Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - A free bike. A project? Help!

Hello everyone,

My friend's parents are moving and they gave me an old Schwinn Traveler which is in alright condition. From my understanding it is from the mid-70's. Anyways, I am interested in possibly converting it to a fixed. I've searched, I've read up, and I am still unsure as to how I should go about it. I'm guessing a new drive train/wheelset is probably necessary. So if someone could point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.

Here are some pictures:
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/v62/levisghost/Traveler/102_0231.jpg
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/v62/levisghost/Traveler/102_0233.jpg
http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/v62/levisghost/Traveler/102_0232.jpg

It looks like your bike has a one-piece crank, and it looks like the chainring is attached to the crank. The easiest way to mitigate this situation is to select whichever chainring works best gearing and chain-line wise and leave the front of the drivetrain as-is. The other harder (but more aesthetically pleasing) option is to install a three-piece crank, which will entail replacing the bottom bracket. However, some one-piece cranked bikes don't even have a threaded bottom bracket area in the frame, which means you might be out of luck. If money isn't a big deal, the easiest and safest way to deal with the rear end of the drivetrain is to buy/build a wheel with a track hub. Otherwise, it looks like a really fun project.

Actually he could pull the bottom bracket and remove the bearing ring/giant tough ass nut to get off a crank arm and replace it with an inexpensive bmx ring. Run a coaster brake hub w/a 700c rim and then just do whatever else you want to the bike. Maybe some stylish cruiser bars and a big newspaper boy basket. Those things are just the best for food shopping or beer go getting.

Oh and pull the kickstand out of it. I like to lean my bikes. Yes I know this is not my bike just my ideas for a fun ride.

Oh and pull the kickstand out of it. I like to lean my bikes. Yes I know this is not my bike just my ideas for a fun ride.

C'mon, everyone knows that! Give me some credit here. :p

Thanks for the help guys.

Take it to your local LBS and ask them what it would take to convert it to fixed. Have them work up quotes for different options. If it isn't too bad let them do all the work. If it's too pricey then at least you know where to go from there. If nothing else they can put a new cheap shimano bb on for you and you can take it from there. Those are 27 inch tires and someplace was advertizing cheap 27 inch track wheelsets with 16 tooth cog and lockring. Was posted on here if someone remembers the link.

And i ADDED a kickstand to my bike.

Nice, no rust. Are there allen\ hex bolts on the chainring? Or rivet\other?

First off. IMO drop the front to single, as mounting single mid spider.

Big weight drop. Ya, kickstand + rings\guard\f-der,lever...3 lbs off the bike.

I dunno how to convert it to fixed but I do know how to convert it to SS cause mine is the same as yours ! remove all the gear assembly, cable etc. Take out the chain , shorten it and link it between the small - small gear. You are done ! No $ needed ! (except maybe you need to buy a chain opener)....hehe

I just converted a Raleigh Grand Prix to SS. I took off the shifters and derailleurs, shortened the chain on the inner (42) ring and the 2nd (18) cog, re-cabled the brakes, and replaced the tires, tubes, and rim strips. I now have a fairly maintenance free beater ss to leave at my in-laws' summer place off the coast of Portland, Maine. It only cost me 30 bucks for new parts.

Nice, no rust. Are there allen\ hex bolts on the chainring? Or rivet\other?

First off. IMO drop the front to single, as mounting single mid spider.

Big weight drop. Ya, kickstand + rings\guard\f-der,lever...3 lbs off the bike.

The large chainring and guard were attached to the smaller one (which was attached to the 1pc crank) by five or six 8mm bolts.

As I was sitting at work...I was thinking I could picked up a complete 27" fixed gear wheel from Harris Cyclery (pick up a lockring and a 1/8" 16t sprocket at the same.) Then maybe pick up a cheap 3pc BMX crankset along with a 1/8" BMX sprocket/chain and stuff. Because I had an extra Primo bottom bracket from my BMX laying around and it seems like it would fit.

I don't know, it was just an idea I was tossing around.

And if anyone has a link to the wheelset kurremkarm is talking about, that'd be great. But I'll search for it.

The large chainring and guard were attached to the smaller one (which was attached to the 1pc crank) by five or six 8mm bolts.

As I was sitting at work...I was thinking I could picked up a complete 27" fixed gear wheel from Harris Cyclery (pick up a lockring and a 1/8" 16t sprocket at the same.) Then maybe pick up a cheap 3pc BMX crankset along with a 1/8" BMX sprocket/chain and stuff. Because I had an extra Primo bottom bracket from my BMX laying around and it seems like it would fit.

I don't know, it was just an idea I was tossing around.

And if anyone has a link to the wheelset kurremkarm is talking about, that'd be great. But I'll search for it.

It's getting that ol' bb and cranks out cheep. Was there a standardization of U.S bb's? Another more modern bike with remove chainrings\ real crank arms (salvage) and presto- O.k bike.

the bb is easy to remove, and if you're not reusing the bb cups, use a punch (or old screwdriver) to tap them out (go in from the opposite side)...i've switched old one piece cranks to three piece cranks (your LBS shoud have the parts) on cruisers before...it gives you more crankarm options
the "big" problem is the spacing of the rear dropouts...make sure the "new" hub you get is the same (sounds obvious, but some people forget!)

The primo bracket will fit but as stated earlier there are probably better options. You can get a BB for your frame that has square taper spindles for $15. It's here: http://www.bikepartsusa.com/product_info.phtml?p=01-98690 though I'm sure your LBS can get you the same thing. Then you can use 'normal' cranks which will almost certainly be lighter than BMX cranks and give you more chainring options.
I really wouldn't bother with any of that untill after you have a nice rideable bike though. Get a rear wheel and use your current crank. Put the bike together and ride it around and get a feel for it. Then upgrade as you see fit. Your current crank/sprocket will work fine, I've got a 1pc crank on my Roadmaster and it works great even though it's insanely heavy.
Ride the bike, have fun, don't worry too much about the parts as long as they work.

Thanks for the info/advice guys.

The BMX crank thing was just an idea I was throwing around.

I finished painting the frame/forks this morning and brought the frame to my LBS to get a new headset/ and get the cups pressed in. They also had a brand new 27" steel front wheel that I picked up for $20. The old front wheel had a handful bent spokes and the rim was a little rusty in some places.

So basically all I "need" now:
- Rear wheel/sprocket/lockring
- Chain
- Tires
- Tubes
- And possibly a brake cable/new pads (I might have this stuff laying around.)

Ive got one of those Travelers and turned it into a MTB. Should be fun when I get those steel rims wet.

One thing saftey wise. Those cranks are about 180s. Pedals will be very close to the ground for a fixed.

Yeah, they are 175s.

I don't think it would be too hard to track down a set of 165's though.

Any pics of your setup?

Heres a pic. Gotta cut the cables and get rid of those goo walls. Not a looker.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=434847#post434847

Post number 18, picture 004, here is my Varsity that I converted to SS, then fixed gear. What I did was take off the big chrome chain guard and big ring with those bolts you were talking about. I think they're 5mm. I unscrewed the read 5 speed freewheel and threaded on a BMX freewheel, chainline worked out good. After a while I unscrewed that and threaded on a track cog, but I didn't have enough room for a lockring, so I used a bunch of locktite, threaded it on by hand, then stuck the cog in a vice and turned the wheel as tight as I could. I left the brake on in front and didn't have any problems with it. Another forum member has it now, but he hasn't posted all summer.

I wouldn't spend any money until you know if you like the bike or not, but that's just my opinion. (I've made that mistake before...)

Good luck!

I decided not to order the wheel and stuff. And I have to return that front wheel I bought as well, since the valve stem hole is too small.

I decided to just make it a SS and ride the hell out of it. I've been having a rough time with chain alignment though.

So between the new headset/tires/tubes I have like $45 invested into it.

And I have to return that front wheel I bought as well, since the valve stem hole is too small.

Are you sure the rim wasn't meant for a presta valve? Most new rims nowadays have smaller holes for presta valves (as opposed to the larger, Schrader valve that the original tubes/rims on your bike almost definitely had). You might just need a new presta tube to go with your new wheel...