Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - The beginning of a beautiful thing

I'm setting out to join the ranks of the elite and contribute to the pinnacle of cycling.
I got a vintage italian road bike that I want to strip down into a fixie. I thought I might share witih you
the bike before the mods and in a month or so, give you a showing of the bike in its ultimate state.

http://img51.exs.cx/img51/7312/benotto0048yc.th.jpg (http://img51.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img51&image=benotto0048yc.jpg&bgc=33AADD&fgc=&bor=)

Outfitted with mostly Italian parts: Ofmega Crank/BB/Pedals, Campy Record fr/rear der'l, Mavic MA40 rims, Miche fr/rear hubs, 85mm 3ttt stem, Cinelli Campione Del Mondo 66-38 handlebars, shimano 600 aero brake levers, universal mod77 fr/rear caliper brakes, Benotto headset/seatpost. San Selle Marco Apside saddle, and I forgot the make of the tires.

I've been looking at good fixie wheelsets to start off and I see a lot of favorable responses to Mavic Open Pros and Velocity Aerohead (for aesthics and performance reasons). I've been eyeing this particular wheelset on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7120400428

I was thinking of offering $160 for this. Do you think that's a reasonable price?
Thx

nice looking bike.
the link you provided points to one wheel, not a wheelset (albeit a helluva nice wheel).

nice looking bike.
the link you provided points to one wheel, not a wheelset (albeit a helluva nice wheel).

Ah, sorry. My oversight on the lingo.

Hmm... $160 is probably a real good price if you bought it new at the LBS but used, over the interweb... I'd say don't go higher than $140.

keep that bike the way it is, man. that's in beautiful condition...full campy, no? if you're looking to unload any of the components (wheels, derailleurs, shifters, whathaveyou) i'll give you a fair price on 'em.

I just just got around to looking at the photo and was about to post the same thing. That's a beautiful bike in great condition, a classic Italian racer.

I have no problems stripping my Moser, because it had been neglected and left to rust.
Butchering that may be quantamount to sacralige.
Would you buy an old Ferrari in perfect condition just to drop a cummings turbodiesel in it?

Would you buy an old Ferrari in perfect condition just to drop a cummings turbodiesel in it?

... the mind boggles.

Photochoppers, wanna have a go at this? ;)

But he's not stripping the bike and hacking the braze-ons in this situation is he?

The argument of 'ruining' a car's heritage is an iffy one. When the Porche engine blows and you can replace it with a chevy for a fraction of the cost AND double the power.....as the saying goes, "take this Porche and Chev it."

Looks really cool as a road bike. Why not start from scratch?

You guys have a point. I was thinking that as a fixie, the eccentric features of the bike would come out beaming 'n gleaming moreso than before. I'll keep the bike the way it is b/c its well equipped and yea, it looks just as good as a road bike. Thx guys.

So who's making the analogy with the ferrari? I agree with auk. Its an iffy analogy. In a sense, converting this bike into a fixie, you are showcasing more strength, no? more skill, right? Not necessarily a downgrade.

it wouldn't be a downgrade to convert to a fixie by any means. it would be a great bike as either. however, i have to agree with leaving it as is...except maybe upgrading the shimano brake levers at some point.

If it's going to gather dust as a road bike, I say fix it. It's a cool looking bike, and none of that would be lost if you strip the parts off. Though it's a nice looking ride, it's not an old Masi or some other supposedly 'untouchable' bike. Even so, if post fix you regret it, just put the parts back on. It's a bike, not a testicle.
Out of curiosity, do you know what year the frame is? Benotto moved production to Mexico sometime in the '80s. Not that it makes much difference, but might put your mind at ease about altering something 'collectable'.

If it's going to gather dust as a road bike, I say fix it. It's a cool looking bike, and none of that would be lost if you strip the parts off. Though it's a nice looking ride, it's not an old Masi or some other supposedly 'untouchable' bike. Even so, if post fix you regret it, just put the parts back on. It's a bike, not a testicle.
Out of curiosity, do you know what year the frame is? Benotto moved production to Mexico sometime in the '80s. Not that it makes much difference, but might put your mind at ease about altering something 'collectable'.

I believe this bike was made before the shift in manufacturing location, though I don't know the year. I believe the shift occured in 1990. The gentlemen who I bought it from assured me it was made in Italy.

I like the testicle reference. Bold!

I like the testicle reference. Bold![/QUOTE]







or the voice of experience!

(hopefully no pics like Boston Trevor's finger...)

You asked for it.

You asked for it.

Looks like someone peeled the skin of of Col. Sanders' Fried Chicken or really bad cookies.

Keep the Benotto the way it is and get a track bike..

S/F,
CEYA!

You asked for it.

what is that god awful creation? that's not meant for human or animal consumption is it? hope not.

There is no such thing as too many bikes. Keep that one and fix up another.

There is no such thing as too many bikes. Keep that one and fix up another.

I'm sure there are a lot of significant others who would disagree with that. I know my sister in law would.

I'm sure my sister-in-law would too, unless she's looking for a free bike for my nephew or niece. THEN my 'little hobby' is ok.

Hpwever, I don't ask her.

colnago master 53cm will be on ebay soon, interested?

howmuch?

howmuch?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=44962

$500, but forget it, no one is interested!

Ha!