Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Maybe one step closer to a fixed gear

I made my first post here a few days back about the possibility of getting a fixed gear bike (would the short name be fixie?). And oddly enough I just got an offer for what seems to be a good deal on a frame that's my size. The frame is a Mootal Primus or something like that and aside from a sweet paint job is apparently from a respectable bike builder. I'll post more details as I ask them again.

Anyway I'll have a frame fork and headset with the deal and I was wondering from all you builders out there, how much more should I expect to shell out for the rest of the bike?

I realize the generic answer would be, "It depends" but let's say I'd go the used route, how much is a realistic amount to spend to complete the bike?

Here's a very rough outline for used, good quality, parts:

Bottom Bracket - $30
Crank w/chainring - $40
Pedals - $20
Wheelset including tubes/tape/tires - $150 (this can vary greatly)
Cog and lockring - $30
Stem - $15
Bars - $20
Seatpost - $15
Saddle - $20
Brake lever (if you want one) - $10
Brake Calliper (if you want one) - $20
Misc (like bar tape, bottle cage, etc.) - $20

These are rough guesses for quality used parts. A lot these prices are more near the bottom end than the top end. If you look around quite a bit, you can get stuff for next to nothing. Takes time though. Just depends on how much work you want to put into it.

Oh yeah, those prices don't include labor at the LBS or tools/time on your part.

Here's a very rough outline for used, good quality, parts:

Bottom Bracket - $30
Crank w/chainring - $40
Pedals - $20
Wheelset including tubes/tape/tires - $150 (this can vary greatly)
Cog and lockring - $30
Stem - $15
Bars - $20
Seatpost - $15
Saddle - $20
Brake lever (if you want one) - $10
Brake Calliper (if you want one) - $20
Misc (like bar tape, bottle cage, etc.) - $20

These are rough guesses for quality used parts. A lot these prices are more near the bottom end than the top end. If you look around quite a bit, you can get stuff for next to nothing. Takes time though. Just depends on how much work you want to put into it.

Oh yeah, those prices don't include labor at the LBS or tools/time on your part.

Where would one usually go to get these parts at these prices LBS, ebay?

Also once all the parts are assembled how much would you expect to pay to have someone put this all together?

I will be taking a trip the bicycle kitchen prbably next week to get a better idea but I'd like to keep an eye out regardless.

Where would one usually go to get these parts at these prices LBS, ebay?

Also once all the parts are assembled how much would you expect to pay to have someone put this all together?

I will be taking a trip the bicycle kitchen prbably next week to get a better idea but I'd like to keep an eye out regardless.

Send me a PM when you go to the kitchen, we can throw back some beers (or cliff bars, whatever floats your boat). Glad to hear about your frame. You can probably throw something together for $100-$150 plus the cost of a wheelset, but don't quote me on that. You have quite a few options with wheels, like use a freewheel hub (7speed, or singlespeed) if you feel adventurous, or you can drop some cash on some real track hubs. It all depends.

I built my entire bike for about $650, $550 if you don't count my SLR saddle (I gotta splurge somewhere, right?), and I would say my ride is tricked out. You can definitely get away with a nice ride for real cheap.

You might be able to find a garage sale/thrift store bike boom bike for cheap. All it has to have is one or two components you like in order to be worth it. The remaining components can be used until you find replacements that you'll be happy with for a longer time, or sold etc.

Where would one usually go to get these parts at these prices LBS, ebay?

Also once all the parts are assembled how much would you expect to pay to have someone put this all together?

I will be taking a trip the bicycle kitchen prbably next week to get a better idea but I'd like to keep an eye out regardless.

Yeah, I'm going to go with bicycle kitchen on this one, PM me as well, we'll make an evening out of it.

Well for what its worth, here's what I have into my single speed (not fixie, YET). I built it from scratch pretty much. Most of the parts are take-offs from other bikes, including the pedals, cranks, and seatpost, and saddle. Bought new were the front tire and tube and the quill stem. Here's a breakdown of the parts and where I got them:

$20 Centurion Accordo 59cm frame/fork/headset with brakes, LBS
$40 Sugino road double and bottom bracket (used cranks) LBS
$5 26.8mm seatpost, take off from another bike, LBS
$10 Saddle LBS
$25 Suzue Basic hub laced to 27" rim, with tire and tube - BikeForums member
$5 Front wheel rebuild. Front wheel from parts bike
$15 Front tire and tube, Performance Bicycles
$10 BMX pedals, take-offs from LBS
$5 BMX chain
$15 Quill Stem, LBS clearance bin
$0 Flipped and cut drop handlebars from parts bike, brake levers from same bike
$20 Brake hardware and cables, housing, LBS
$20 16T freewheel
------
$190 total

Mind you, that's without the fixed gear cog and lockring, which is another $30-40. I figure with all the tools I bought too, I am easily into this $250, when you figure all the little stuff in. And I still have to buy the cog and lockring.

I lucked out on alot of the parts, such as the cranks and seatpost and rear wheel. Those parts alone could have cost triple what they did. But I stumbled onto some great deals. You can too, just be patient. This took me since August to put all together.

My fixie went something like this:
Frame - $20 off Ebay, included headset & fork
Wheelset - $24 - Ebay, an old 27" six speed re-dished for a good chainline.
Stem - my parts bin
Seatpost - $18 - LBS
Drop bars - $17 - sale at Nashbar
Saddle - my parts bin (I'm a packrat)
Crankset - $21 - Ebay - came with 43 chainring
BB - $24 - Nashbar
Cog - $18 - Loose Screws
Lockring - $6 - Loose Screws
Chain - Free from LBS - it's old 5-6 speed size, I had to knock the dust off the box.
Tires - $8 each - sale at Nashbar
Pedals - $40 - Candy C on sale at Nashbar
Brake levers - $12 - Ebay - nice Shimano 600
Brake - $10 - A pair of DiaCompe, but just mounted 1
Housing & cable - my parts bin
Bar tape - $6 - LBS

Total - $232, and a nice evening putting it all together.

Now it's time to tear it down for paint.

I've been offered something and I wanted everyone's opinion:
1) frame - perfectly my size Primus Mootry Al material and has a nice paint job (I'm trying to figure out it's worth and quality)
2) fork - carbon with al steerer , apparently top of the line 4 years ago
3) chris king headset
4) Campry record front derailer - Not usable for a fixie but a nice add on



Now I know I can get bargain basement prices from thrift stores and the like but just from a just used component perspective would the about be a good deal at $200?

Horizontal drops? Or an eno hub required.

Horizontal drops? Or an eno hub required.


ok I'm a noob what's the diff?

Just read up on it on the Primus website. Although I'll have to see the actual frame again, the road bike designs on the newer frames seem to be vertical drop outs (I hope I answered that properly).

If theyre vertical drops you're probably gonna want to look for a different frame for a fixed gear conversion. Either horizontal drops, such as on older road bikes, or something with track ends if possible.
Eno is a type of hub that allows a vertical drops to be used for a fixed gear.
Also steel offers a smoother ride than aluminum. Most people seem to prefer a steel frame for a fixed gear.