Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Frame Finder

A'ight guys (and gals?), I need your help. 8 months on the bianchi pista and I've decided that fixed gear is where it's at. It's time to give the off-the-rack the old heave-ho! After a ton of research over the last few weeks, I know what components I'll be getting (sort of), but I'm having trouble finding a frame. There are too many options. Any suggestions? What's good? What should I avoid at all costs? Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Something light (duh)
2. Something solid (daily NYC commuting)
3. Something unique
4. I'm not particular about new or used.
5. Lugs preferred
6. While I'd love a nagasawa, my pockets aren't that deep. 4-500 is probably the upper limit for frame and fork.
7. Now that I think about it, I'll probably just buy a frame and spraypaint it (death to decals!), so used is probably best. What's good and what's bad of the typical easily found cheap frames (peugot, fuji, schwinn, panasonic, raleigh, miyata, nishiki, trek, motobecane, etc. etc. etc.)?

Thanks for any help.

David

You're chucking your Pista for a road-conversion? Why not paint the Pista?

seriously, save your money, keep your frame and switch all the stock parts for the ones you really want.

seriously, save your money, keep your frame and switch all the stock parts for the ones you really want.

Chuck the pista -- you'll get what you paid for it in NYC because they are impossible to find right now, and you can use the money to buy the parts you want. The pista is not an amazing frame, it is just OK. Better to have a vintage lugged frame (I actually prefer a road frame to a track frame, since they are actually made for distance riding -- a track frame is all bout speed, not comfort, while a road frame is a compromise between the two) with the components you want. I'm selling my pista this week to pay for some phil wood/mavic pros for the schwinn paramount that is my new ride.

Doy! I can't belive I didn't think of that. I'm an idiot. the frame is a great fit and solid as a tank (i've been hit by two cars with nary a ding to show for it). How do I go about getting the frame painted? Can chrome be powdercoated?

Sure, they sandblast the frame then powdercoat it, chrome no more.

Why, strip chrome? It's far beyond paint as to its molecular bond to metals than 'powder coat'.

>jef.

soma frame and fork is relatively cheap

good ole 631 reynolds strikes good balance between frame mass & durability

unique.. nice conservative decals

I had my Pista powder coated by a friend that was going to industrial design school. I think the paint cost me $20. Usually a bike shop will know of a car place that will do a bike frame for $100. Here's a pic of mine (not a terribly good pic but...)

http://www.anti-robot.com/pista_white.jpg

I had my Pista powder coated by a friend that was going to industrial design school. I think the paint cost me $20. Usually a bike shop will know of a car place that will do a bike frame for $100. Here's a pic of mine (not a terribly good pic but...)

http://www.anti-robot.com/pista_white.jpg

that looks so nice...
anybody know the name of the place in NYC that does custom bike powdercoating?... I think it's on the west side.
chrome shmrome.

soma frame and fork is relatively cheap

good ole 631 reynolds strikes good balance between frame mass & durability

unique.. nice conservative decals

I could not figure out why soma folks would put the guy from campyonly (that site is subtly racist/creepy) as a pitchman on their website (can't they find some other dude who did a century?). I got a little turned off, that's all. Anyway I inspected a Rush frame at a LBS and it was very well done. I would recommend it without hesitation.

Why, strip chrome? It's far beyond paint as to its molecular bond to metals than 'powder coat'.

>jef.

I second this, firmly. Why bother? Ditch the decals if you don't like them. Then get yourself the new components. And keep in mind, you are not riding track (right?), so you don't need to get the lightest, coolest, most expensive s**t around. Sure you don't want to ride a tank, but keep in mind the two hits you've already taken and the thieves on the street when you repart the Pista.

i understand the whole retro-casualcool-anti-mass-market/culture-do-your-own-thang thang with SS/Fixed's, and resurrecting a "classic" frame, out of a dumpster or otherwise, to build up w/ awesome componetry b/c it's cheaper than buying new, but i don't understand ditching a decent new frame to buy an older "classic" frame which no one cared about too much when it was new. barring a huge geometry difference or getting your hands on a true vintage, what's the deal? the pista's got decent track geometry and is a decent chromoly frame. the drivetrain may not be the best, but, that's what should be swapped, not the frame. or am i just not getting it? tell me, please, and i'll forfeit my board membership. shall i ride a city hybrid with front suspension instead?

o yeah, kogswell fixed frames are priced really low.. they look excellent imo

I've got an late 80's early Bianchi road frame in my garage. I've got an early 80's bianchi under my @$$. (Well, not at the moment, but it got me to work today).

While I LOVE my lugged road geom steel Bianchi frame.. having non track drop outs is a Pain In The A$$. Consider this anytime you need to change flat.. etc. Track drop outs are much easier to align.

Just my two cents.

Trade you the Pista frame for the late 80's frame if you want. Hell, I'd even pay shipping for yours if it's good shape.

Having given it a lot of thought, here's what I've decided:

I'm having the frame (and a new threaded fork to replace the stock threadless fork) painted. I'll keep the dropouts and the fork ends chrome which will handle the tightening load better than paint will. I'm ditching the chrome on the rest of the frame and fork for two reasons:

1. All chrome is way too flashy. Decals aside (which are under a thick coating of clearcoat so they can't be removed easily), the frame draws too many eyes. it makes me uncomfortable.

2. I want a bike that looks like I imagine a bike should look, not like the designers at Bianchi decide it should look. While I love the geometry and fit of the bike, chrome is not my preference; it is Bianchi's preference. It's my bike, so I it should be whatever color I want.

I'm also going to replace all the drivetrain parts (BB (phil), cranks (sugino 75), chainring (sugino 75), cog (EAI), and chain (izumi?)) and get a new threaded headset (king) and quill stem (nitto) to go with the new fork. Maybe I'll post pics when I'm done (probably 2 to 3 weeks).

Then, when I can save up some more money, I'll get the phil/mavic wheels I so desire.

When it's all over and done with, I'll have a unique bike that's all my own, painted my own color, with all the parts I want. If, further down the line, I come across a nicer frame, then I already have all the parts.

P.S. The paint scheme I'm considering is all black, perhaps with some very small white cursive lettering on the toptube near the seat cluster that say "Let's F*ck." The saddle is a white perforated leather Regal with copper rails and big copper rivets. I can't decide if I should use put the soyo keirin grips on the bars, but if I do they will be white as well.

Having given it a lot of thought, here's what I've decided:

I'm having the frame (and a new threaded fork to replace the stock threadless fork) painted. I'll keep the dropouts and the fork ends chrome which will handle the tightening load better than paint will. I'm ditching the chrome on the rest of the frame and fork for two reasons:

1. All chrome is way too flashy. Decals aside (which are under a thick coating of clearcoat so they can't be removed easily), the frame draws too many eyes. it makes me uncomfortable.

2. I want a bike that looks like I imagine a bike should look, not like the designers at Bianchi decide it should look. While I love the geometry and fit of the bike, chrome is not my preference; it is Bianchi's preference. It's my bike, so I it should be whatever color I want.



I see your point on the paint job and why you like it, and I even think your suggestion sounds great, will look like the forshizzle. Just think of the F-ing $$ for a sec. Plus, the chrome job may be a good think for frame durability. I would at least put off that move for a few years, so you get your $$'s worth out of the chrome and it starts to peel or chip away on it's own.

My two cents. And my last two cents.

a habanero fram might be neat... but out of you price range slightly

Dude, why don't you just sell it on craigslist and build up a new bike, starting with a better frame? Sounds like you're going to waste a lot of time, energy & $$$.

Dude, because that would be more expensive than I can afford right now. I think my plan makes sense. Ask yourself this: would you rather have a decent frame with great components, or a great frame with strictly average (and in some cases below average) components? I choose the former.

Dude, because that would be more expensive than I can afford right now. I think my plan makes sense. Ask yourself this: would you rather have a decent frame with great components, or a great frame with strictly average (and in some cases below average) components? I choose the former.

...or a great frame with great components? if only.

Chelsea Bicycles on the west side (26th or 27th St. near 7th Ave.) does custom painting, I don't know if it is powder coating process that they use, but I have looked at a couple of their paint jobs and they looked pretty good and the prices were reasonable. Post pics of your bike when you finish it!

Chelsea Bicycles on the west side (26th or 27th St. near 7th Ave.) does custom painting, I don't know if it is powder coating process that they use, but I have looked at a couple of their paint jobs and they looked pretty good and the prices were reasonable. Post pics of your bike when you finish it!

thank you so much.

I'm having my frame painted by Bike Works. They don't actually paint it; they send it out to some frame painter. But I've heard nothing but good things about the end result. Totally professional quality. I believe it's $160 for single color.

. I'm ditching the chrome on the rest of the frame and fork for two reasons:

1. All chrome is way too flashy. Decals aside (which are under a thick coating of clearcoat so they can't be removed easily), the frame draws too many eyes. it makes me uncomfortable.


P.S. The paint scheme I'm considering is all black, perhaps with some very small white cursive lettering on the toptube near the seat cluster that say "Let's F*ck." The saddle is a white perforated leather Regal with copper rails and big copper rivets. I can't decide if I should use put the soyo keirin grips on the bars, but if I do they will be white as well.


So your going from too flashy to.... @#$#@$ flashy. Wow. Ch ch ch changes.. ...

That's pretty, well, yeah.

As long as you like it.