who can do dropout conversion in Chicago area?
 

My apologies if this topic has been covered already.

It's been a while since I started working on a conversion project for my first fixed bike using a steel frame with vertical dropout. I've considered ENO eccentric hub, but I think I prefer changing the dropout permanently to a trackend. Does anybody know who can do this job in Chicago area? How much would that cost, apprximately?

Thanks for your help.

contact Marcus at Yojimbo's (www.yojimbosgarage.com) - he should be able to steer you in the right direction.

i am curious to how much this would cost also.

Benny - you can talk to Bernie Mikkelsen who's done a few things for people around here.

hella, who's out in NY used to live here but he's from SF had his Croll frame dropouts switched out with some sub-11/surly dropouts for not too much.

http://www.mikkelsenframes.com

Do a search on him here and there'll be more info. Seems like a real stand up guy.

I'm curious. I've seen some bikes which have had dropouts converted from forward facing horizontal to trackends. Is there an actual advantage to this? Just wonderin'.

C

the most obvious reason i can think of, is to run a chain tensioner.

You can run the tensioner anyway, just the different one.
For me it was an ability to stick the wheel closer to the seat tube - impossible to do with horizontal, forward facing dropouts.http://www.pbase.com/wojtek_burkot/i...419/medium.jpg
Besides, it is convienient to use axle positioners as chain tensioners when installing the wheel :)

Thanks all for the info. I happened to stumble into a couple of info from other threads. Neither of them are in Chicago area (one in Toronto) but for anyone interested.

1. Spicer Cycles in SF area (http://www.spicercycles.com/index.cg...c=Frame%20Work)
It says $120 for dropout conversion. S&H would be extra, obviously.

2. Biseagal in Torolto (http://www.biseagal.ca/brazing.htm)
It says they do the conversion including mounts/guide removal for $80 CD and $60 CD for dropout conversion only. $80 CD is almost $65 US, which is surprisingly reasonable, IMO. But don't know how much extra it would cost for shipping to/from Canada.

I got a couple of contact names from Marcus. Will try to contact them soon and get some quotes.

Yellow Jersey in Madison, WI:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/trakends.html

Anyone else who knows shops in any other area that does this job, plz feel free to post them. It would probably benefit folks in general. Thanks all.

Spicer Cycles is in Evansville, IN., Not in SF area. Sorry for the confusion.

Troy at Courtney Custom, in Geneva: http://www.cccycles.com @ $120.

This leads me to another question: what is the advantage of having the wheel closer to the seat tube? Is it just for looks, or for a shorter wheelbase?

C

You answered yourself, shorter wheelbase.

Thanks.

both.

Street cred.

The shorter wheelbase, with everything else being equal (seat position, frame angles, stem +bar combo, fork rake) affects steering and power transfer to the wheel, the later due to change in front/rear weight distribution. It also limits the grade you can climb from the saddle. Wheather you need it or not depends on you and the frame, it might as well be disadvantage.

Just ride the bike, who cares what it looks like.

Why would you fuss with anything this weekend?

It's gonna be beautiful!

Party!!

I agree. I am in no way even considering doing such a thing to my bike. I was just curious.

C

Okay, okay...

Honestly, I care what your bike looks like... :p

ding ding ding ding!

generally, putting a track end on a road frame will do something VERY unpleasant in addition to whatever happy things you may experience. It will bring your already-lower-than-ideal-for-fixie-riding bottom bracket even lower. If you're that into the advantages of a track frame, spend the extra bucks and buy a track frame.