jhaber

Here is my current bike:


I have had it for about a year and really like riding fixed. I have been thinking for the past while that I would really like a new bike but being a student cash is tight. [ps I know I have too much slack on the chain]

The main reasons I want a new bike:

I want a frame that fits, this one is too big.
This bike is a conversion and the brake that came with it worked really poorly so I took it off. I would like a bike where the front brake works well. I bought a new brake off nashbar (105) but it didn't reach the rim of this wheel.
The bike is heavy.
I don't know if I trust the suicide conversion.

So I thought I would save up some money and get a new rig all at once next fall. But, now I am starting to think maybe I can just upgrade part by part. Then I start thinking I should just make do with what I have and save cash

So if I guess I have three choices and need help deciding.

1) Wait it out, get a new bike when I have a lot of money saved up and do it all at once
2) Wait it out, just stick with what I have and be happy
3) Upgrade bit by bit

I was thinking about option 3 today and went to talk to a guy at a local bike shop asked about building up new wheels. I think wheels would be a great place to start (am I right?) although I am not sure if this frame will fit 700c wheels. If I do for a new wheel set I have to pick the hub / rim combo and for rims I think I should go for something worthwhile like mavic open pros and then pick a hub that will deal with weather. I know dura ace hubs are super smooth but I have read here they are not sealed and as such require maintenance which I want to avoid. So I was thinking open pros laced to forumla hubs.

I need help because I am confused. What do the people of the bike forums think I should do. Thanks a lot for the help I have been trying to read this forum for months and getting to know what is what and now I think I know enough to take the next step in terms of bikes.

IllSpecialist

Save up your pennies and cop something new. Ride what you have for now and the reward shall pay off.

There will no feeling like that one you get when you have a nice grip of cash in your hand and walk into your LBS and say "I'll take that '08 leftover in my size for 15% off please''.

Then you'll ride off into the sunset on your brand new ride.

jhaber

I'm not sure I will ever get a complete bike. If I do save it will be for a bike I part out and get built up.

I_luv_hooters

I started with a conversion. It was a schwinn. Then I upgraded it bit by bit. When I was finally done I had a 1000 dollar bike... but it was still just a heavy schwinn and i wasnt really happy. So I rode it and started over with a cool track frame (IRO). I then built up the IRO track frame bit by bit. Eventually I had another 1000 dollar bike but I was very happy. My point is dont do what i originally did, dont put lipstick on a pig. Start over with a frame that you admire. The rest will come after that. It wont take as long as you think. Then you can sell your conversion to buy some nice extras.

ThunderChunky

OP you're scaring me. no brakes, no clips, and suicide hub? please run a brake with a suicide hub. if the cog failed to hold, you are in serious ****. it worries me that people are getting into fixed without knowing a proper (safe) way to go about it.

jhaber

Those pedals are clipless (half clip/half plateform). As I said the brake that I had that fit the bike (reached the rim) didn't stop the bike at all. I realize the conversation can be unsafe and thats why I am thinking of the new wheel set. Its not a lack of knowledge of safety that is making my bike the way it is.

jhaber

bump sorry

dayvan cowboy

I'm sure you'll be able to find a brake somewhere that would work on that.

frankstoneline

Put a brake on, if you need a long reach caliper I have an extra one I can send you. PM me if your interested.

Build your own

I guess upgrading piece by piece is not a bad way to go since your low on cash(you can always transfer them to a better frame later)but keep in mind that a handbuilt set of wheels with formulas and open pros is probably gonna be $300.That's only $50 less than a new kilo in the right size(you said your frame was too big) and the brake that you have will fit on it too.

sp00ki

#1

mattface 

find an old long reach Weinman center pull and slap it on there. If you've got a bike shop that's been around a while, they should have something like that. If you can find a bike coop, they will ahve a bin full of them.

Tnen save your money for a new bike. even bargain hunting you're unlikely to build up a complete bike around a used frame for less than the $300 you'd pay for a Windsor The Hour. OTOH, you could find a nice cheap used bike that fits. preferably one with 700c wheels, and buy a decent rear wheel for it for $100, depending upon how much you paid for the used bike you might do OK.

BLACK BIKE

The Tektro R556 is an excellent dual pivot long reach road caliper which has up to a 73mm reach. It's about $35 and should fit your bike fine, but measure to be sure. However, if you Switch to 700c wheels (which sould fit your frame and fork fine) an even longer reach brake may be in order, such as an older Weineman centerpull (Diacome makes a similar brake now). Either way, riding brakeless with a suicide hub is a tragedy waiting to happen. If you can't get a proper brake now, or if you're hessitating because you are uncertain about what size wheels you'll be running; you can throw on a cheapie BMX caliper for now. It won't look great, but it will stop you just fine.

As for the hubs: The Formulas are a great choice for the type of riding you do. They are sealed, tough, dont weigh too much, and they even look nice. Best of all, the $ you save on these vs Dura Ace can be applied toward much more worthwile upgrades; such as a new crankset or frame set. The open pro rims also have a great reputation when it comes to strength/weight ratio.

You might consider posting your frame in the trade section. Maybe you could swap it for one that's a better fit.

If you can stand the ill fit of your frame for a while longer, I'd say upgrade, until you end up with the bike you want. The alternative is to spend $300-$600 on a complete off the shelf bike which you will ultimately end up upgrading anyhow.

I personally went for the $500 off the shelf option, but I didn't have a fixed gear bike to begin with. As I upgrade the low end parts my bike came with, I will easily double or triple what I paid in the first place.

jhaber

thanks for all the help

I was thinking on my walk home today maybe a new brake and a new rear wheel??? Half the cost of a new wheel set and safer than the suicide.

jlin

i was going to say upgrade slowly part-by-part, but it seems like that wouldn't really solve your problems because the frame doesn't fit you correctly, and you wouldn't be happy with that. my opinion is if you really like biking and you can see yourself doing it for a while, it's well-worth it to invest in a new ride that you'll be happy with and keep around for a few years.

btw, parting it out, like a few others have said in on this thread, is in general as expensive if not more so if than finding a decent, brand-spankin new ride altogether.