-worker gave me where the frame was wasted (fused seatpost again. Did they not have grease in the early 80's?).
So what's left? Tires I have. I might be running a 23mm in front and a 28mm in the back, but I have them. I think the hub might need some spacers (I swiped them to use on a different hub) and I'll need rim strips.
When I'm done I should have a pretty nice bike for $75.
I started with an old Rampar frame. The whole bike was given to me by a co-worker in trade for an old mtb that a student's parent had given me. There was hardly a decent part left on the bike, including the fork. I might use the seatpost. I've actually been using the saddle as well (and old Ideale, the main reason I even accepted the bike) But the frame was in good condition, so I sanded, primed and rattlecaned it black.
After several attempts to find a threaded fork, I discovered a matching flat black threadless 1" fork for $15. The headset was another $30. That, and $12 worth of spokes have been my only expenses so far. The "new fork" is a 700c fork with very tight clearances - I'll be limited to 23mm tires - but it looks real cool. I wonder how that will affect the bike's handling.
I had a number of old bottom bracket parts laying around, so I've assembled a bottom bracket that spins real nice. So now I have what I like to call a "long block" - that's a frame with the fork and bottom bracket installed.
So now on to the wheels. I had a old Dimension track hub where one side had stripped as a result of trying to use a cheap cog and not tightening it enough. It was on the wheel of my main ride, and I'd replaced it back in January.
In May, I found a Miyata 710 at the dump. The seatpost and stem were fused to the frame. I've yet been able to remove them. However, it had a few decent parts on it. The front wheel was good to go after I trued it and repacked the bearings. The rear rim was ok, but the hub and spokes were shot. So I disassembled the wheel so I could use the rim.
Also a while back, I traded a bunch of dumpster parts for a rear wheel that had a rim that was missing an eyelet. But it was in otherwise nice condition. Guess what! The spokes from that wheel were just the right size for the hub and the rim from the old Miyata. Well, at least half of them. So after purchasing 18 290mm spokes and nipples for $12, I was able to lace the wheel last night. I'll have to see how the truing and tensioning goes. It all goes well, I should have a pretty decent track wheel.
Like anyone else who rides fixed gear, I have a fairly extensive collection of old cogs and chainrings. And lots of old chains since I replace them every 1000 miles regardless.
I've got some 170mm Specialized cranks that were dangling on an old frame that I paid $35 for. I'm using the frame, so the cranks were essentially free.
I can use the brakes, handlbars, and lever from the Miyata. Or I can chop some old MTB bars and use those if I want to take the bike in that direction. Those bars are from and old Hardrock that another co-worker gave me where the frame was wasted (fused seatpost again. Did they not have grease in the early 80's?).
So what's left? Tires I have. I might be running a 23mm in front and a 28mm in the back, but I have them. I think the hub might need some spacers (I swiped them to use on a different hub) and I'll need rim strips.
When I'm done I should have a pretty nice bike for $75.