Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Building a singlespeed

Right now I have a fewmonthold felt roadbike, but I'd be alot more comfortable in the rain if i wasnt riding a $900 bike, which is why I want a singlespeed

I'm not having any luck finding used stuff (except for a $500 fixed at an LBS, more than I'd like to spend and also too big)

How much would I be looking to spend if i did happen to find a frame, but bought everything else new?

any good non-ebay sites to check for used stuff?

or sites to look for new parts?


thanks
alex

go to goodwill for a frame and get a set of wheels from iro or ebay.. lots of options for a cheap fixed gear rig. just depends on what you want to spend and how long you want to wait for cheap parts to come along.

is there a craigslist.org site for your area? Usually a good sourse for cheap bikes for conversions. If you're patient you could probaby snag a descent bike, complete with wheels for under $100.

The wheels were my biggest $$, $150 shipped. Bensbike on Ebay.

Nekkid frame - Varies wildly..

Crank - $50 or less http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=81&subcategory=1034&brand=&sku=11460&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Single Chainring bolts or spacers - $6 (Needed to convert 2 rings to 1)http://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Crank/Chainring&sc=Chainring%20Fixing%20Bolts/Nuts&tc=&item_id=SU-401&id=344855932558
Freewheel - $15 http://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Freewheel&sc=Complete%20Freewheels&tc=Single%20Sprocket&item_id=SH-SFMX17&id=344855932558
Chain tool - $10?http://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Tools&sc=Chain&tc=&item_id=CY-1005&id=344855932558
Chain - $5 or more http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=76&subcategory=1099&brand=&sku=7175&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Bottom Bracket - $20 http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=73&subcategory=1096&brand=&sku=12779&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Stem - $20 http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=119&subcategory=1185&brand=&sku=12769&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Headset - $15 http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=93&subcategory=1190&brand=&sku=4910&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Pedals - $10 or more http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=108&subcategory=1181&brand=&sku=8036&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Tires - $10 or more http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=121&subcategory=1085&brand=&sku=9201&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Rim Strips - $5 http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=97&subcategory=1057&brand=&sku=3493&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Tubes - $10
Hbars - $15 and up http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1180&brand=&sku=8448&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Brakes - $29 and up http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=69&subcategory=1014&brand=&sku=6220&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Levers - $15 and up http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=104&subcategory=1194&brand=&sku=8047&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=


Can you tell I'm bored?

$385 before frame and shipping, but there are perpetual 10% discounts at NB. Knowing this, and if I had a wad and no patience, I'd get an IRO Mark V. and call it done.

loosescrews.com
nashbar.com
harriscyclery.com

And don't buy all this stuff, assemble, and then get mad at me when the chainline is off by .5mm. Ya gosta research.

Add seatpost / seat....Forgot those.

And reflectors. Gotta have reflectors.

And tools - for the BB, cable cutters, pedal and headset wrench, hexes, lighter.

of course it depends on what kind of quality you'll settle for, how long you want to wait, etc. given a few months, i have no doubt i could collect enough parts to build a schwagtacular fixie for free.

of course, there would probably be a lot of kludge-y work on there and some parts that "almost fit" (and probably the 1" headset with plastic cups that i threw out yesterday).

ask your friends who ride if they have any old parts lying around, i've been known to have 4 old handlebars hanging over the top of my closet door at times. and once you figure out what you need, hit up your LBS for used/old stuff.

and keep your eye out for bike swap meets... good stuff.

if he went with those Nashbar ISIS cranks I think he'd be hard pressed to find an ISIS BB for $10...

if he went with those Nashbar ISIS cranks I think he'd be hard pressed to find an ISIS BB for $10...

Edited - NB ISIS BB = $20

One little detail, for 3 minutes, and you saw it!!

Yea I got a frame (and seat post) for $20 and a free fork, Race Face HS, stem and bars, had the saddle and bought everything else new and it still ran me $400 to build a SS quickly. I could have done it a little different but if I was to do it again I would just buy a complete bike.

My advice is to poke around thrift stores (the 'burbs are great for this) and wait until you find a good enough bike with all the parts you need except the wheels ... then blow some cash on a good set (IRO seems to be the favorite these days). Things like stems, posts, seats, BBs and head sets add up real fast (see post above).

My main ride is a Univega I got off e-bay that was complete except for derail-thingys (which I would have removed), and wheels (which I would have changed any way). Including shipping, it ran me about $40. If you get as lucky as I did, then you just get the IRO wheels and you're on a good bike with great wheels for around $200.

Of course, you will not be able to stop there ...

what size are you looking for? i have a 52cm fixed gear up for sale on ebay, check it here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7145887382&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

I was looking into converting an old bike/road frame, but I got really bogged down in things like removing old cranks, finding the little parts (headset, bottom bracket, etc.) and then--THEN--the real costs started appearing: tools and/or LBS help. I ended up with a bunch of parts lying around and a bunch of old but good quality frames. I realized that I was getting bogged down in the build-up and hadn't yet actually RIDDEN a fixie. And it was starting to look like a more expensive project.

Then I wondered, What if I don't actually LIKE riding?

I turned to ebay and found a fixed gear conversion for about 150 bucks, incl. shipping. It's nothing special--plastic pedals, older front wheel, unspectacular tires, but I've swapped out the stem for a longer one, added some clips and straps and upgraded the seat, and I LOVE the thing. I don't think it's a great ride, but it's been a good learner, and was definitely worth the lower cost. I also really like the fact that it's steel, but very lightweight (I live on the fourth floor of a walk-up apt.)

Now I'm working on building up one of those frames I originally found, but I think that my experiences have given me a better idea of what I want to do with them. You might want to try this route, like Slarti and I. The one thing I picked up from reading through these forums and Sheldon Brown was to get a decent rear wheel. My bike had a nothing front wheel, but the rear wheel has a standard Suzue hub. I do understand the importance.

And are you looking for a SS or fixed gear or a flip-flop hub?

Good luck.

I second the notion of spending some money on wheels. Nothing beats a hand built set. There's a shop out here that only charges $25 in labor per wheel. A great deal and they do quality work. If you can source a hubset and rims for cheap, I'd say that'd be the way to go.

what size are you looking for? i have a 52cm fixed gear up for sale on ebay, check it here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7145887382&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

wow thats pretty much exactly what i had in mind, hopefully money'll come in soon and I'll be bidding

I converted my schwinn to fixed and it was pretty cheap but found that it really didn't work well as a fixed and to fix the things that are wrong with it would cost almost as much as a complete, so I just sucked it up and got the mark v, but if you can find one on ebay that's already converted for cheap then that's the best way to go. Its hard to find a reasonably cheap frame that will really work well as a fixie. It'll take a lot of luck and time to find the right frame and after that it'll be another cat and mouse game hunting for the right parts.