fixed-gear conversion roll-call
 

this area seems pretty much dominated by track bike collectors (not meant in a derrisive manner, just callin' em like i see em). i have seen an endless amount of beautiful track bikes here, and that's cool, but there's something about a personally customized conversion that i think shows a bit more self expression (there's no real dogma for conversions) than your average full njs hotrod.
so if there are any like-minded folks out there with a nice conversion to show off, let's seem them.
i'll post mine as soon as i can get pictures.

I don't understand how conversions are more 'personally customized' than track bikes. Explain.

that's not what i said: "there's something about a personally customized conversion that i think shows a bit more self expression" is what i said.
there's a lot of dogma in the track bike world... there is none in the conversion world. lack of dogma alows for more self expression.
i also stated this with an "i think" attached... and requested that "like-minded" individuals respond. i understand that not everyone will have this point of view, but as i stated, this thread is for those that do. this is not intended to be a discussion on whether or not my point of view is valid.

i don't have pics at the moment, but mine's an early 80's Liotto conversion. Brakeless, chrome chopped drop bullhorns, brooks, chrome straight bladed fork, and some other misc. parts. Pics to come soon.

sounds rad. i can't wait to see it.

How does it have more "self expression" then any other type of bike? The way you build any bike to the way you ride the bike is a "self expression".

please re-read my previous posts more carefully. your perception of what i stated is very different than what i actually stated.

for the record, i love track bikes... i wish i could afford one. however, the realm of fixed gear conversions has a lot more possibilities and permutations than that of track-bikes, because you can make a fixed gear out of anything... folders, bmx bikes, etc. and there is no right and wrong with conversions, it is up to the rider to decide.

I've never posted a picture before. i hope this works. this is "Easy does it", my 1983 (i think) Fuji Espree conversion. IRO hubs laced to mavic cxp33's with conti toptouring 2000 tires. brooks green saddle. sugino 75 49t cranks, EAI 18t cog. crank bros. candy pedals. i love my bike.

I prefer the conversions too, I'm bored of the bling. (what's the tongue-in-cheek emoticon?)

I've just about finished my winter bike of doom. Are you asking for pics to be posted in this thread, or just to see more of them posted in the "show your fixed gear/ss sticky"?

that's sweeeet! i love fujis... i own a pink one myself... pics forthcoming.

post here... that way those interested in some inspiration on their conversion won't have to wade through 1000 track bikes.

So it's not really about a conversion having more of a personal touch it's about cost.. let's just be honest here.

disclaimer: I don't hate conversions or anything like that. I am just calling a spade a spade. not hurtfull in anyway - ALL bikes are rad!

The fixed gear gallery has a lot of conversions. I have 3 conversions, no track bikes/frames, soon to be 4 conversions.

I'll get pictures some time.

My head's capacity for vintage colnago track bikes and full NJS track bikes is full. No more please.

[165] said it best.

Okay, I'll bite. I think you're trolling.
I started posting here when I converted my first Schwinn World. I posted the pics, and went on to convert others (bikes and riders). I even came over from the mass media outlet bike forums where when I posted about riding fixed I didn't find any understanding, no LOVE.
I started with converting old lugged steel five years ago. I learned to build my own wheels, and set up my gearing, and ride. I think that is paying my dues so I can ride a track bike or two, or three, maybe four. I still ride the conversions too. I have two for winter riding and one for wet riding, some of the bling I like to keep nice. I've also converted two Cannondales to single speed (vertical drops not condusive to fixed). I don't know if I speak for many or a few.
I feel/think you oughta pay your dues, just me.
I still like riding my conversions, I enjoy them more and can't get rid of them, I've scraped my knuckles on them, my blood's in them, I sweated over them. But when I want to do something stoopid I climb on the Pista or the GTB clip in and ride brakeless, the response is amazing, the speed is fun too, and I've upgraded them too, but it was the conversions that got me here.
As far as "Dogma?" What are you talking about? I have been on the recieving end of a lot of sneers, like my ride wasn't good enuff. It wasn't enough that I was fixed, and pushing a big honking gear (my first fixies were 52/53 engagement rings to a 15 or a 16 cog). I suppose my age had something to do with it, like what's an old man doing on a fixie. There's just as much dogma in coversions as there is in any other form of riding. But you know what? I love coming up on those full kit boys, sucking their wheel for a while, as they tire, I come around and just dust them up, and I can do that on any bike, track or conversion.

<So it's not really about a conversion having more of a personal touch it's about cost.. let's just be honest here.>

it's really annoying that you posted this. you obviously have not read or considered my previous posts carefully. please do so, and if you wish, post something constructive.
i have stated my intent here clearly, please do not attempt to undermine it.

<I am just calling a spade a spade>

so your personal perception is equal to absolute truth? you must be blessed!

are you gonna post a conversion or what?

No... I like braze ons for a bottle since it gets hotter than hell here... I like road geometry when I ride 30-60 hilly miles... I like a cheaper bike that I don't have to worry about locking up... and finally, I'd argue that an old Reynolds, Columbus, of higher end Tange tubeset simply rides better than most frames of this "me too" generation of off the shelf "track bikes" that sell for around $500 new.

I have enough money and obsession tied up in my road racing bike... I got into riding fixed to get away from all that...

<Okay, I'll bite. I think you're trolling.>
i don't know what this means, but i'm glad you posted.

<I started posting here when I converted my first Schwinn World. I posted the pics, and went on to convert others (bikes and riders). I even came over from the mass media outlet bike forums where when I posted about riding fixed I didn't find any understanding, no LOVE.
I started with converting old lugged steel five years ago. I learned to build my own wheels, and set up my gearing, and ride. I think that is paying my dues so I can ride a track bike or two, or three, maybe four. I still ride the conversions too. I have two for winter riding and one for wet riding, some of the bling I like to keep nice. I've also converted two Cannondales to single speed (vertical drops not condusive to fixed). I don't know if I speak for many or a few.
I feel/think you oughta pay your dues, just me.>

that's great man... it sounds like you have really put your heart and soul into this, it must have been great fun. do you have any images you can post? i'd love to see some of your bikes.

<As far as "Dogma?" What are you talking about?>

i keep reading about the "rights" and "wrongs" in riding/building a track bike. not to mention the dissing of anyone who steps outside them. i say do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

<There's just as much dogma in coversions as there is in any other form of riding.>

i don't agree personally, but if you'd like to elaborate, i'd be interested to hear your point of view.

<But you know what? I love coming up on those full kit boys, sucking their wheel for a while, as they tire, I come around and just dust them up, and I can do that on any bike, track or conversion.>

hahaha! word!

that's interesting. i keep hearing stuff like that from roadies in bike shops. i think it's really cool that people are finding their way to fixed gear riding in that way.

can you post any pics?

I think conversions and other nontrack fixies are more practical in the real world.

Jesus H Christ, sometimes the internet sucks.

That said, I hope the color of my bar tape reflects the beauty and passion and creativity of my fragile little soul.

<Jesus H Christ, sometimes the internet sucks.>

why? you got a slow connection? lol

<That said, I hope the color of my bar tape reflects the beauty and passion and creativity of my fragile little soul.>

uh... i don't see a conversion in your post. if you want us all to benefit from the fruits of the creativity of your fragile little soul, post a photo.

I've found that cost is an issue for most, not all, conversion riders.
I know a bunch of people that I work with who all recently converted to riding fixed and each and every one of them rides a conversion with as many cheap used parts packed onto the frame as possible. It's great that old bikes are getting new life and that people are riding, that's the important thing. But I also think that many people who ride track bikes appreciate the absolute simplicity of them, as stripped down as possible...no derailleur hangers, brake holes, cable guides or those fugly vertizontal drops. Also the geometry on conversions can be aesthetically horrifying: huge gaps between the rear wheel and seatpost, rear-sloping top tube, lax angles, etc.
But, like I said, at least people are riding.
I mean, I had a custom fixie frame built (this is 4 years ago and this is still my only bike) and I knew nothing of angles/track geometry.
So I got a frame that handles like an 18-wheeler: super-long wheelbase, shallow seattube angle, HUGE head tube (it was 11 INCHES before I chopped it) and a sloping top tube that makes the bike look slow. And when I had it built I wasn't sure if I'd be riding fixed forever so it's also got all the cable guides, braze-ons and that god damn derailleur hanger! AND to put the icing on this aesthetic abortion I ride a front brake!
Ok, I'm rambling, but to sum up it seems to me, and remember this is a huge generalization, it seems to me that many people who ride conversions are new (2-3 years) to the fixed gear world and as time goes on their tastes get more refined and they wind up getting a track frame.
I'm curious...anybody out there been riding a conversion for over 5 years?

Some people ride a conversion because they don't want to deal with crazy toe overlap, especially on smaller frames. Toe overlap on a 53cm or smaller frame is the major issue for me. On a track this isn't really an issue, but lets face it, i bet many of you don't ride on the track anyway...hell the closest one to me is near 3 hours.

You can get a good conversion frame often for under $150 where a cheap track/FG frames starts around $380ish (think surly). Sucks when that is stolen.

Also, if you are riding a conversion, it is probably an older frame and thus likely will not have water bottle, brake/shifter, or eyelet braze-ons anyway. Just a derailleur hanger, which is easily removable.

I would say atleast for me, the only major negative of riding a road frame is using a track tensioner which just doesn't seem to quite fit right...although they usually work. I fear the dropout eating axle-bolt.

<I've found that cost is an issue for most, not all, conversion riders.>

this is true. although i like that... i think limitations force you to be more creative. i have screenprinted

<I also think that many people who ride track bikes appreciate the absolute simplicity of them, as stripped down as possible...no derailleur hangers, brake holes, cable guides or those fugly vertizontal drops. Also the geometry on conversions can be aesthetically horrifying: huge gaps between the rear wheel and seatpost, rear-sloping top tube, lax angles, etc.>

that is the real beauty of track bikes. they really are utilitarian works of art. the challenge to the conversion builder is to be able to spot the right qualities for their sensibility/aesthetics/use as opposed to being able to buy it off a website.

<But, like I said, at least people are riding.
I mean, I had a custom fixie frame built (this is 4 years ago and this is still my only bike) and I knew nothing of angles/track geometry.
So I got a frame that handles like an 18-wheeler: super-long wheelbase, shallow seattube angle, HUGE head tube (it was 11 INCHES before I chopped it) and a sloping top tube that makes the bike look slow. And when I had it built I wasn't sure if I'd be riding fixed forever so it's also got all the cable guides, braze-ons and that god damn derailleur hanger! AND to put the icing on this aesthetic abortion I ride a front brake! >

that does sound bad, but hey the experience took you somewhere, and that's what matters... your better for it.

<Ok, I'm rambling, but to sum up it seems to me, and remember this is a huge generalization, it seems to me that many people who ride conversions are new (2-3 years) to the fixed gear world and as time goes on their tastes get more refined and they wind up getting a track frame.>

that's true for some, but i'm not sure that makes them more refined in general... refined into a certain mold of thinking, definitely.

<I'm curious...anybody out there been riding a conversion for over 5 years?>

yep... me, with no end in sight. i may get a track bike some day, but only if i can keep the conversion.

good points all. thanks for posting a pic... that's nice, what kind of frame is it?

1971 Nishiki Comp...later became Super Comp/Competition i think....kinda rare. 70's frames are often very simple as most cables were attached with metal clampesq thangs. Since stolen, but i feel it will return to me sooner or later. Surly hubs+ma3 rims=not so expensive and high quality. Old Sugino cranks look like campy and work just as well for street use atleast.

<that is the real beauty of track bikes. they really are utilitarian works of art. the challenge to the conversion builder is to be able to spot the right qualities for their sensibility/aesthetics/use as opposed to being able to buy it off a website.>

i agree with you here, but this statement ONLY applies to off-the-shelf track bikes. many people on here with track bikes started with a track frame and thoughtfully built it up, just as one would with a conversion. money issues aside, it takes time and effort to locate parts for either a conversion OR a fully njs equipped whip.

me, i have a conversion AND a track bike, both built up by me. the conversion is nice if i have to lock it up for a long time, but i ride the track bike to work every day because i like the tighter geometry and higher bottom bracket.

here you go: nishiki conversion and schwinn madison.

killsurfcity you said it yourself that you want a track frame and wish that you could afford one. So why the argument?

I don't care what type of bike you ride just be honest with yourself. You started the thread by saying there is more self expression in the type of bike that you ride - that's offensive - why be a separatist? enjoy all bikes - while you are at it enjoy everything.

I am just stirring things up when i should really be doing some work.

The funny thing is, my track frames (the ones I just bought) were cheaper than my conversion... it -can- be done.