Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - C'dale CAAD9 conversion

Stuff I have...

CAAD9 frame with fork & headset
LX crankset with integrated BB
Bullhorn bars with ladybug
1.1/8" stem
Ultegra brake calipers
SPD clipless pedals
Saddle & post
Ladybug stuffed toy cable tied to bar

Pilfered from my other bike...
Wheels

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/cssfg01.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/cssfg02.jpg

I just bought a pair of those skinny brake levers that plug in to the end of the bars, waiting on delivery.

Can't find a magic ratio so I'm going to rebuild the rear wheel on an ENO eccentric hub. Not cheap, but by all accounts worth the money.

If I can find the funds I might do a matching front wheel, although this one (Shimano R550) seems to be holding up really well for a cheapie.

I might de-brand the frame, and just leave it as polished or brushed alloy. It'll be a major hassle because it's clearcoated.... or I might just leave it as it is, what do you think?

Nice homeless angle on those bars.

please don't debrand the frame

i have that in a flat black 09 10spd

i like it

ugh.

oh, ok.

Put drops on it.

Put drops on it.

That can still happen, but it will involve two brake levers.

Sell frame to someone who wants a road bike.

Use money to buy a proper track frame.

Nice homeless angle on those bars.

You know it's reeeeally far away from finished, right?... and stuff like adjusting angles of bars and heights of saddles is done when it's finished, right?

Sell frame to someone who wants a road bike.

Use money to buy a proper track frame.

Why? I don't ride on a track, and I really like the ride of this frame, it's super stiff, I love it actually.

Wait, is that frame a Cannondale? They all look alike, really.

I actually think it's a pretty good idea.
How did you get your hands on a C9 frame only? Lots of people out there buying the C9 7 just for the frame and building it up for racing.

I agree with you that a road frame makes much more sense on the road than a track frame.

I think that's an awesome idea. I have thought about turning a modern road bike into a fixed gear, but it requires a lot of money (eno hub) that I don't have. If you have the funds, you should definitely go for it! It will be super fast and a joy to ride.

The truth is, track frames SUCK for riding on the street. How many of y'all do 50+ mile rides on your track frames comfortably? Probably none, unless you're lying.

I myself ride one of the only production fixed gear bikes that has road bike geometry (sputnik) b/c it's way more comfy than all that tarck crap.

Riding fixed is a joy but being hunched over on a track frame is a pain. Thus converting a modern, lightweight road bike into a fixed gear is a GREAT idea.

I say you put some drops on it w/ hooded brake levers. That will get you that really comfy road bike positioning. Everything else looks golden. Get yourself a rear wheel and you're set.

Also, don't debrand it.

I actually think it's a pretty good idea.
How did you get your hands on a C9 frame only? Lots of people out there buying the C9 7 just for the frame and building it up for racing.

I agree with you that a road frame makes much more sense on the road than a track frame.

I got it cheap as a complete road bike, but never used it (very occasional ride). The thing is that I'm always either hauling a whole bunch of stuff with the LHT, or I'm on the fixie.

Sell frame to someone who wants a road bike.

Use money to buy a proper track frame.

Silly answer. This is the best mass produced aluminum road frame on the market and will make a really nice ride.

He would have to spend a fortune to get a track frame that was truly higher quality than what he has. None of these run of the mill track frames (IRO, Surly, anything by BD) are superior to this frame.

And for real world roads, and real world riding, this frame will likely be superior in comfort AND performance to a track frame.

Go for the eno hub. You'll be happy you did in the end, instead of sitting on a gear you might be unhappy with.
And keep both brakes.
This bike will be awesome in the end. Modern high end road frames make great conversions.
And another vote for hooded drops.

Go for the eno hub. You'll be happy you did in the end, instead of sitting on a gear you might be unhappy with.
Yes, I agree. The hub is on order.


And keep both brakes.
The 80's brake on my 80's conversion ss/fg was more of a suggestion to slow down. I'll be commuting a lot more on this bike thanks to two brakes that actually work.


And another vote for hooded drops.
But I already have these bars which I find quite comfortable, and I just bought brake levers for them....

I think that's an awesome idea. I have thought about turning a modern road bike into a fixed gear, but it requires a lot of money (eno hub) that I don't have. If you have the funds, you should definitely go for it! It will be super fast and a joy to ride.
The hub is the only big ticket item for this conversion so it's not too bad cost wise.

If she's as good a ss/fg as she was a roadie I'll be very happy.



Also, don't debrand it.
I most likely won't. The clearcoat finish on it is amazingly high quality, seems a shame to strip it.

Please Please PLEASE, as a fellow CAAD9 owner, don't debrand it. There's a reason they're still making these frames, and it's because they're real quality; I've been racing mine for the past 2 years, and it's a great frame. However you use that frame is up to you, but wear the badges with pride!

Why? I don't ride on a track, and I really like the ride of this frame, it's super stiff, I love it actually.

OK - edit my comment to this:

Use money to buy a frame with suitable dropouts so that you don't have to bust your balls (or wallet) to get the bike to work as you dream it will.

It's a great frame. It's just not designed to go fixed. With a tensioner it would be fine as a single speed.

I just think that you could get a very good price for this frame and use the money to buy something that would be much easier for you to use as FG/SS. Why do things the hard way when you don't have to? It's not like you're on a $0 budget with a junk frame as a start point.

Anyone know if the Cannondale Capo geometry is similar to the CAAD9? That is a FG/SS bike.

If the eccentric hub will make it work, then fine. Just seems to me to that this frame/usage choice is a strange way of going about it.

All you've got to do is buy an ENo hub right? What are they a couple hundred? No big deal it will be a fine ride.

I myself ride one of the only production fixed gear bikes that has road bike geometry (sputnik)


also;

MASI speciale fixed
IRO
Surly Steam Roller
Schwinn Maddison
Specialized Langster
Pretty much every fixed gear specific frame being made these days...

but other than those, I guess.

hurry up and post some finished pics already!! :p should be an awesome ride.

beautiful frame; seeing it turned into a fg irks me for some inexplicable reason. it'll probably be a great ride, though.

also;

MASI speciale fixed
IRO
Surly Steam Roller
Schwinn Maddison
Specialized Langster
Pretty much every fixed gear specific frame being made these days...

but other than those, I guess.


Steamroller is the only bike you listed that has similar geometry to the Sputnik. IRO is more track, as is the Madison and Masi. Then again, I don't have all of the angles memorized, so maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Steamroller and Sputnik are two of the more chillaxed geo. FG frames out right now.

I like this, I really do! I was just going to sell my CAAD 9 frameset and move to something more practical, but the OP might be onto something here.

How does CAAD9 geometry compare to ideal track geo?

Anyone know if the Cannondale Capo geometry is similar to the CAAD9? That is a FG/SS bike.

I got my CAAD9 earlier this week, and I haven't wanted to ride a thing since. It is seriously like riding on a rocket.

I just checked Cannondale's site, and the CAAD9 geometry is different from the Capo.

Now, when folks on here say that geometry is "more track" or "more road," I take it to mean that the seat tube and head tube angles are steeper on the track bike and less steep on the road bike.

If the lower bottom bracket doesn't give you a hard time, ride the heck out of this bike!

i think there is something the matter with your chain

Steamroller is the only bike you listed that has similar geometry to the Sputnik. IRO is more track, as is the Madison and Masi. Then again, I don't have all of the angles memorized, so maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Steamroller and Sputnik are two of the more chillaxed geo. FG frames out right now.

All of those have slack geo compared to true track geometry.

I picked up this FSA K-wing a while back for $80, but haven't found a use for it yet...

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/fsabars.jpg

I think maybe this with plain road brake levers might work better than the bullhorns, what do you think?

Looks great
I did a very similar thing with a generic carbon frame,but put drops on it.
Unless you are VERY particular all you need to do is buy a half link - I have converted 3 road frames using this method,and never dropped a chain.Tensioners look ugly.
I have two very good multis,but riding a very light ss is a great buzz-- just make sure you get the chain straight.

use the magic gear calculator.

I would be surprised if your chainline is on with a LX crank but I'm sure you can figure that out. The eno is your best choice. That should be a sweet frame and will probably land in the 15-17 pound range when done.

I would love to have a CAAD 9 frame as a built up SS bike. They are simply some of the nicest riding Al frames out there, and stiff in the BB. Also, I doubt the conglomerate here who pooh-pooh nice road frames in favor of "true" track frames have ridden a CAAD 9. I have not ridden a Yamaguchi, but I have ridden a that Cannondale in geard form and its FAST.

I just acquired my first CAAD9 but a CX frame, not road. If I built it as a SS it would be in the 16lbs range. OP, does that frame have the BB30 bottom bracket shell? The Cannondale BB30 crank would be a huge upgrade.

I just acquired my first CAAD9 but a CX frame, not road

You got a new CX9? That is a sweet bike. Jealous.

I want a new bike. *snif*:cry:

Gonna be super light. :) I'd debrand the frame, but that's just me. If I were running it as a road bike I might consider not doing the extra work, but all my FG/SS bikes are project bikes so half the fun for me is in doing stuff to them.

You got a new CX9? That is a sweet bike. Jealous.

I want a new bike. *snif*:cry:

Yup. Really happy so far. Here it is the night I brought it home (last Thursday). Almost complete, had the first test ride last night. Awesome!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs115.snc1/4700_1158932941293_1466873168_30398285_4272504_n.jpg

Sorry for the hijack, carry on...

Looks great
I did a very similar thing with a generic carbon frame,but put drops on it.
Unless you are VERY particular all you need to do is buy a half link - I have converted 3 road frames using this method,and never dropped a chain.Tensioners look ugly.
I have two very good multis,but riding a very light ss is a great buzz-- just make sure you get the chain straight.

I tried out the half link but I'm not convinced, the chain is just too loose for my liking, and the 3/16" chainring with shifting ramps doesn't help either.

I'm building a new back wheel on an Eno eccentric hub that will let me flip between ss and fg, so no tensioner.

I have a couple of crank options here. I like the look of the LX, the chunky alloy look I think works with this frame, but that rear hub is a Surly 1x1 and I don't know if the chainline will change with the Eno hub so I'll wait until my new wheel is ready before finalizing the crank.

use the magic gear calculator.

Link?

I just acquired my first CAAD9 but a CX frame, not road. If I built it as a SS it would be in the 16lbs range.
Are you going to build it as a ss?


OP, does that frame have the BB30 bottom bracket shell? The Cannondale BB30 crank would be a huge upgrade.

Not the BB30 shell, unfortunately. Agree on the hugeness of the upgrade.

It will be my geared race bike for a few seasons. My SS is a 05 Lemond Poprad with an Eno rear hub.

Link?

http://www.celebchefs.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/bam.jpg

http://eehouse.org/fixin/formfmu.php

LOL! @ the pic.

and thanks for the link :thumb:

That magic gear calculator is awesome!

I found a combo that works but it meant using the crank off another bike, which is OK because the chainline with this crank is spot on.

I measured the chainstay length at 40.7cm. The calculator came up with 39x18 for 57 gear inches (too low) on a 40.736 chainstay. It works but I think there's too much slack in the chain (new chain BTW).

Next I'll try 53x21 for 66 gear inches (just right) on a 40.761cm stay length. I have a 53t chainring, just have to get a 21t freewheel... might just put that Eno hub on hold for now, I think.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/fsacrank01.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/fsacrank03.jpg

Is your chain upside down?

Is your chain upside down?

ummmm...... :o

does it have an up and a down? I've never used this type of chain before, it's all half-links.

It definitely has different shaped 'sides' but there's nothing to say which is inside and which is outside.... I can't see why it matters anyhow.

Well done---looking very good!

Nice conversion.

I stripped my Capo - if you wanted to see what it would look debranded, this would be an approximation.

It's all personal taste - I like the stripped look, but my frame wasn't a CAAD9 either, so I didn't feel too bad about it...

http://robotkiller.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p457820790-5.jpg