treadmarks

So I've been riding fixed gear exclusively for the last 3 years. Just moved back to CA and I want to purchase a road bike for distance riding etc. I'm so used to fixed gear however I dont know what to shop for and am considering outfitting an old frame (I have a nice peugeot laying around) with contemporary parts. What do y'all think? Anybody else trapped in between two worlds like this or can knock some road sense into me? Thanks a lot...

bitingduck

The thing that hangs you up will be rear dropout spacing, but with a steel bike you might be able to get it adjusted relatively cheaply.

voltman

Where in Cali are you?

noisebeam

Just get a the nicest roadbike that fits you budget and body. Coming from fg makes no difference.
Al

caloso

A lot of folks have done just that.

Check out the C&V forum for a thread called "Modern Components On A Vintage Frame?"
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...+vintage+frame

One of the big issues is frame spacing. I had to had the rear triangle of my vintage steelie "cold set" to accept a modern 130mm rear hub. But good luck! It's a fun project.

marqueemoon

I wouldn't bother with the Peugeot unless:

• you have most of the parts already
• it's not french threaded

Craigslist is your friend.

caloso

Oh yeah! I forgot about the French threading.....

Monument Man

Unlike building up a fixie, building up a roadie is a more elaborate and expensive project. the brakes, shifters, gears, derailers, etc all cost a lot of money and you'll probably find it's cheaper to buy a full up bike than build one yourself. i'm building a fixie right now and it's a better situation. buying a used bike on ebay or craigslist is a great way to find a cheapie if you're worried about cost.

of course if you're looking for the thrill of the build, have a blast. there's some really great threads on the road bike forum detailing some member's custom bike builds.

MrCjolsen

Going from fixed gear to a road bike is a touchy subject. Few road bikes can match the zen of a fixed gear.

The thing about fixed gear is that after you do it, nothing is as it seems. Bikes that I once coveted are now as interesting as a Democratic presidential candidate (at least from this century). And bikes that people on this forum might consider garage sale junk are now the coolest rides around to me.

When I traded my Trek 1000 for a used Surly crosscheck, the one thing I didn't like about the bike was that it had a Winwood carbon fork. "I don't allow carbon fiber on my property" I would half-joking tell people. For now, I've covered up the Winwood logo with a "One Less Car" sticker. Eventually I'll replace it with a "proper" steel fork. BTW, the Surly weighed 22 pounds when I got it. Now it weighs 25 pounds. And I totally do not care, either.

Stick with steel. Preferably vintage. Touring or cross bikes are good. The Peugot is fine if the frame is clean. Try some out-of-the-box thinking like moustache bars or bar end shifters. Don't worry about gearing or weight. You'll shred your counterparts on hills after riding fixed gear for three years.

And coasting will be a very strange sensation. But only for a little while.

treadmarks

yeah i'm still debating the options... its been tough to choose. All my road friends tell me carbon is the way to go and that steel will kill me over distances + in the city (though I'm not planning on too much urban riding... plus I'm used to the fixie!) For any of those out there... any major disadvantages in the ride between older steel frames and the newer generation of bikes?

MrCjolsen

I don't think steel will "kill you over the distances" like your friends tell you. Carbon has some advantages over steel in that it's lighter, but also dampens road vibration while also being more stiff. Great things to have in a racing bike. But I think comfort wise they are at least equal. Though, I've never ridden a carbon frame (the cost makes test-riding one at an LBS pointless)

The thing is that if you have the money for a carbon frame, then you have the money to have a steel frame custom built. I don't know where you are in California, but if you are in the north, Steve Rex in Sacramento has a really good reputation. His frames start at around $2200. There's also Rivendell and a few others as well.

One thing to keep in mind too, is that you want the geometry (including cranks, Q-factor and even the saddle and pedals) to be as similar (if not exactl the same) between your fixed gear and your road bike. My two bikes are radically different. Going from one to the other is often difficult for the first few miles. I've consdiered ordering another 60cm Surly Crosscheck frame and building it up as a fixed gear so that my two bikes are almost identical except for the gearing.

jyossarian

Newer steel bikes might be a touch lighter, but they'll probably be compact frame sizes compared to older frames that had maybe 2 in. of seatpost showing and the h-bars were level w/ the saddle. BTW, even if the Peugeout uses french threading, it just becomes a challenge to find french threaded parts. Do a search on french threading cuz there's been tons of discussions regarding this subject and where to get bb's, what the spacing is, etc.

rollsroyce

I think it depends on what kind of fixies you rode/ride.

I've also made this transition recently after riding primarily track bikes (fixed & brakeless) every day for about 5 years (messengering.) With track bikes I appreciated vintage steel, especially vintage italian steel, so I ended up building an 80's Ciocc with mostly period-correct campagnolo components. Its only got a six speed rear and two chainrings up front, but going from one-speed to about 8 different gear combos is quite a jump. I've done 20-60 mile rides in Portland (sort of flat), SF (hilly as sh*t), and Austin (hilly), with roadies on carbon frames and many more gears, and didnt feel the need for any more gears. But then again, I logged 10+ miles a day on my track bike working.

Also, I find that lugged steel road frames are more in-line with my aesthetic sensibilities. Fixie riders ride them for many reasons: reliablility, durability, perhaps fashion/trend, etc, but one of the most appealing reasons is often simplicity, both mechanically and aesthetically. Simply put, good quality lugged steel road frames look like track frames, so the transition was natural for me. Downtube friction shifters are simple, reliable, and effective. I've used brifters, and they work/feel great, but I'm a little intimidated at the mechanical complexity of them. I dont want to have to rebuild one. Hell I'm used to not having anything on my handlebars but tape. Anyhow, uh yeah, vintage steel road frames are a nice and easy transition into the dark dark world of road riding.

rollsroyce

Distances?
Most of my buddies that tour, and I mean 1500+ miles, ride steel frames.

in the city?
You dont wanna be riding a carbon bike in the city do you? locking up? dodging cars? potholes? jumping curbs? thieves? I feel like if I rode anything but steel in the city, it would get destroyed. In fact, I had an aluminum cannondale track and destroyed the frame in 3 months.

redfooj

With this in mind, go with Shimano, cuz Campy is loud as hell! The buzzing hub kills me

operator

I don't know where you heard that. Fixed gear is perfectly fine for long distance rides. You can make this moreso by putting on a flip/flop and freewheeling addon.

lebowitz

I ride 80's Miayata Japanese steel for my fixed gear and my road bike. While I haven't ridden a carbon bike, I can say that anything the city throws at them, I don't expect these bikes to destruct any time soon. The dampening ride quality of steel over aluminum is the main factor for me and I can't see myself riding Al before I get under 175 (currently 203).