Originally Posted by GeraldChan
Why the conversion hate? A bike that get ridden is better than one that gathers dust.
As Sheldon Brown mentions on his website, the vintage bikes with their horizontal Campy or Suntour drop outs are perfect for FG usage. These types of bikes are great fun and a very nice complement to geared bikes. The frame are sweet riding and besides that's what the racers from the late 60's and early 70's did. Those who could not afford a true track bike just removed the shifters, derailleaurs and freewheels in the winter and spun on a 16 or 17 T cog and held it in place with red Loctite and a bb lockring ( some derisively refer to this as a suicide hub).
I don't recommend backpedaling as it is not good for the knees (unless you ride an "urban" ratio in the 50-60 gear inches). I prefer to keep BOTH brakes on and ONLY pedal in the forward direction; but then I'm an official old fart and ride FG for fitness and spin and NOT for "Urban Hipsterism" tricks, and never brakeless.
Gerry
PS A fixie conversion can easily be restored to vintage condition in less than an hour so what is the big deal? Now don't get me started on converting tubular tire equipped C&V bikes over to clinchers!
No hate from me, but after the dérailleur braze ons are filed off, for that 'clean look' it is tough to convert back. I have three sets of tubulars and one set of clinchers, all original, for my 80's Italian bikes. I ride mainly clinchers in AZ (too many thorns) and tubulars in MI. No problem with conversions, though I do hate seeing nice bikes ruined by removing braze ons.