Pacific Northwest - best frames for single speed conversion

I want to build a bike for myself. I am 6 ft/265 lbs. I don't really care if it is a road or mountain bike. Most of the riding will be on the street, but I have been known hop a curb or two. Let the brainstorming commence!

Your first priority will be to get some really decent wheels... you are a big guy and the wheels have to stand up to those curb hopping adventures so 26 inch wheels might be the way to go..

True 'nuff about the wheels. I'm pretty close to your weight, manley, and I'd also suggest going with a 26" wheel if you're planning on doing curb hopping and other such urban bang-around riding. You'll also have a wider tire clearance on a MTB frame so you can put a bigger street tread tire and get yourself some extra cushion for rough roads and harsh landings.

For a singlespeed conversion, I'd look at an older mountain bike for starts. The dropouts on early 90s rigid frame MTBs usually have horizontal or semi-horizontal dropouts which are pretty long. This means that you can get away without having to use a chain tensioner.

I had a '91 Stumpjumper which lasted me a gazillion miles before I gave it to a friend when I bought a new bike.

Cheers gents. Do you have any suggestions on brands to stay away from or look for?

Cheers gents. Do you have any suggestions on brands to stay away from or look for?

brands to stay away from are huffy, roadmaster, and the like (cheap department store bikes). any of the bike shop brands would be the way to go (trek, giant, specialized, jamis, ect.).

here is a picture of my ss, it is an 89 trek 950 that i repainted and built up
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p125/kcullan/DSC01049.jpg

For me, forget brands...take a look at http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/ for some fun eye candy. I found a 30 year old bike by Glenn Erickson..It hadn't been ridden more than a few hundred miles after it was custom built. It is now my fixie. Find a bike and make the change. Otherwise, almost every company has a single/fg bike for under 800. Kent Peterson (track down his blog) is riding a 29er single speed for a mountain bike frame. Surly, Soma, Raleigh, Bianchi etc all have bikes. But the fun is finding a gem and making it your own. Let a LBS know what you want and they might be able to pull out an old frame for conversion or know someone who..that's how I'd start. I found mine on Craigslist. Just lucky.

that site is like bike porn... i'm scared for you all...

I don't know how much you are willing to spend or if you will buy new, but R+E makes a track frame they call the "Shiftless" for $799. See http://www.rodcycle.com/ under track bicycles.

I have two Kuwahara mtb's that I have converted to fg/ss for urban riding, touring, and winter riding... they are harder to find in the states but are very well made frames with what is touring geometry rather than modern mtb geometry.

This is my 1988 Shasta.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/shastass1.jpg