So I've been jonesing for a fixie fix for at least a year now. I've got three very different geared bikes that all serve different purposes, but I really want to try fixed. I don't have a lot of dough to spend, and besides it makes sense to start cheap in case it turns out I don't ride it very much. I live in Central Vermont where flats are the exception, and all my friends think I'm crazy to want to ride a fixed bike.

Still I do, and to that end I've stripped all the parts off an old 10 speed I had leaning against the garage in preparation for a conversion. It's a nice looking frame, it has a lot of surface rust, but no pitting. It's ann Italian made frame Branded "Sprint", and looks to be early to mid 70s vintage. The lugwork is nice, not terribly ornate, not as plain as say a 70s Schwinn. The lugs and fork ends were chromed, but that is where the rust is the worty. A little work wth the sander last night revealed that the rust would come off very easily. The tube composition is unknown, but it feels fairly heavy. Maybe 6 or 7 pounds with the bottom bracket still in? It's currently stripped of everything but the bottom bracket. The grease in the headset felt like glue, and the bottom bracket is a bit crunchy, so it will need a good cleaning at least. The cottered crank has a 52 tooth ring on it. It looks cool in a retro sort of way, but it's heavy, and tall so I'm not sure if I'll use it. I'm planning to use the front Fiamme 27" wheel that's on it for now, but the back wheel is a worthless POC, so I'll get a 700c track wheel, and upgrade the front later if I want to. The brakes are Weinman center pulls, they seem clunky and heavy, so I'll probably try to get a decent long reach side pull for the front, and leave the back off.

I guess my biggest quandry is wether this frame will be worth the trouble to strip, prime and paint considering it's not terribly light. My paint plans are along the lines of flat black Rustoleum, and black and yellow reflective tape. If I decide to get fancy I might do some yelow detail work around the lugs.

Anyway what do you think? Is it worth the effort? and what is a good weight for an old steel road frame anyway.