Stop converting bikes, it's not as simple as it sounds.
10-13-05, 06:52 PM
#101
like, really sloppy
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i agree with carelton.. i dont get why its pushing everyone over the edge.. you get a road bike... and put $40 bucks into it... you have a $40 fixed gear, if youre lucky... is this the beater forum?
i donnt think theres anything wrong with building up a fixed gear with a road frame.. but i never got the impression that is what he was talking about.
i donnt think theres anything wrong with building up a fixed gear with a road frame.. but i never got the impression that is what he was talking about.
10-13-05, 07:10 PM
#102
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i'll go ahead and say it -
My conversion was so easy, so cheap, and works perfectly.
125 bucks for a nice back wheel. i paid 15 for a set of real bullhorns and 15 for bar tape.
i haven't paid for anything other than tires and tubes in over a year and it flies. chainline, braze-ons, and 170mm cranks have never been a problem for me. neither have my horizontal dropouts.
i am not a bike mechanic.
putting my bike together was a project, but not a difficult one.
if you're riding a bike, you should be able to fix it yourself - pun intended.
My conversion was so easy, so cheap, and works perfectly.
125 bucks for a nice back wheel. i paid 15 for a set of real bullhorns and 15 for bar tape.
i haven't paid for anything other than tires and tubes in over a year and it flies. chainline, braze-ons, and 170mm cranks have never been a problem for me. neither have my horizontal dropouts.
i am not a bike mechanic.
putting my bike together was a project, but not a difficult one.
if you're riding a bike, you should be able to fix it yourself - pun intended.
10-14-05, 08:06 AM
#103
Elitist
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Originally Posted by onceinalifetime
if you're riding a bike, you should be able to fix it yourself - pun intended.
Please.
Dont' mistake not wanting to spend time & energy building & fixing a bike with not being able to.
READ AND COMPREHEND: What you failed to understand from my posts is that I DID SUCCESSFULLY build and maintain 6 converted fixed gears, probably more than most here (I said "most" not all).
Finally, if you have a converted fixie, then great. Hooooray, you! If you ride a bike that wasn't converted great. Honestly, the ONLY people that can REALLY comment are people who have built bikes on both frame types because they are the ONLY ones that have EXPERIENCED the difference. Right?
Let's move on. While you guys were getting upset here based on a RANT, there were hipsters, pista riders, white belts wearers, and spoke cards that were being neglected.
Move on people, let this d*mned thread die.
10-14-05, 08:31 AM
#104
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Originally Posted by carleton
Move on people, let this d*mned thread die.
10-14-05, 08:39 AM
#105
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Originally Posted by William Karsten
Deal with it. You set it in motion.
Well, I'll let you guys beat this horse. If you wonder how I feel about any of this, just refer to my previous posts.
Later,
C
10-14-05, 09:46 AM
#106
Senior Member
Originally Posted by carleton
Touché
Well, I'll let you guys beat this horse. If you wonder how I feel about any of this, just refer to my previous posts.
Later,
C
Well, I'll let you guys beat this horse. If you wonder how I feel about any of this, just refer to my previous posts.
Later,
C
I can't help it carelton. I just had so much fun building my conversion, and I'm having so much fun riding it, I can't help but crow about it. I agree some projects can turn into nightmares, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and taking the easy way out is no way to go through life.
I'm very pleased with my conversion, and proud of having built it myself, and just reading this forum let alone this thread should tell the story that I'm far from alone. So why on earth would those of us who love building and riding conversions want to keep quiet when someone has given us such a great opportunity to brag about them? And why wouldn't we want others to have such a rewarding experience. What possible good could it do to warn people against building their own conversions? Just less diversity in the bike world that's what. More Pistas, and fewer Schwinns. I like Pistas, but if you've seen one you've seen em all. Every conversion is different, a piece of art reflecting it's creator. Bikes don't have to come from factories or professional builders. Many nice ones do, but the ones we love the most came from the imagination, and heart of it's builder. Why shouldn't that builder also be the rider?
10-14-05, 11:50 AM
#107
Love me some Crown...
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When conversions have the posibility to be as easy as mine was, and as others were here, there's no reason NOT to do it.
I don't think you can put a price on the feeling you get of building something yourself. When I look at my conversion, I know it's not the prettiest bike in the world, but it's the first one I've built, and I love that about it, more than I could ever love some store-bought KHS Track, or Pista.
I'm actually a little surprised all this is coming from someone who's built so many bikes.
I don't think you can put a price on the feeling you get of building something yourself. When I look at my conversion, I know it's not the prettiest bike in the world, but it's the first one I've built, and I love that about it, more than I could ever love some store-bought KHS Track, or Pista.
I'm actually a little surprised all this is coming from someone who's built so many bikes.
10-14-05, 12:23 PM
#108
De-Couriered
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I think Im having far more troubles with my Razesa track bike then I ever did with my Schwinn Le Tour III.
Honestly, there is absolutely no reason to overlook conversions. If you can't do the work yourself have a local shop do it. The schwinn cost me $125 to buildup and performed very very well considering all the stuff I did to it. It carried me into battle for the fall and winter months last year without a complaint. It wasn't until It got run over by a van that I had any problems and that was rectified by a $90 wheel replacement before my unfortunate injury. Granted, I wanted something more "race worthy" so I bought the track frame, but as the Bostonians who know me can confirm, I have been riding less and less due to problems with the new ride.
$250 dollars later I am finally approaching a point where I can actually ride again. That's after dropping the $500 on the bike to get it on the road in the first place.
I am sorry Doomsday! (Schwinn) I didn't mean to forsake you! Shiny distracted me.
Honestly, there is absolutely no reason to overlook conversions. If you can't do the work yourself have a local shop do it. The schwinn cost me $125 to buildup and performed very very well considering all the stuff I did to it. It carried me into battle for the fall and winter months last year without a complaint. It wasn't until It got run over by a van that I had any problems and that was rectified by a $90 wheel replacement before my unfortunate injury. Granted, I wanted something more "race worthy" so I bought the track frame, but as the Bostonians who know me can confirm, I have been riding less and less due to problems with the new ride.
$250 dollars later I am finally approaching a point where I can actually ride again. That's after dropping the $500 on the bike to get it on the road in the first place.
I am sorry Doomsday! (Schwinn) I didn't mean to forsake you! Shiny distracted me.
10-14-05, 12:45 PM
#109
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Originally Posted by jquigley
I have to strongly disagree with this thread's parent. I can honestly say that "My conversion was soooo easy, sooo cheap, and works perfectly!" Maybe I'm a rare example of a conversion working out, but I'm highly suspect of that being the case.
Here was my setup: 1/ '70s Schwinn Traveler Frame (whole thing bought from Chicago working bikes for $60); 2/ spray paint ($30); 3/ $500 for wheels drivetrain and various replacement parts. I put the whole thing together by myself, never having done major mechanic work on a bike. I am an engineer, so that no doubt helped my cause, but still, this isn't complex work.
I spent about a month on this, and had access to a beautiful shop wherein I chopped off all cable guides, etc. and was able to do a nice paint job with the rattle cans. The frame looks like a million bucks. I loved restoring the frame, it brings a certain degree of joy to bring back a bike that I know has been through a lot. I like the feeling of breathing life into something.
The $500 was a major dent, but I was happy to pay that amount for good parts from a great bike shop (Yojimbos). After a month of careful consideration and painstaking work, the bike was done and it rides like an absolute charm. The thing is just beautiful, and for the price I feel as though it was a good deal. $600 dollars all told, for a frame that fits me wonderfully and feels like a racehorse on the road.
And again, the real meaning of the project for me was the restoration. I like working with my hands, and this project was really rewarding. This bike represents my first fixie, and I plan on doing another one next Spring or Summer. It's just great fun.
= JQ =
Here was my setup: 1/ '70s Schwinn Traveler Frame (whole thing bought from Chicago working bikes for $60); 2/ spray paint ($30); 3/ $500 for wheels drivetrain and various replacement parts. I put the whole thing together by myself, never having done major mechanic work on a bike. I am an engineer, so that no doubt helped my cause, but still, this isn't complex work.
I spent about a month on this, and had access to a beautiful shop wherein I chopped off all cable guides, etc. and was able to do a nice paint job with the rattle cans. The frame looks like a million bucks. I loved restoring the frame, it brings a certain degree of joy to bring back a bike that I know has been through a lot. I like the feeling of breathing life into something.
The $500 was a major dent, but I was happy to pay that amount for good parts from a great bike shop (Yojimbos). After a month of careful consideration and painstaking work, the bike was done and it rides like an absolute charm. The thing is just beautiful, and for the price I feel as though it was a good deal. $600 dollars all told, for a frame that fits me wonderfully and feels like a racehorse on the road.
And again, the real meaning of the project for me was the restoration. I like working with my hands, and this project was really rewarding. This bike represents my first fixie, and I plan on doing another one next Spring or Summer. It's just great fun.
= JQ =
Maybe Schwinn Travelers are the answer! I just converted mine and it rides like a freaking dream. The chainline is perfect, and has that lovely "burr" sound. I got a good deal on parts b/c my bf works at a bike shop (I spent about $250), which included a Brooks Finesse saddle, Miche track hubs, new 27" rims, Continental tires, Salsa chainring, Surly cog, Primo cranks, Shimano bottom bracket, Izumi chain, and Syntace bars. I will post pictures as soon as I download them. But I could have paid full price for not-as-blingy parts and still have had a wonderful working conversion.
10-14-05, 02:52 PM
#110
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Originally Posted by carleton
Touché
Well, I'll let you guys beat this horse. If you wonder how I feel about any of this, just refer to my previous posts.
Later,
C
Well, I'll let you guys beat this horse. If you wonder how I feel about any of this, just refer to my previous posts.
Later,
C
10-14-05, 03:07 PM
#111
Love me some Crown...
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But yet you keep posting.
Oh wait... We don't talk like that on this forum...
10-14-05, 08:28 PM
#112
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Originally Posted by dobber
You can drink the koolaid if you like, I'm prepared to make up my own mind.
Ooooh! Kool-aid! (GULP.)
10-16-05, 01:15 PM
#113
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Good conversion!
I got my Traveler converted for 40ish bucks.
Total to date expenditure on bike 80ish
next will be 25 dollar rear wheel. Not rocket science and I have plenty spacers.
Still 500 dollars cheaper than a Langster
I got my Traveler converted for 40ish bucks.
Total to date expenditure on bike 80ish
next will be 25 dollar rear wheel. Not rocket science and I have plenty spacers.
Still 500 dollars cheaper than a Langster
10-16-05, 05:37 PM
#114
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jquiqley
Beautiful conversion, it looks like a new purpose-built fixie!
It's heartening to see all these old bikes converted and used instead of languishing in garages and sheds collecting dust and rust. This is something that should be encouraged.
I like the SS/fixie scene because the people are creative and think outside the box, with some really unique machines as a result. Bikes as functional art, if you will. I just finished a Bridgestone MB-6 SS conversion and I made a chain tensioner, carving it out of a block of aluminum. It's fun to have something you "created" and can call your own, something nobody else has.
Beautiful conversion, it looks like a new purpose-built fixie!
It's heartening to see all these old bikes converted and used instead of languishing in garages and sheds collecting dust and rust. This is something that should be encouraged.
I like the SS/fixie scene because the people are creative and think outside the box, with some really unique machines as a result. Bikes as functional art, if you will. I just finished a Bridgestone MB-6 SS conversion and I made a chain tensioner, carving it out of a block of aluminum. It's fun to have something you "created" and can call your own, something nobody else has.
