Toebee

I bought this fixed gear bike off ebay after riding one that my friend has. I'm not much of a cyclist but I had such a good time on my friends bike that I had to check it out. I rode it for a few days and got a flat. Apparently I've got some weird sew on tires or something that are a nightmare and expensive to fix. My question is whether or not I should pay the $80 the bike shop wants to replace the tire or just buy new tires. They said at the bike shop it would cost around $300 for 2 new tires that aren't thread on - which is double what I paid for the bike in the first place. I'm not worried about spending the cash as much as I want to make sure it's the right thing to do. I've even thought of selling this bike on ebay without tires and investing in something else. I also have no idea what size, brand or anything to buy if I get new tires - and they weren't very helpful at the bike shop - they'd never heard of fixies and were annoyed I didn't want to buy a new ten speed. HELP!

Nice concours singlespeed conversion
Simple bike.measures 57cm seat tube center to center
57cm top tube center to center
15 by 42 3/16 chain
The standover is 32 3/4 inches
the wheels are vintage tubulars from 1985 I paid over $200 then
Wheels are not track hubs. High flange free hub thread on
The American classic seatpost is worth over $50 on its own.
Crank is adams AX this is pre dura ace circa 1980?
Totak bike weighs 21 pounds 8 oz

^oZ

Go to another bike shop. $300,- will get you the most expensive, professional, custom made dugast tubs. That's not what you want. Cheapies (which are fine) will be about €30,- each.

thatcher

or sell that wheelset n get clenchers which will be easier to deal with.

Toebee

Any advice on what clinchers I should get? I checked out ebay and found tons of stuff. How do I figure out what size?

mattface 

Yes tubular tires are a bit of a pain to deal with, but the cheapest thing you can do is buy a cheap tubie for about $20 at Nashbar or the like, but they are a pain to deal with when you get flats.

A better long term solution would be a new clincher wheelset, or lacing your existing hubs (if theya re worth the trouble) to new rims. That way you'll have a wide range of inexpensive tires to choose from, and patching a leak is a quick easy job.

painthawg

This may not help you decide but if you do decide to keep the tubulars and want a semi fool proof method of installing them yourself, just buy the tufo tape. I have ridden in some fairly technical crits using the tape. It doesn't get rid of the hassel of swapping out complete tires if you flat but it makes the gluing process much much simpler. And faster.

Aeroplane

I hate to sound harsh, but this is your problem: You blew a big wad of cash on a useless component. You have freewheel hubs laced to tubular rims, and now you say you don't want tubular rims, and want to run it as a fixed-gear. Try and sell them, and buy yourself a new wheelset with a proper fixed-gear hub and clincher rims.

Seriously. Sometimes, people...

ollyisk

i think he just copy/pasted the description from ebay or craigslist. i mean, if he knew they were tubulars, he'd know that they'd have to be glued on...i mean, i hope...

Toebee

Settle down. Or at least read what I read. I payed 150 for the whole bike. I cut and paste the quote from the guy who sold it to me on ebay. I'm here asking for help - not criticism. Be a dick on a different thread. I don't even know what the difference between these components is. I bought a bike on ebay, it's been converted to a fixed gear and it sounds like some pretentious bike guy (like yourself) sold me something I shouldn't have. Like I said - I'm not a cyclist I just thought my friends bike was fun so I bought one. The bike shop was lame, now you're being lame.

Seriously. Sometimes, people...

Toebee

Please give me some guidance. I've got a flat and I'm totally lost. Everyone I've dealt with has been condescending and useless to me.

eddiebrannan

ok toebee. you have tubular tires, sometimes referred to as sew-ups. they need to be glued on, the inner tube is sewn into them, and they're definitely more difficult to work with than clinchers, which nowadays are what the vast majority of bicycles are equipped with.

the thing is, the types of rims used for each set-up is incompatible, so to switch over to clinchers you'll need to change rims.

to do this you'd need to rebuild the wheel or swap it out entirely, built, hub, spokes and all.

this may be your best bet.

thre are cheap track wheelsets to be had, that will run you about the same as what you spent on your bike. $300 all in for a decent working bike is not too bad. you weill be able to make something back selling the tubular wheelset on ebay or craigslist or somesuch

i hope this helps. if there's anything you're still unclear about please feel free to pm or email me

Maracski

I really don't think $150 for a whole bike can be considered a "big wad" of cash.

OP, you should find a local bike store that will build you a new pair of clincher wheels, with a track type hub that is threaded for fixed. Make sure you measure the spacing between the rear drop outs (where the hub slides in) so that the shop knows what size hub to use. Track specific wheels are spaced 120mm, but an older rode bike like yours might be something like 126, though don't quote me on that number. There are also places to buy wheelsets online. Most will be machine built and not top quality. But if you get them online and bring them to your local bike shop to be tensioned and trued (another $40 or so) they'll be just fine for your needs. This might be your best bet if your local shop doesn't know what you're talking about. And somewhere around $150. Any shop should be able to true and tension a pair of wheels regardless of what kind they are. Just don't forget to measure the spacing or you'll end up with another problem!

The LT

if we knew where you were at we might even be able to recommend a specific shop for you to go to that could help you out

dutret

No matter where he is he should just order the formula/cxp33s.

Boss Moniker

^ Pretty much true.

Toebee, sorry about the other guys.. welcome to BFSSFG, we're dicks on all the threads. Many riders, especially track riders, prefer tubular rims/tires because they are lighter, smoother, have better cornering. But in general they flat more often (as you found out). I believe you can unstitch them, patch the tubes, and restitch, but it is a bit of an involved process and if they're flatting now, they're going to flat again. The best you could do is sell the wheelset, sans tires, on Craigslist/eBay. Also, your hub isn't threaded for a lockring, meaning if you're actually riding it fixed (sounds like you are), then if you apply too much backpressure you risk the cog threading off. Actual track hubs with reverse-threaded lockring prevent this.

You could get a decent/durable fixed wheelset for $150 online from Bens Cycle (google it), or eBay. Formula Hubs, CXP 33s or Alex rims are pretty standard, and they'd be fine for your conversion.

Aeroplane

You never said that in your OP: I'm not a mind-reader, especially not over the internet. It just came across as confusing.

Regardless of whether you think I'm a dick or not, my advice remains the same: Sell the wheels, buy some wheels with real track hubs and clincher rims. The bicyclewheels.com ones are pretty much the best you can do on a budget.

Sekt

While you're at it, find an LBS not staffed by arseholes. It'll make your life a whole lot more pleasant and both the long and short run.

mattface 

I think I gave you some good advice without an ounce of condecension. It's pretty much the same good advice most people are offering. Maybe you're being a bit too sensitive.