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Converting Standard Racer To Fixie

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Converting Standard Racer To Fixie

Old 09-10-06, 02:07 PM
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Converting Standard Racer To Fixie


Hi all,

I have recently been given a new racer by a friend and have decided to convert my old one into a fixie. It is a Giant OCR 4 (https://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030...6&model=10252).

My main concern though is the fact that it has vertical dropouts, which as far as I know can be a bit of pain when wanting to convert it? This could be easily resolved by getting a rear mech hanger though I was told? (https://www.wiggle.co.uk/default.aspx?cat=cycle)

Another question is which hubs are the best to get at a reasonable price? Up to this point I think I would probably go with goldtec, as I have heard that they can actually last a while. But getting a front and back one would cost me a good £130 (https://www.betd.co.uk/product_list.asp?CategoryID=15)

Does anybody have any advice on what would be best to do? Does one require an expensive front hub or is the back one more important?

I would be grateful for any advice.
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Old 09-10-06, 02:10 PM
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if you actually manage to do this, it'll look like a porche with a civic body kit hot glued on.
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Old 09-10-06, 02:13 PM
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Got any constructive advice or you saying its not possible?
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Old 09-10-06, 02:13 PM
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check sheldon browns website, he has comprehensive info on conversions, also try searching this forum- many people have asked the same question and the answers aren't about to change anytime.

for vertical dropouts you can't run a tensioner, best options are magic ratio (again, do a search) or the white industries eno hub.

best of luck
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Old 09-10-06, 02:14 PM
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sell the giant and use the money towards a fixed gear
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Old 09-10-06, 02:15 PM
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Eno Hub
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Old 09-10-06, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by GetOutOfNJ
if you actually manage to do this, it'll look like a porche with a civic body kit hot glued on.

if the ocr 4 is a 'porche' then it is damn good value..
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Old 09-10-06, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by salmonchild
for vertical dropouts you can't run a tensioner, best options are magic ratio (again, do a search) or the white industries eno hub.
I thought the point of a tensioner was so that you could use a frame w/ verticle dropouts.
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Old 09-10-06, 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by jjvw
I thought the point of a tensioner was so that you could use a frame w/ verticle dropouts.

will work for ss but not fixed.
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Old 09-10-06, 02:52 PM
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It is, but only for a single speed with a freewheel. You can't run one with a fixed gear, because you would screw everything up when you backpedaled.

EDIT: Somebody beat me to it.
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Old 09-10-06, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Placid Casual
It is, but only for a single speed with a freewheel. You can't run one with a fixed gear, because you would screw everything up when you backpedaled.

EDIT: Somebody beat me to it.
I knew that too. Silly me.
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Old 09-10-06, 03:07 PM
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Also, you don't need to buy a new front hub, your old one will work just fine. If the parts you have on there are all in decent shape you should be able to salvage pretty much everything but the rear wheel.

If you go singlespeed you should be able to keep your old hub and use a chain tensioner, but if you want to go fixed on that frame you'll need an Eno eccentric hub (someone else already mentioned it) in order to adjust chain tension.

Read this first, in case you're too lazy to search for it (apparently most people are) https://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html and then ask questions.
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Old 09-10-06, 04:08 PM
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probably not worth converting. Vertical dropouts means you'll need to find the magic gear ratio, as others pointed out, and your rear triangle is almost certainly not spaced 120mm (I'm guessing the bike is a 24 or 27 speed), which will make getting your chainline straight a pain in the ass. It could be done, but you would probably need to spend a bit of money to do it. If you really want a fixed on the cheap the best thing to do is to find an old 10 speed frame with vertical, I mean horizontal, dropouts, 120mm rear triangle and replace the rear wheel, bb, crankset, and chain.

Last edited by egbert; 09-10-06 at 07:15 PM.
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Old 09-10-06, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by egbert
and your rear triangle is almost certainly not spaced 120mm (I'm guessing the bike is a 24 or 27 speed), which will make getting your chainline straight a pain in the ass. It could be done, but you would probably need to spend a bit of money to do it. If you really want a fixed on the cheap the best thing to do is to find an old 10 speed frame (vertical dropouts, 120mm rear triangle) and replace the rear wheel, bb, crankset, and chain.
disregard this part it is inaccurate.

Buy an eno hub or sell the whole thing and get something easily convertible or already fixed.
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Old 09-10-06, 07:10 PM
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sell it and buy something appropriate for the project.
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