Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My nishiki SS conversion

Just wanted to say hi, its my first post here on BF.

Its a 57cm late 80s Nishiki frame spraybombed flat black
WIN bars
Weinmann DP18s with kendra kontender tires
Vintage Selle Italia Titanium "Flight" Seat
48/16 freewheel with a beefy go-cart chain on it

I also have some 165mm bulletproof cranks im gonna throw on when i turned it fixed.

http://ryanjbrennan.smugmug.com/photos/342700681_NcByf-L.jpg

http://ryanjbrennan.smugmug.com/photos/342699729_AUCBw-L.jpg

I wanna get a set of bullhorns, any suggestions on brands?

Ok, now i like the way the 48/16 feels, but when i go fixed ill only have 1 skidpatch.
What would you guys suggest to get the same feel but adding skidpatches?

Nice looking bike.
Where did you get those handlebars? In the first pic, they look like they sweep upwards slightly. I did a search for WIN bars but turned up nothing.
I'm also looking for bullhorns, something with a slight drop like the syntace stratos but without the sweep back, which is why I ask about yours. Maybe a chop and flip if those are what i'm looking for.

Nice looking bike.
Where did you get those handlebars? In the first pic, they look like they sweep upwards slightly. I did a search for WIN bars but turned up nothing.
I'm also looking for bullhorns, something with a slight drop like the syntace stratos but without the sweep back, which is why I ask about yours. Maybe a chop and flip if those are what i'm looking for.

Im not sure where they came from, they were on the bike when i got it. They do have a slight dip down then sweep back up. You can kinda see that in the first picture.

I think they're randonneur (sp) bars. I have a 42cm set very similar to those.

It looks as though the frame/fork was made for 27" wheels, and because of it you've had to put the brake in a strange place, making for awkward brake cable routing.

Not a criticism, if anything I commend you for your ingenuity.

If you like 48/16, try 47/15. I believe that will give you 15 skid patches.

the clearance will come in handy if you decide to put some fenders on (honjos!); otherwise, it doesn't look bad.

if you want bullhorns, go nitto or soma. everybody rides them, but they do have the illness when it comes to bar choice at good prices. basic materials, but lots of great stuff for the conversion set, no matter what style (bullhorn, town, track, you name it).

It looks as though the frame/fork was made for 27" wheels, and because of it you've had to put the brake in a strange place, making for awkward brake cable routing.

Not a criticism, if anything I commend you for your ingenuity.

If you like 48/16, try 47/15. I believe that will give you 15 skid patches.

I think it looks cool where the brake is :) I didnt fab the bracket though, so i cant take credit for it.

the clearance will come in handy if you decide to put some fenders on (honjos!); otherwise, it doesn't look bad.

if you want bullhorns, go nitto or soma. everybody rides them, but they do have the illness when it comes to bar choice at good prices. basic materials, but lots of great stuff for the conversion set, no matter what style (bullhorn, town, track, you name it).

Im kind of a fan of risers too, since all im using the bike for is leisure rides around town, or down the causeway and stuff. I hear that risers provide a more comfortable sitting position too.

i'd get rid of the DP-18 stickers, personally

I think they're randonneur (sp) bars. I have a 42cm set very similar to those.

^^^ Schwinn made a few nice randonneurs back in the 70s, very decent bar to flip and chop ;) I have two but they are on my 73 Schwinn SuperSport and my 71 Schwinn Sport Tourer :D

The brake mount is clever, but the vast majority of your stopping power is up front. On a SS, 2 brakes really make a lot more sense, but I guess I can forgive you since you're switching it to fixed. But at that point, the rear brake really doesn't make any sense since you'll have 2 braking methods in back and none up front where physics is on your side.

Not that you asked about that.

this is pretty funny... i too have an old nishiki frame, blue weinmanns but i was going to either powdercoat my frame black or gray... i guess now i know what it looks like!

good job on the bike, it looks really nice! i hope mine turns out the same =]

The brake mount is clever, but the vast majority of your stopping power is up front. On a SS, 2 brakes really make a lot more sense, but I guess I can forgive you since you're switching it to fixed. But at that point, the rear brake really doesn't make any sense since you'll have 2 braking methods in back and none up front where physics is on your side.

Not that you asked about that.

For now ill just be doing the rear brake till its fixed. Once its fixed ill be taking off the rear brake and just doing a front. I dont ride hard, or too fast and there are no hills around here (FL) so just the rear brake is good for me. :)

I think they're randonneur (sp) bars. I have a 42cm set very similar to those.

they are indeed. most radonneur bars do not have such an upsweep on the tops. They also will "flare out" on the drops.

i'd get rid of the DP-18s, personally

fixed (har har).

Great looking Nishi.....I REALLY like that rear brake setup...It reminds me of the latest TT set-ups that put them under the BB. I am setting up a F/G bike like a TT/TRI bike for long distance/fast club rides and a set up like that would make them piss and moan even more...If you ever want to sell it...

Great looking Nishi.....I REALLY like that rear brake setup...It reminds me of the latest TT set-ups that put them under the BB. I am setting up a F/G bike like a TT/TRI bike for long distance/fast club rides and a set up like that would make them piss and moan even more...If you ever want to sell it...

Ill def. let you know, the mount is kinda hood lookin, but it works like a charm. Once i go fixed i wont need the brake. Its a good quality dura-ace brake too.

they are indeed. most radonneur bars do not have such an upsweep on the tops. They also will "flare out" on the drops.

They say "WIN Japan" on the bars

Thanks MR Glass - let me know.

Im kind of a fan of risers too, since all im using the bike for is leisure rides around town, or down the causeway and stuff. I hear that risers provide a more comfortable sitting position too.

risers are great for a city bike, but suck for sprints and climbs. i keep risers on my rain/lockup jam and bullhorns on my bob jackson.

very decent bar to flip and chop ;)

Oooh. I never thought of flop-chopping those bars. I bet they'd be cool.

pursuit bars are glorified flipped/chopped randoneur bars, are they not?

My bullhorns are similar to a flipped/chopped randoneur, so it was probably the evolution of that.

So i just left my local bike shop.

Bought a Salsa 46t chainring, 16t soma rear cog, nitto bullhorns, and assembling it all to my 165mm bulletproof cranks. I dont have the tools to do it, so the shop owner is doing it all for me.

Should have the bike back tomorrow. More pics to come if so. :)