Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Econo SS build

I'm not sure I'll like the SS style of riding , so I didn't want to put a lot of money into my first build. I bought a Schwinn Continental III at a yard sale for $15 and stripped it , adding a set of lighter wheels from a donor $10 MTB , spent $20 on a set of street tires and this is what I put together in about 3 hours time . Riser bars came off the MTB . It still needs a little tweaking , along with a different front brake caliber , but so far so good, and she rides sweeeeeeet ! I'm thinking of rattle can Black , maybe a durable bedliner finish and polish up the chrome front forks . Total cost so far $45 . kirby

Tighten that chain!

I did !! I wanted to get a picture before it got dark. I tightened the chain and adjusted the seat , actually changed the seat and then took her on a neighborhood tour . I think I'm going to like the simplicity and the lighter weight . It weighs about 28 lbs (it's a steel frame ) but that's a lot less than it did to begin with . kirby

Yeah, that ain't the lightest frame in the world, lol. But if she's fun to ride I'd say that's a great bike for $45.

Yea , she's a little on the heavy side , but I built her for neighborhood cruising and for the exercise . I have a Le Tour III , I may end up converting also, it has a lighter frame. I like using the street tired MTB wheels , they give a little more cushion ride on the bumpy cart paths around here .kirby

Damm i though that my 23lbs ss was heavy :P

Nice job dude and enjoy yourself ;)

Maybe I am missing something, but isn't that a geared bike? Did you just glue the levers?

Look at the other picture. The one where he's stripped everything off and replaced the drops with risers.

It's before and after pictures . I did leave the geared freewheel on, for now, but I'm only using a single gear on it . What's the best way to remove the old cracked decals without messing up the paint? kirby

Do you have any pedal strike issues after lowering the bottom bracket with those smaller tires?

but is not fixed, freewheel is on

Kirby What size MTB road tires are you running?

To be honest, while some bikes can pull off the riser look, I think your bike would have looked better with some bullhorns, drop bars or Mustache Bars on it instead. Other than that it's a good way to get acquainted.

Oh and put a rear brake on there since it is running a freewheel.

I like the riser look. It looks very simple. Also if 90% of braking is done with the front brake and the bike is not for racing but is for cruising the front shold be fine.