Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I started working on fixie number seven today.

:D I was given a bike today by an old friend. It's a red "Free Spirit" (10-speed) made in Austria by Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Stripped down it's one of my lightest. I have a track wheel that will work nicely on it that gives me a straight chainline from the big ring. I may have to grind the bolt heads off to remove the small ring and chain guard. It has cottered cranks and the frame has a bit of rust. For the moment it will keep both brakes, although losing the rear would make it that much lighter. All it needs is a rear tubular, which I can steal from another idle rim, and a new chain cut to the proper length. As with many bikes from the 60-70's it has deep dropouts which will allow for much adjustment. I removed the rubber grips because they were slippery. It will either get red or black bar tape. The downtube and toptube decals are almost gone so I'll get some paint remover and take them off. I'll do some spray can touch ups later on.

Currently destined to be a 52x 16, but I'll look for an EAI 20t to give me a new gear ratio from the other six.

You just love rubbing it in don't you?

You just love rubbing it in don't you?

I don't mean to sound that way. I'm just excited to be around bicycles.

It evens out. I'm recovering from a broken shoulder and can't do much riding.
Converting bikes is part of my physical and emotional rehab after the crash.
I'm always on the lookout for new (old) bikes and my friend has provided
me several at yardsale prices or less. Thanks to eBay wheelsets and other
parts are pretty affordable and it's just me and the dog to spend money on.
Using parts on hand this bike will cost me less than $50 to convert. I can
strip down and adjust an old bike in less than a hour.

:D

wow.. free spirit.. that brings back memories.. i dont know about the 10 speeds.. but in my school.. having a free spirit was made fun of... a lot.. if it wasnt a schwinn i guess... i think anythign but a free spirit.. for some reason.. that was the bike you didnt want.. which means they are prob. really dope now.. i remember this one kid had one with a red/white/blue fade paint job.. luckily for him he was big enough beat up anyone who made fun of it..

I don't mean to sound that way. I'm just excited to be around bicycles.

It evens out. I'm recovering from a broken shoulder and can't do much riding.
Converting bikes is part of my physical and emotional rehab after the crash.
I'm always on the lookout for new (old) bikes and my friend has provided
me several at yardsale prices or less. Thanks to eBay wheelsets and other
parts are pretty affordable and it's just me and the dog to spend money on.
Using parts on hand this bike will cost me less than $50 to convert. I can
strip down and adjust an old bike in less than a hour.

:D

I'm just bitter that I'm riding a converted Falcon with a newly dented top tube and scratched carbon fork, torn tape, all that fun stuff.

It usually takes me about 2-3 hours to convert, but I don't have another frame that I want to ride right now. The Bianchi is definatly NOT seeing MN winter roads.

wow.. free spirit.. that brings back memories.. i dont know about the 10 speeds.. but in my school.. having a free spirit was made fun of... a lot.. if it wasnt a schwinn i guess... i think anythign but a free spirit.. for some reason.. that was the bike you didnt want.. which means they are prob. really dope now.. i remember this one kid had one with a red/white/blue fade paint job.. luckily for him he was big enough beat up anyone who made fun of it..

This was made overseas in Austria for sale by Sears (not the USA made ones) and may well have
high grade Columbus tubing. It will be running tubulars front and rear with an sweet Italian track hub.
Some day this bike will take some ti and carbon roadies to school. :)

yeah, but you'll have to amend the name. Free Spirit --> Fixed Spirit.

somehow ever dorkier...

yeah, but you'll have to amend the name. Free Spirit --> Fixed Spirit.

somehow ever dorkier...

Perhaps, but in the right font in could look good.

ahh.. sears sold em.. there you go.. thats why they got made fun of

:D I was given a bike today by an old friend. It's a red "Free Spirit" (10-speed) made in Austria by Steyr-Daimler-Puch.

Interesting.
Does it say Austria or Puch anywhere on it?
Is it similar to this one:
http://www.pbase.com/wojtek_burkot/image/39668025 (not Austrian made, but I was told they were very similar, this one can be from 50ties, cottered cranks with steel arms, and alu spider)?

Congrats, mine first still in the works.
v.

Mine is not that old. The only markings are the Free Spirit head badge and downtube decal,
along with an F10 decal on the top tube. I got my other information based on searching the
Oldroads data files. Whatever it's origin, the bike will be light and sweet. Bikes like to be loved
and this one was saved from a pile of bikes outside gathering rust.

I have a free spirit, don't like it .. at all.