Wallybud

Hey everyone

Pretty much wanted a bike, picked up a cheap free spirit on Craigslist, tore it apart, and am building it into a single speed

I have absolutely no knowledge of how bikes work or how to size and pick parts. I have been doing a ton of research and watching video etc. so I've got some general understanding now but no real knowledge haha

I stripped the entire frame and fork with paint stripper. Sanded it with 80grit and smoothed it a bit with steel wool.
I put three light coats of metal primer with some wet sanding along the way
4 coats of base (hunter green satin).
Just finished 3 coats of matte clear coat.


Have been letting the frame and fork dry for a day or more sometimes between coats and I'll try and let the bike cute now for another week if I can

I guess I'll keep this thread as my build thread and ask questions elsewhere if I can't find the answers

Wallybud

Currently letting the clear coats cure

Wallybud

looking to see if anyone can tell me what the seat post size of my free spirit most likely is? 27.2/31.6mm are the two sizes the seat post I'm looking at comes in.

seau grateau

Definitely not 31.6, and almost certainly not 27.2. I'm guessing 26.something, but can't say exactly.

bmwjoe

It is best you measure it. I would get a cheap set of digital calipers at Harbor Freight and measure the post. You could also bring it to a bike shop and they will tell you.

Nice job with the paint. I think green looks great on bikes .


Ride Safe,

Joe

veganbikes

Looking at the bike I can tell you it takes a round seatpost beyond that, go to your LBS they should have a sizing tool. Let them help you order parts through them and get it set up. If they do a good job and you are of an age that is 21+ buy the mechanic who helped you some beer (or if younger some baked goods) as a thank you and things will work out great for you.

I love the paintjerb. That color green or something similar is probably the best color for a bike. I have two bikes in a similar green and had one previous to that.

SquidPuppet

Two things come to mind that possibly should have been addressed before painting.

1. Is the bike the right size for you?
2. What is the rear spacing and does/did it need a change to accommodate a single speed wheel?

Wallybud

Thanks for the replies guys! Had it checked out. It's 25.8mm. Have a seat post from Amazon and saddle on the way as well as some bars and tape.

Bike seems to be the perfect size for me (luckily) and no I hadn't checked the hub spacing in the back until I started looking at wheels ��...

they measure 120-125mm as far as I can tell. I'm looking at "coasties" wheels in Cali. I want a white rim and silver spokes (with a coaster brake obviously). There are a lot of flip flop hubs that will fit but as far as a rim that I like Origin8 is the closest. I just don't like the black spokes they come with...

Wallybud

!! Nice that's kind of what I'm going for except a brown/white/green theme ����. I was going to go black and green but everything I own is pretty much black so maybe some color ha

Wallybud

Saddle and wrap came today

Literally hate this site so far with the photo uploads working maybe 50% of the time and weirdly sideways...
on the plus side the origin8 saddle and pure fix wrap match perfectly!

DiabloScott

Only since you already mentioned you don't understand how bikes work: you can't get a coaster brake on a flip-flop hub - I'm not sure if you understand what you're doing here so figure it out before you order. You can certainly put a coaster brake wheel on that rear, or you can put a flip-flop hub on and use regular caliper brakes.

Also - Coasties is in WA, not CA.

Wallybud

Thanks. Yeah I know. That's part of he problem haha. Getting a plain single speed coaster hub wheel set from junky rusty bikes. They have a white set with silver hubs and spokes. Which is what I've been looking for. Both coasties and espresso are way too much money for me to spend on just wheels :/. Should be here in 7-10 days, I'll update. Thanks for the words tho if I hadn't known already that would have been key info!!

primo123

I turned an old 12 speed into a single speed. If you can get lucky like I did, I bought a parts bike that had a rear cassette wheel on it. I used the wheel with a single speed conversion kit from amazon. It has the different spacers to adjust chain line and a single cog. Worked great for me.

jgedwa

Starting with a Free Spirit frame is sorta like starting with a stone for soup

jim

Wspsux

Hey thats a Saab! I feel like to BMWJOE lol

bmwjoe

The two BMW bikes are right behind me :-)

Wallybud

Picked up my tires today from Niagara Cycle. Michelin Dynamic Classic. 700 x 28c
Tan walls should look good with the saddle and grips

Cyril 

IIRC, Things turned out really well in that story.
(Though you do have to rely on the kindness of strangers.)

Wallybud

Wheels came today. Coaster brake hits the frame. Will my LBS just bend it to fit or will this be an issue??

Wallybud

Just need to put the old pedals on and wrap the handlebars...

shirefolkbike

scrolling the pages today I found ur build along. did this have 27 wheels and ya convert to 700c? if so I'm doing this now .as well