Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 3 speed crankset for a fixie conversion?

Hi Everyone,

I'm building up my first fixed gear right now. Its a 1986 Schwinn Varsity 20 inch frame. These bikes were Schwinn's attempt at a lightweight Varsity. The frames were made by Giant in Taiwan, its lugged steel. They came with a wierd crankset that had a freewheel. This freewheel crank had an odd bottom bracket size. I had my local co-op tear down the crank and bottom bracket.

My project is almost done, my wheelset, tires, and cog should arrive in a couple of days. I bought the bike as just a frame and fork. I cut a set of bullhorns from a set of drops at the coop. All I need now is a crank.


One problem. I've run out of funds...

I could spend money a=on a dedicated fixed gear crankset. But I don't really want to. I would need a bottom bracket as well. I have several cruisers and Sturney-Archer 3 speeds laying around that will be torn down eventually.

So, could I use the crank and bottom from one of these bikes on the varsity to finish this project.

Frank

I think you should be able to just take off the smaller chain rings and use the biggest one for your fixed conversion.

Hi Everyone,

I'm building up my first fixed gear right now. Its 1 1986 Schwinn Varsity 20 inch frame. These bikes were Schwinn's attempt at a lightweight Varsity. The frames were made by Giant in Taiwan, its lugged steel. They came with a wierd crankset that had a freewheel. This freewheel crank had an odd bottom bracket size. I had my local co-op tear down the crank and bottom bracket.

My project is almost done, my wheelset, tires, and cog should arrive in a couple of days. I bought the bike as just a frame and fork. I cut a set of bullhorns from a set of drops at the coop. All I need now is a crank.


One problem. I've run out of funds...

I could spend money a=on a dedicated fixed gear crankset. But I don't really want to. I would need a bottom bracket as well. I have several cruisers and Sturney-Archer 3 speeds laying around that will be torn down eventually.

So, could I use the crank and bottom from one of these bikes on the varsity to finish this project.

Frank

You're talking about the shimano FF system. AFAIK the BB is the standard 1.37 x 24tpi, which means you can use any modern bb that matches. The '82 shimano catalogue specs this but i'm not sure whether or not this bb came in say an italian variant or other.

You can try it. It'd be immediately obvious if the BB is correct or incorrect anyways.

I think you should be able to just take off the smaller chain rings and use the biggest one for your fixed conversion.

Thing is, I don't have the original anymore. No BB, no crank. Right now, its Wheels, tires, 16t cog on a flip flop hub, Frame, Fork, Stem, & Flop and chop pursuit bars(bullhorns). Just needs a crank and BB. Plus saddle and seatpost, but I have that covered.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/franklinterrier/varsity.jpg
This is it here, except this is the tall frame. I bought it as just the frame, fork and crank, the exact ones pictured here

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/franklinterrier/IMGP2827.jpg
Here it is, right after I bought it