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How much will I spent to convert to a fixie

Old 07-28-05, 07:46 AM
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How much will I spent to convert to a fixie

Im thinking of swapping out my fuji royale to a single speed, but what can I expect to pay for a new rear wheel and should I think about matching it in the front.
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Old 07-28-05, 08:09 AM
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$100 shipped, unless you happen into something local or a good deal on a used one. If you really want just a SS, the labor to have the LBS re-dish should be half that or less.

Don't forget new BMX (single ring) chain ring bolts, or spacers. Plus the freewheel itself.

$100
$5
$15

Redish - That'd take care of the matching problem. I don't worry about matching tires or wheels on my fix.
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Old 07-28-05, 08:12 AM
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You're in Madison? Not too far from Ben's in Milwaukee, or is that like a 2 hr drive?
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Old 07-29-05, 12:05 AM
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There are tons of shops in Madison that can help you out (Yellow Jersey, Haacks, Budget Bike, just to name the few I can think of off the top of my head from 1500 miles away).

I converted my Colnago to single-speed for less than $30 total. The largest chunk of that was the freewheel. I didn't have to redish the wheel. All I needed was the freewheel, 3 spokes, new brake cable housing, and new brake cable.
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Old 07-29-05, 12:18 AM
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Switched to fixie by getting a Van Dessel flip flop for $114 shipped (they raised prices a bit recently) bought a front wheel at the local co-op for $8. Track cog/lock ring for about $30 total. So far no problems (other than a sudden rash of flats)

Last edited by nolageek; 07-29-05 at 09:15 AM.
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Old 07-29-05, 01:35 AM
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Fixie or SS?
__________________
Originally Posted by CardiacKid
I explained that he could never pay me enough cash for the amount of work I had put into that bike and the only way to compensate me for it was to ride the hell out of it.
IRO Angus Casati Gold Line
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Old 07-29-05, 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by monogodo
There are tons of shops in Madison that can help you out (Yellow Jersey, Haacks, Budget Bike, just to name the few I can think of off the top of my head from 1500 miles away).

I converted my Colnago to single-speed for less than $30 total. The largest chunk of that was the freewheel. I didn't have to redish the wheel. All I needed was the freewheel, 3 spokes, new brake cable housing, and new brake cable.
Good old Haacks, they went out of business about 8 years back - shame to see. I always remember a full fleet of schwinns in that place. Its now occuppied by Willy Bikes.
I know all the shops, but wanted to get a rough estimate. It sounds like I would need a new rear wheel (150 bucks). Im not sure on the ss or fixie, I intend to add it to my fleet of commuter bikes which I ride hard and fast. So what would give me some zip and performance - but would also be cool for around town.
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Old 07-29-05, 08:00 AM
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Nikos
save your self a trip to Milwaukee or even to Willy
Check out Revolution Cycles on Atwood, next door to the Barrymore
they specialize in this sort of thing
I was in there late winter/early spring and a guy came in to get a second set of rims
Rev Bikes had built up a fixie (not sure if it was SS or freehub) for this fellow for winter commuting. He had the whole thing done (including frame) for little $$

They might have wheel options outside of the high prices ones

The folks there are way cool with getting old bikes going again and stuff like that
they can probably help better than a place that specializes in fleets of new bikes

just my thinking
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Old 07-29-05, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by nikos
It sounds like I would need a new rear wheel (150 bucks). Im not sure on the ss or fixie, I intend to add it to my fleet of commuter bikes which I ride hard and fast...



Reason that you should figure out whether you want a ss or a fixie is that if you just want a ss, then you can easily remove the freewheel on your old wheel and re-dish it for a ss freewheel, np. But if you're going to want a fixed gear, then you're going to want to get a new rear wheel. The price difference between the two operations is significant, as is the amount of energy/labor involved.

Maybe you should just re-dish the existing rear wheel, and then decide if you'd actually like to go the whole fixed route. New fixed rear wheels are costly for something you may or may not decide to use.

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Old 07-29-05, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by nikos
Im thinking of swapping out my fuji royale to a single speed, but what can I expect to pay for a new rear wheel and should I think about matching it in the front.

Am I missing something here? Doesn't your bike take a thread-on freewheel? Buy a cheapo BMX freewheel and redish a bit if necessary and there is no need for a new rear wheel.
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Old 07-29-05, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Sigurdd50
Nikos
save your self a trip to Milwaukee or even to Willy
Check out Revolution Cycles on Atwood, next door to the Barrymore
they specialize in this sort of thing
I was in there late winter/early spring and a guy came in to get a second set of rims
Rev Bikes had built up a fixie (not sure if it was SS or freehub) for this fellow for winter commuting. He had the whole thing done (including frame) for little $$

They might have wheel options outside of the high prices ones

The folks there are way cool with getting old bikes going again and stuff like that
they can probably help better than a place that specializes in fleets of new bikes

just my thinking
Funny - Rev Cycles is my bike shop of choice. I called and talked to Jeff yesterday about different options, those guys are great. Ill take the bike in and go over the options.
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