Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Single-speed to fixed gear

I am interested in buying this bike. The seller said that it had a single-speed, but I kind of wanted to get a fixed gear bike. What would I need to do to this bike to convert it to fixed gear?

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/chouettey/bike.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/chouettey/bike2.jpg

Also, what do you think a fair price for this bike would be?

fixed cog and a lock ring

Without seeing additional rear hub shots, I'd guess it's a flip-flop hub with thread on the other side for a cog and lockring (both of which you'd need to purchase). I could see that bike going for as much as $250-280 or so in the NYC area, looks pretty clean. Also looks pretty tall.

Here is another picture, if it helps. :(

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/chouettey/bike3.jpg

don't do it.

seriously, don't. any money you're going to spend here would be better spent at bikesdirect.

yep. new bike> that POS

Which bikesdirect bike would you suggest? Would I need to take it to a LBS to get it built?

the windsor hour

if you aren't ********, you should be able to build a bikesdirect bike.

and, the kilo tt, motobecane messenger, and the other cheap bikes on bikesdirect are all awesome!! take your pick. which color do you like? get that one!

i can't suggest one-- it would start a flamewar. i will, though, link you:
windsor the hour (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/thehour.htm)- $299
mercier kilo TT (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm) - $349
dawes sst (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm) - $329
motobecane phantom uno (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm) - $399
motobecane messenger (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/messenger.htm) - $329

all the prices are shipped. there are TONS of first hand reviews, fights, complaints, upgrade tips, etc. on those bikes.
as is, you will almost undoubtedly be happier with any of them than with the above peugot-- both at first, and more importantly as you upgrade.

as far as assembly, no-- it's all basic stuff. but you'll find out about that after you search.

the windsor hour and motobecane messenger are the same bike. but the messenger comes with brakes and a freewheel

That looks good for a conversion in my opinion. But yes, you're better off getting a new bike that is the right size.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/chouettey/bike.jpg



I know we all like the BD bikes, especially the Kilo, but this is one of the most respectful conversions I've seen in a while. If it fits then I think it would be sweet; however, I am not able to assign it a value. You'll probably want to look around your locale and surrounding area to justify your price.


I am guessing that you're tall enough for it.

And if you buy it, it would look 37x more awesome if the BB spindle was tight enough to let you run that chainring on the outside of those cranks....

I am assuming that it would fit me, haven't gone to look at it. When I go track cycling I use a 61cm Fuji track frame. This frame is supposed to be 62cm. I thought the bike looked pretty good, which is why I was interested in it.

FWIW the Fuji is the same frame as the Windsor at BD.

Track geometry is nowhere near vintage road geo. That thing looks enormous for a 62.

Let's say I was going to buy this bike, what fixed cog and lock ring would you suggest?

Dura-ace and Dura-ace

Are you guys so against building up older bikes? I have an 07 fuji track i've been riding and wanting to change a lot of the parts on but i'm thinking of just selling it right now for complete and picking up this pretty decent Fiori frame someone as up for sale and getting better parts for it than the stock Fuji Track came with.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CS408D00-Shimano+Dura-Ace+Track+Cog.aspx?sc=FRGL (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CS408D00-Shimano+Dura-Ace+Track+Cog.aspx)

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CS408Z03-Shimano+Dura-Ace+Track+Hub+Lockring.aspx?sc=FRGL

What's with the eighties spoke magnet + no computer?

Let's say I was going to buy this bike, what fixed cog and lock ring would you suggest?

don't do it.

Let's say I was going to buy this bike, what fixed cog and lock ring would you suggest?

Don't let these fools get under your skin. I think it's a nice looking bike, assuming it fits and the price is right.

Gearing will depend on your terrain. In flat areas I prefer 48/17 (76.23 gear inches). For cogs, I like Endless and I use a generic Formula lockring that comes with the hub.

looks have little to do with it. if he purchases that bike, he's going to go through a world of disappointment once he starts trying to find components to upgrade.

Let's back up here. If you don't know the answer to your question you should definitely spend a little time doing some reading and research on your own. Do you ride bicycles already? If you do, the SS to fixed conversion process is pretty simple. If you only "kind of want to" I can see the constant pedaling thing getting kind of old for you kind of quickly.

This guy sells bikes like mad. San Gabriel Valley, right? They always have that same background. I find them to be generally overpriced and in worse condition than you'd think by looking at the picture. That is with the exception of an 83 specialized expedition he sold for 300 about a month ago. Go ahead and visit to check it out, he's a nice guy. But I would say also do some research and check out new bikes you can get for the same price.

P.S. If you decide to buy from him, he can be talked down.

one thing that people here often forget is that some people are under tighter budgets than others. If that bike fits, is a good deal in your price range, and the new bikes are not in your price range, then go for it.

if you can afford a newer bike, i would suggest doing so.

Either way you should take some time and go bike sitting.

one thing that people here often forget is that some people are under tighter budgets than others. If that bike fits, is a good deal in your price range, and the new bikes are not in your price range, then go for it.

if you can afford a newer bike, i would suggest doing so.

Either way you should take some time and go bike sitting.

I completely agree and understand that not everyone has the same amount of money. But, the bikes that Spooki linked to are all around $300. "Tight budget" could translate into, "I just found out about fixed gears and I want one NOW so that I can lock it up to that dollar sign that Talking Heads dude designed!" I'm sure if someone has the internet and a computer they could pool together $300 with a few months of saving their money and cutting out unnecessary spending.

I'm going to guess the bike in question will be $150-$250. Spending a little more money to get a solid, new bike is certainly the best option here.

And yeah, while you are waiting for your money to accrue, you should go ride some bikes - single speed, fixed, geared; riding a bike is a good way to stay happy while waiting to buy a new bike to ride:)

Know what you are getting into with an old Peugot, if you have trouble with the BB, seatpost, headset etc. as Spooki said, you are going to find out that you are going to have not only a hard time finding the right parts but they will cost you$$$$$ and you obviously are not that handy with the wrench so your LBS is going to have a good day when you walk in...I'd say stay away from that bike, there are plenty others out there that are not old peugots in that price range. Good luck.

Is that a peugeot U-08, or what. I like it. Nice old classic from the bike-boom days. Offer him $200.00. It's not a high end frame, in fact if it's a U-08 it is the low end frame. I had a U-08 in the olden days and it rides very good even if it is gas-pipe steel tubes. You are going to have a rarity - you won't see a lot of these, and that cache is worth something.

Being a purchaser of a LA CL fixed gear bike, I give the ok on the purchase, I actually noticed this thing after I bought mine. As nice as a new bike might be, its going to be one of the sheep. My 80's Miyata gets a decent ammount of attention.

spooki is right about upgrades-but the bike is built, and you are not buying a project, so it is less important than when people propose buying a French frame and doing a buildup. If the cost of this bike represents your beer money for the year or the next car payment, don't do it.

If you like it and it works, and you can get it for ~$180-250, then don't overthink it. Spooki was beaten senseless by a French Threaded Bottom Bracket as a child and has an irrational fear/respect of messed up French stuff.

Do check on the hub. If it is not a flip-flop hub, then it might not have the threading for a lockring to hold the fixed cog on. On the other hand, more than one SS person has just threaded a freewheel onto a fixed threading and just engaged 1/2 of the threads, so maybe it is.

The forums can give great advice from people's experiences with particular frames, but it is uniquely useless at telling you whether you are a fixie or SS guy or whether you lean to new and cheap or conversion/old. It is your bike, you make the call.

One note: You would not have listed it here if you weren't a bit irrational - you would have already bought a BikesDirect SS.

+1

i am neither a new/cheap or conversion/old but for me it was the choice of buying something that was already built which would use my entire budget, or build something that was uniquely mine for the same price.

the act of building my bike was what i wanted, and i chose what i did because of that