Wilzer

As a surprise for my birthday, my wife brought one of my old road bikes to our LBS to be converted to a fixed gear. What they did was convert it to a single speed (free-wheel). They charged 245$ for the conversion and didn't return any of my old components (granted, they were 10 year old 105's with quite a bit of wear).

My questions are these: 1) Is there some ambiguity between the terms fixed gear and single speed which may account for this mistake? (keep in mind my wife knows nothing about bikes save for knowing that I was interested in a "fixed gear". She didn't even know the term single speed.) 2) Is it common practice to keep old components in a situation like this? 3) Should I pursue this further?

stevetone

Are you sure that that they did not install a hub that you can reverse ("flip") to a fixed gear side?

Also, I'd talk to the bike shop regarding the parts. Should have given them back unless instructed otherwise.

Steve

Pwnt

Single speed = freewheel
Fixed gear = gear is locked in. You pedal backwards, you go backwards ...and vice versa.

As far as you parts...check with the shop. Chances are if they were functional, someone held onto them.

maddmaxx 

Tell your wife that your pleased with what she did. Never let her read this.

Retro Grouch 

$245.00 sounds like a complete new rear wheel to me. I'd check to see if you have a flip-flop hub that is, or can be converted, to a fixed gear cog (vs. single speed freewheel) on the other side.

If your wife had brought that bike to me for the conversion, I definitely would have saved the old parts for you regardless of value. Crappy old parts can be thrown away at any time but they can only be saved while you still have them.

Oldpeddaller

What a brilliant present. Your good lady must have gone to a great deal of trouble to arrange this for you so it's probably a lot better if she doesn't find out you're not entirely pleased. Why not take the bike to the shop & ask them to fit a fixed sprocket in place of the freewheel (fixed sprockets are cheaper, but it's been paid for so you could either keep the freewheel or swap it with them) At the same time ask for your displaced parts back. Being suspicious, I'd check out the used bikes in their rack for any familiar parts first!

urbanknight

Even if it is, it would need a cog to work.

+1 Tell her you love it. Take it to the shop behind her back and have it swapped for a fixed gear. The bike shop should do this for free since the price should be about the same.

Wilzer

Guys and or gals

Thank you all for the great advice. I am now convinced that the bike shop either is ignorant or suspects us of being ignorant. This is why....

My wife sent me to the bike shop on my own to get the surprise. I walked in, mentioned my name and the mechanic rolled out my converted old bike and said, "Congratulations, you now have a fixed gear." I noticed immediately that as the bike rolled the pedals didnt move. I then asked, "Is this a flip-flop?". To which the mech. replied, "No." I was not sure what my wife arranged so without question I peddled home.

Here Ill interject that I appreciate the concern for my wife's feelings but she is most concerned with me getting what she wanted to give me and she knows without a doubt that I love the thoughtfulness and effort she put into this gift. Most of all I love her and am lucky to have her.

When I got home we discussed the situation and she showed me the receipt. It reads:

Fixed Gear

Chain $20
pully $20
spacer kit $28
Gear kit $22
Brake Levers $20
Bartape $10
Tube $5
Cranks $20

Labor $100



Now since this situation, I have educated myself a bit and I have discovered that about the only way to convert my bike to fixed is with an eccentric hub and that would necessitate a wheel built up around it. Am I close to correct and how much more of an expense am I looking at from the point Im at now?

DannoXYZ 

I usually install horizontal track dropouts when doing a fixie conversion. If your bike doesn't have it, then yes, you're looking a new wheel or a custom-built one in order to get the chain-tension adjustment. Otherwise, all those other parts can be carried over and used.

Yeah, and go get your old parts back. Ask to talk to the manager if needed.

wrk101

+1 Get your old components back. Check out ebay and I think you will be able to at least offset some of the cost of the conversion. I can't imagine a reputable shop throwing away your components.

If nothing else, these components would be useful if you came across an affordable quality road frame (which I see on our local C/L all the time).