Fixed Gear Advice
 

I have an 83 Fuji and I want to convert it to fixed gear. It needs a new wheelset. What wheelset is good for commuting yet cheap as well. Also need advice on how to do it.

Ty

This should have the info you need. Just don't say anything about a dremel tool.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=510358

for an 83, you'll need to either bend the seat stays to fit a modern width rim, OR have a custom wheel dished / spaced to fit into that frame.

And 83 fuji is also going to be a little wobbly for sprinting =) lol and don't forget about the possibility of pulling the axle out of the dropouts !!! ( one reason why I finally ditched my old school road bike fixie and got something else with horizontal track ends)..

Another problem with an 83 is that it is most likely made for 27" wheels instead of modern 700c, which means that if you get a new wheelset you'll end up with a bit of a gap for the downtube and IF you plan to run brakes you'll have to do some rigging for the pads to reach the brake surface of the rims...

Good luck !!!

Also, I was wondering if it was cheaper to convert to single speed or fixed gear because I am on a really tight budget.

Depends. If you already have the complete bike it will be cheepest to tune it up and ride it.

You can do a pretty cheep conversion to SS by removing the derailleurs/shifters/cables and installing the chain on just one freewheel cog of the existing freewheel.

Fixed gear will be the most difficult because you'll either need to buy a new wheel or dish and respace the existing one to use in a "suicide" configuration.

It doesn't say where you live but if you are in a big market go on Craigs list and find the cheapest fixed/free wheel there is but check the hub to make sure the threads are good. Find one with a cog at least and maybe a SS freewheel on it as well.

Your rear spacing is probably 126mm and the wheel you get is 120mm. No problem, use 2 washers from the hardware store to fill the gap.

Put the wheel on and pick one of your chainrings to use. You don't have to remove any unwanted parts yet.
Ride it fixed or SS and if you like it then take off all the unwanted parts, get some really tight black jeans.

Your front brake is no problem since you won't change that wheel and the rear is a non issue since you will like fixed so much you won't use a rear brake.

I believe that is the quickest and easiest way to 1 speed happiness.

You can do it right for $139.95 plus $25 shipping, I have a set and have absolutely no complaints.

http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=50

I have these wheels on an old Schwinn, the rear is 120mm wide so it should fit in your old bike, they are great wheels, you can probably find just the rear wheel on eBay as well, which is all you really need and it will be a little cheaper but buying just the rear wheel isn't as good a value (although bikes with different wheels front and back are cool).

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRACK-FIXED-GEAR-SINGLE-SPEED-WHEELS-WHEELSET-27-RARE_W0QQitemZ380108535383QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item380108535383&_trksid =p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Check the links posted above, you'll find everything you need

you will also need a fixed cog, lock ring, and a 3/32 pre stretched track chain , assuming that you can get a straight chainline with your existing crank and either your little or big chain ring, although you should read what Sheldon Brown has to say about crank arm length:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/cranks/130-single.html

(a lot of fixie riders use 1/8" chains, but you need have a cog and chainring for 1/8" chain if you want to go that route)
and you should prob. read this too:

http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-...onversion.html

where do you live? is there a community bike garage in your city? just take your bike down there and they will tell you what you need to get and help you install it

140$ for a set of good rims and fixed hubs? Can you say great deal! wow...Its probably a 160-175 after shipping and tax.

So, DirtDrop, all I would need to do is order those wheels, remove deraillers, brakes, and cables. Then add spacers, add new front brake and I am done?

Well also add rear chain ring. But what about the crank?

Spacers?

$139.95 + $25 = $164.95. There is no state sales tax unless they are in your state.

For that $25, the ship the wheels in separate boxes. They throw in rim tapes, a cheap cog and a lock ring. They're the truest rims I've ever owned. I didn't like the stickers, but they peeled right off.

They were on my PA10 until I converted it back to a geared bike.

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg

You may not even need a full wheelset.

If you've got 27" wheels, you can just get a 27" track rear wheel for $90-100, and then you can use your existing brakes. (You won't get bright shiny colors, but you can get a perfectly good wheel. They still make 27" tires, and 700c tubes fit just fine.)

The person who sells you the wheel(s) should be able to provide spacers so your wheel fits just fine and you won't have to reset the frame, and if you're capable of using a wrench, you can lock down the axle bolts tight enough that they won't go anywhere.

One issue you may face is getting a straight chainline, as your existing crank may not line up properly.

If it's not straight, you can either space the chainring with washers/spacers, or you can buy a new crank/bottom bracket that fits properly.

Good Luck!

It's easier to convert to single speed because you can still use your current rear wheel -- just get a single speed freewheel for it.

If you wanted to go to fixed, you'd need a new wheel built around a fixed gear hub, which has a lockring to prevent the fixed cog from unthreading.

I think you meant "hub" when you wrote "rim" above.

By 1983 most decent quality bikes had 126mm rear hub spacing and used 700C wheels.

Single speed/fixed hubs are usually able to accommodate a variety of OLD spacings by adding or removing washers from the axle.

I just did a fixed gear conversion on an '88 Paramount. Rear Spacing 126mm. I thought it was going to be easy. Bought a set of wheels from the biycycle warehouse (good prices) - rear hub was 120mm and I thought I could put a few spacers in to fit the frame but the hub axle wasn't wide enough. Finally took it in to the local bike shop and they presented me with 2 options:
1. Cold setting the frame to 120mm but the downside was that this was drastic and wouldn't get the chainline right on it either becuase they couldn't get the front chainring in close enough without running into clearance issues with the chainstay.

2. Replacing the 120mm Formula Hub with a 130mm Surley. They could remove some spacers and re dish the wheel. This allowed me to get a good chainline with my existing bottom bracket and crankset.

I chose the second option and I'm glad I did. It cost me an additional 140 bucks for the new hub and wheel build on the existing (unused) rim. I got a rear wheel made custom for my bike and the chainline is perfect. From what I've read a straight chainline is very important for safety's sake and you don't want to cut corners on that.
Good luck

Do I have to buy single speed specialty wheels or can I buy just any 700c by 25 wheels. I definetly need new wheels. I am on a tight budget so....

This is bassackwards, to spread a 120 or 126 mm rear end to fit a modern 130 mm freehub that you have to buy and then lock out the freewheeling capability of said hub.

You can buy fixed gear wheel sets with flip-flop 120 mm rear hubs that will slip right in with little or no cold-setting. Flip-flops are threaded for fixed gear on one side, single-speed freewheel on the other. Your local shop can order them for you, or you can buy online through any of dozens of online stores. I recommend NYCBikes.com and BikeIsland.com. Decent wheels can be had for $110-$200 plus shipping.

Chainline should not be a problem if you use a single-speed crank with short (108-112mm) bottom bracket spindle. BikeIsland has a nifty FSA crank with chainring for $40. A BB would be another $25-30.

Converting a fixie is about solving problems in the most direct way you can.