Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - first fixie build: new wheels or paint + other stuff

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moonmilk
05-18-11, 09:04 PM
hi

i have a 77 nishiki that i had been meaning to do a ss/fix conversion on and i finally started as far as stripping it down to the frame and sanding down that frame.
http://worshipforshutins.tumblr.com/photo/1280/5498075971/1/tumblr_ll7u8tmqvy1qb6uei

now i face a dilemma: new wheels or better paint materials?
i'm leaning heavily on getting wheels and just doing a really thorough rattle job with duplicolor. reason is, i'd want more tire options with 700c and this will probably make the most part of new purchases cause i'm keeping a lot of parts. the wheels in question are DP18s from velomine. if I get better paint + a quality detail gun (i can get this for $50) i figure it would cost just as much or more. i just have no idea which would provide more benefit.

regarding paint, i read one post suggesting not stripping off all of the original paint to keep the initial primer and just sand to even surface, prime, sand, etc. would this produce inferior results or does it really matter stripping off all the paint?

posting this thread because there is just too much info to take in after lurking these last couple of days.

thanks

motobeCarnage
05-19-11, 07:18 AM
You can benefit far more with wheels on a bike than new paint.

And what's wrong with the black/gold? I like it. I can't tell from the pic but is it beyond just needed a good polish?
Scrodzilla
05-19-11, 07:36 AM
I would leave it as-is and have more money to spend on components and beer.

ianjk
05-19-11, 08:26 AM
I like the paint, personally, I'd just slap some wheels on it and call it good to go.
Jaytron
05-19-11, 08:42 AM
I would leave it as-is and have more money to spend on components and beer.

This. More emphasis on the beer.

The black and gold looks fine imo.
moonmilk
05-19-11, 11:55 AM
it was navy. yeah, i thought so too but i was too hasty. i'd already taken it off before i did some research. anyway i don't care much about decals but i'm keeping the head badge so at least it will have some identity left.

i will paint it black/charcoal though bc there seems to be a better margin of error with darker colors. just waiting for warmer days.