Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - First conversion?!

Okay I hit deal, I got a raleigh technium tri lite frame and a brooks b17 for about 50$

the frame is in really good condition, should I build it up? would it be wise? It's an aluminum frame and is pretty light. I'd most likely just ride it on the trail and race my friends. What wheelset would you guys recommend? Or should I just get a different frame to build?

Do you have the finances?

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li2zngnqgW1qzmowao1_500.jpg

The choice is yours, my friend.

If it's just a frame/fork/seatpost and saddle, you'll be dropping a lot of money.

Transversely, you could flip the frame and the saddle and double your investment.

well, how much do you think I'd be dropping total? I'd need a crankset, bb, wheelset, cog/lockring, and a chain? I forgot to mention it had headset and bars.

new components or used?

According to low end, rock-bottom prices off the top of my head....$225 total.

new components or used?



I don't really mind. I'm mainly just concerned with getting a decent crankset/bb. I have a spare cog and lockring I think.

I don't really mind. I'm mainly just concerned with getting a decent crankset/bb. I have a spare cog and lockring I think.

$265

what parts are you saying would be that total?

crankset, bb, wheelset, cog/lockring, and a chain? I forgot to mention it had headset and bars.

Crankset as low as $25 (Truvativ Touro, FSA Vero, Shimano Road cranks) which can possibly come with a bottom bracket (a few ebay listings have them)
Bottom Bracket as low as $20 depending on cranks
Wheelset can be a tough one...but the cheapest used I've seen for a decent set is around $50-$100 which should include cog+lockring
Chain is something you'd want to get new and thats only $10

Granted, this is Portland prices, which we have a good healthy stock of used crappy parts...

It's not that I don't have the money for good parts, but I'm wondering if this frame is even worth it? Should I sell the frame for something else? I want to make a bike that would be pretty light/fast. I just thought this would be good since it's aluminum.

Yeah, I'd say that frame is worth building up if you have stem, bars, (brakes? seatpost?) Don't go crazy expensive on the components and you'll end up with a nice light bike, maybe for more than a complete one would've cost though. I've heard those Techniums are nice.

keep the frame, build it up. i converted one for under 200 with a flip flop hub. i bought the wheelset used though.

Yeah, I'd say that frame is worth building up if you have stem, bars, (brakes? seatpost?) Don't go crazy expensive on the components and you'll end up with a nice light bike, maybe for more than a complete one would've cost though. I've heard those Techniums are nice.

This is what I want to do exactly! Can you recommend some parts I should check out? Thanks!

I have these wheels: http://www.velomine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87_172_176&products_id=340&zenid=oqa03la3ugheifnpdppp32lae6

They are great, and recommended by others on the forum. Scrod has them. They are bulletproof, although maybe a tad overbuild for my 135lb body. Still relatively light weight.

Does the bike have a bottom bracket? Personally I'd just go with a used road crankset on ebay, there are good deals to be had.

Brakes? Ebay too, just make sure you figure out what reach you need. Reach: http://sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html#reach

going off my lbs pricest

wheelset-$100
crankset- $45
chain- $15
tires, tubes-$50
bar tape- $15
front brake, lever, housing- $50

so new id say you're looking at around $300 additional. could be worth it if the frame fits you and there's no damage to it.

no damage to the frame. I'm gonna get the sun m13's and the FSA gimondis crankset.

1 x Sun M13 silver rims Formula fixed gear track hubs wheelset 36h (RCCPM)
= $125.00
1 x FSA Track Bike Fixed Gear Crankset F Gimondi 170mm 42t = $99.00
1 x Track Cog 15t x 3/32 Hardened Steel = $19.00
1 x Formula lockring for track fixed gear hubs = $5.00
1 x KMC ZX10HX SILVER Single Speed Track CHAIN 3/32" = $12.00


Seem good?
I plan on getting gatorskins/tubes/bb at lbs

?!

?!

you could get a lot cheaper cranks, and find a wheelset with a cog and lockring already...but thats not terrible for everything so far... what else do you need?

I just need a bb, tires/tubes!!

1 x FSA Track Bike Fixed Gear Crankset F Gimondi 170mm 42t = $99.00
1 x Track Cog 15t x 3/32 Hardened Steel = $19.00

Seem good?


Pretty good but I agree with Lilcphoto, I think you could find a lot cheaper cranks. Especially if you're willing to go used.

Not sure what cog you're getting. But if you want cheap, here's a Formula cog for $12 shipped: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FORMULA-15T-COG-FIXED-GEAR-TRACK-15-TOOTH-3-32-LOW-/230546975749?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35adabac05 If you want nice, a Dura Ace cog is only a few bucks more than the one you chose at $24 shipped: http://cgi.ebay.com/SHIMANO-DURA-ACE-15T-x-3-32-TRACK-BIKE-FIXED-GEAR-COG-/230579529884?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35af9c689c

I just want this bike to turn out nice! The price total wasnt too bad! I hope this bike turns out well, I'll post pictures!

I would sell the frame and get a BD bike. Then you would have a decent saddle more or less for free. The last thing in the world I would want to ride is an old, small tubed Al frame. YMMV though.

Seem good?
I plan on getting gatorskins/tubes/bb at lbs

My opinion: Gatorskins are terrible tires. super-tight to put on, not terribly flat resistant, and the sidewalls are so flimsy you can put holes in them by looking at them wrong. for the money there are a lot of better/cheaper tires out there.

My opinion: Gatorskins are terrible tires. super-tight to put on, not terribly flat resistant, and the sidewalls are so flimsy you can put holes in them by looking at them wrong. for the money there are a lot of better/cheaper tires out there.

Yea, I am kind of over Gatorskins.

the frame looks good besides a little bit of the paint is chipped off. should I consider getting a new frame?

For the amount of money you will spend to make a decent bike you could get a bike from Bikes Direct or some other online store for the same, and have a better, modern bike. Old small tube Al bikes are not all that good, so I wouldn't even bother. That's just me though.

**** I already pulled the trigger on those parts. Should I get a new frame too :twitchy:


I'll set this bike up, if I don't like it I'll look into a new frame.

I've never ridden a Technium, but I have a 1989 Trek 1500 as my road racing bike. Does that count as a "small tube" aluminum frame? I think it's great for what I paid.

Don't sweat the frame, I bet you'll like it just fine. They made those for a number of years, if they were junk I'm sure they would've pulled the plug much earlier.

yeah the frame is cool. it's got internal breaking and the tubes are thermally bonded together.

I've never ridden a Technium, but I have a 1989 Trek 1500 as my road racing bike. Does that count as a "small tube" aluminum frame? I think it's great for what I paid.

Don't sweat the frame, I bet you'll like it just fine. They made those for a number of years, if they were junk I'm sure they would've pulled the plug much earlier.
It's not that they are junk, they are 30 year old Aluminium frames that aren't particuarly stiff or light. If you notice all the big frame makers went to large diameter tubes pretty quick, for a good reason. When there are so many purpose built SS bikes out there for so cheap, using an old frame like that doesn't really make a lot of sense.

http://i51.tinypic.com/acqxih.jpg gonna changed the pedals out, get bar tape!!

should i powder coat it?

Looks good, gonna put a front brake on there?

I've wanted to paint a few bikes that I've had, but I'm glad I always resisted the temptation. Although I wouldn't say you have the most attractive color scheme going on, IMO original paint in good shape is always better than non-original paint.

yeah, I'm gonna put a front brake on it. i was thinking the same thing, but the color scheme is pretty ugly haha. I can get a good powder coat job for 50$.

should i powder coat it?


No. Paint looks good and I wouldn't trust an old frame that is glued together after cooking in an oven.

Just sayin'

You might wanna adjust your drop bars so the drops are parallel to the ground. Usually people only angle up if they're newer ergo drops.

I actually really dig the color scheme of your bike! I wouldn't powder coat over it if I were you; there's just so much you could do to get all matchy matchy with it (rims and bar tape in blue, yellow or red)

http://i53.tinypic.com/euk3ky.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/2ro5n2g.jpg


Two more pictures with no other bikes. I'm thinking about getting MKS track pedals w/ clips. I don't know what kind of bar tape. I also need brakes. Should I keep the brooks on it?