Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - make this into fixie?

So I just got this Royce-Union and what thinkin about makin it into a fixie. what do you guys think?

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ok

Why not?

sweet, i love fixies.

Do it up.

are the rear dropouts an issue, or is that just an overstated precaution/preference that some people have?

are the rear dropouts an issue, or is that just an overstated precaution/preference that some people have?
Its dropouts are perfect for conversion. Vertical dropouts are not the best candidates for fixed gear because there is no way to adjust chain tension. People have tried to use the "magic gear" to achieve chain tension; however, as time goes by, the chain will stretch and the magic gear will no long have a tight chain tension. White Industries' eccentric hub works great if you are willing to spend $200 on a rear hub.

My dropouts on my bike are similar, and somebody told me they weren't good for a fixie. Not because they were vertical, but rather they faced forward instead of backward. They look pretty horizontal to me.

My dropouts on my bike are similar, and somebody told me they weren't good for a fixie. Not because they were vertical, but rather they faced forward instead of backward. They look pretty horizontal to me.
As long as it has enough space to pull the wheel backward and forward then you are good to go.

Hey - Bike looks in great shape - May need new wheels, tires, tubes - Harris has a pretty good set at about $120.00 - Older wheels can't handle more than about 194# and looks like your spoke nipples are about to pull through - Gear set threaded? - 120mm or 130mm? - New wheels and a tune up are the only things this bike may need - NICE...

But to go to a Fixie (fixed gear) lining up that front crank can be a real chore - Maybe stick with your larger ring in front and space it inward then take your freewheel and respace your third or fourth gear out and fix it there - Just remember with new wheels this is a pretty good bike just the way it is - My only experience on fixed gear bikes was a few times as an athlete on a track - Be sure to read Sheldon Browns articles and links on fixed gear bikes... Good Luck

is that you in the picture?

Hey - Bike looks in great shape - May need new wheels, tires, tubes - Harris has a pretty good set at about $120.00 - Older wheels can't handle more than about 194# and looks like your spoke nipples are about to pull through - Gear set threaded? - 120mm or 130mm? - New wheels and a tune up are the only things this bike may need - NICE...

But to go to a Fixie (fixed gear) lining up that front crank can be a real chore - Maybe stick with your larger ring in front and space it inward then take your freewheel and respace your third or fourth gear out and fix it there - Just remember with new wheels this is a pretty good bike just the way it is - My only experience on fixed gear bikes was a few times as an athlete on a track - Be sure to read Sheldon Browns articles and links on fixed gear bikes... Good Luck
You do realize that is a freewheel hub wheel right? Can't really turn into a fixed gear by lining the chainring with the rear sprocket, it'd be a singlespeed...
Also, old road bike's rear spacing is 126mm not 120 nor 130...

Why not.

Vixtor is right - Just be sure to read Sheldon Browns articles on fixed gear - There is a thread on single speed free wheel you could buy - And keep in mind you could make the transition slowly...

If it fits, why not?

Doesn't fit.

I think the frame looks cool, but I think you're going to want to basically strip it down to just the frame and build up from there.

The components on that bike look pretty crappy. But the frame is very cool looking.

If that is where you need to put the seat height to ride it then I would not invest the cash to convert it. Find a frame that fits you better.

Also, old road bike's rear spacing is 126mm not 120 nor 130...

Sometimes 1 measurement is worth 1,000 guesses. If that bike has a 5-speed freewheel it may well have 120 mm dropouts.

Wellll, I wouldn't. Just cause that would make a very gorgeous vintage road frame. For fixed get-around I'd get a Kilo and then invest in this and make it classy as hell. But thats what I'd do.

If you do fix it, get some box rims, gumwalls, leather saddle and bartape, some more "vintage" Looking cranks (IRD Defiants are affordable and look swell), leave the road drops it has (given they're in good condition), and replace the stem.

Turning this cottered crank,dummie levered,pie plate wheeled hi-ten bike into a classy vintage road bike is going to require a lot more money than turning it into a decent get around town fixed gear.

Wellll, I wouldn't. Just cause that would make a very gorgeous vintage road frame. For fixed get-around I'd get a Kilo and then invest in this and make it classy as hell. But thats what I'd do.

If you do fix it, get some box rims, gumwalls, leather saddle and bartape, some more "vintage" Looking cranks (IRD Defiants are affordable and look swell), leave the road drops it has (given they're in good condition), and replace the stem.

No, it really wouldn't.

Did some searching, not what I thought it was.

Fix it if you want.

she looks pissed that you made her touch that pos....

What does everyone else think of the fork angle? I would say no unless a great price and run a melvin (http://www.paulcomp.com/melvin.html). On the other hand I avoid non-horizontals whenever possible. Why this bike, why this frame? If there is something unique about it to you? If so then give it a try and convert. Otherwise, love it for its multi-speedness. Uggggg loud cassettes... haha

On the other hand I avoid non-horizontals whenever possible.
Those are horizontal dropouts...what you are thinking are track fork ends, not a dropout.
Those dropouts are fine...nothing wrong with it.

sorry i just realized my mistake. i am a novice. thanks, my fault.

My dropouts on my bike are similar, and somebody told me they weren't good for a fixie. Not because they were vertical, but rather they faced forward instead of backward. They look pretty horizontal to me.

That somebody was clueless... a fixed gear bike does not need track ends and many vintage road bikes came equipped as fixed gear models and had horizontal dropouts while many a coaster equipped bike came with track ends. In many cases the same model was also offered with an IGH and in some cases you may have been able to buy one with derailleur gears.

The Royce Union looks to be an early 70's model and is a basic straight gauge high ten frame with mostly steel parts and it would be interesting to know if it has Araya steel rims and perhaps, a Shimano rear d and shifters as Royce fitted theor bikes with japanese parts when domestic makers like Schwinn were still using the despicable cable breaking Huret Alvit.

Those wheels, if they say Araya, were designed for fairly light riders but are very well made... you can't say this about many 70's steel rims.

It is not a highly collectible bicycle and no kittens would be sacrificed if it was turned into a fixed gear... you would need a new wheelset and have to deal with the cottered crank but would leave the paint as is as it is in very nice shape.

The brakes should work really well but I'd lose the suicide levers... with two brakes you could run fg/ss.

Did some searching, not what I thought it was.

Fix it if you want.

lol, you mean searching beyond looking at the picture? that's like a $10 garage sale bike. which is perfect for an on-the-cheap conversion

anyways, to OP, you can do it up fixed. not trying to be mean though, but if that's you in the picture you'll probably want to get at least 36 spoke deep vs, and get them checked by a bike shop.

pedal strike could be a *****, don't know how long the cranks are and how low the bottom bracket is. might be easiest to just take off the freewheel that's on there, throw on a bmx freewheel and run it as a single speed (if you don't want to worry about keeping those cheap derailleurs in adjustment)

Also, old road bike's rear spacing is 126mm not 120 nor 130...

not true. Many old 5 speed road bikes (pre-1976 or so) are spaced at 120mm

as for that bike, if you can convert it for less than $50 it might be worth the trouble. otherwise, leave it alone and ride it as-is.