Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

How bad an idea is it?

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

How bad an idea is it?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-19-06 | 10:36 AM
  #1  
reich17's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
How bad an idea is it?

To pay $80 for this bike and convert it to fixed gear? I'd keep the frame, of course, seat post, stem, and headset. Replace everything else. This will be my first conversion if I do it. Please don't hurt me.

reich17 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 10:56 AM
  #2  
No_Minkah's Avatar
YOU ARE NOW TUNED IN
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 0
From: The City that Works
take a close-up of the drop-outs. Otherwise, looks good to me from a style point of view. I like the fork.
No_Minkah is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:01 AM
  #3  
MLPROJECT's Avatar
make way for the MGL
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 0
From: NEW YORK

Bikes: khs aero track

if that's anything like my friend's schwinn, it probably weighs about 3,000 lbs
MLPROJECT is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:06 AM
  #4  
reich17's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by No_Morineke
take a close-up of the drop-outs. Otherwise, looks good to me from a style point of view. I like the fork.
I guess my main concern is I'd be spending $80 just for the frame. The drop outs shouldn't be a problem.
Actually, here is what appears to be the same bike posted on the FGG.


I like this bike's set-up quite a bit and would like to build something similar. $80 for the frame though, I just don't know......
reich17 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:09 AM
  #5  
reich17's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MLPROJECT
if that's anything like my friend's schwinn, it probably weighs about 3,000 lbs
I'll just have to dump some ballast to compensate, maybe one of my legs.
reich17 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
hyperRevue's Avatar
King Among Runaways
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,215
Likes: 1
From: MKE

Bikes: 2004 Bianchi Pista, Cannondale Track, Soma Pake, Schwinn Breeze

I'd say $50 MAX.
__________________
"I owe everyone an apology" - hyperrevue
hyperRevue is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:15 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Bklyn
yeah, try talking the seller down. Never hurts to try.
Or you could keep looking for just a frame and see if you can do better.
Phillio is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:18 AM
  #8  
mattface's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 36
From: Williston, VT

Bikes: Bridgestone RB-T, Soma Rush, Razesa Racer, ⅔ of a 1983 Holdsworth Professional, Nishiki Riviera Winter Bike

$80 is a lot for just that frame. Actualy $80 is a lot for the whole bike. If you're patient and resourceful you could come up with a bike as nice or nicer for free.
mattface is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:36 AM
  #9  
FridgeRobot's Avatar
Loners
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA / Fairfax VA

Bikes: 1980s Schwin Sprint SS, IRO Mark V

Originally Posted by MLPROJECT
if that's anything like my friend's schwinn, it probably weighs about 3,000 lbs
true...but you will loose a lot of weight once u take off all the extra crap
FridgeRobot is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:37 AM
  #10  
flip out like a ninja
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: madison, wi

Bikes: bianchi, trek, raleigh

Originally Posted by mattface
$80 is a lot for just that frame. Actualy $80 is a lot for the whole bike. If you're patient and resourceful you could come up with a bike as nice or nicer for free.
$80 does seem to be a bit high for that bike, I agree. However, a seasoned mechanic at my LBS here in DC put it into perspective when I asked his opinion as to whether I once overpaid for a bike. He maintained that I shouldn't really worry that much about the initial cost (especially when it's less than $100), that I was likely to put way more money into the bike over time and that the $20 or 30 that I might have overpaid was a pittance in the larger picture.

This isn't to say that I have money to spare or that you shouldn't haggle, but I think that $80 is probably a fairly rough ballpark price for the bike. In my most recent bike buying experience, I thought I slightly overpaid (and didn't haggle) because the guy I bought the bike from was pretty cool and straight forward. I now hang with him fairly regularly as part of a larger group and think that I would have been embarrassed trying to shake him down for an extra 20 bones. You never know. Karma works funny sometimes.

I like the fork too.
k-dong is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:47 AM
  #11  
Robbykills's Avatar
Hi. I'm in Delaware.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
From: Newark, Delaware

Bikes: 2017 All City Space Horse, 2015 Jamis Dragonslayer, 2016 Velo Orange Pass Hunter Disc, 1991 Tommasini Competizione, 2018 Soma Wolverine fixed gear, 1996 Diamondback Outlook w/Crust Clydesdale, 1999 Torelli Corsa Strada (Coaster Brake Conversion ;] )

hey my friend has that same bike. almost exactly. it is a decent riding bike, but I'm kinda biased cause I also have an 80's schwinn. I don't know about $80 for it though, kinda pricey. then again we're spoiled with a thrift shop who sells those bikes for like $5-10
Robbykills is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:48 AM
  #12  
shants's Avatar
roll'em high
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 0
From: columbus, ohio
it's not worth it.
shants is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 11:53 AM
  #13  
I bet
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
The big question is fit. If the bike is the right size for you then go for it. Does it have a nice long top tube and im sure it has horizontal drops and fender and rack eyelets.

You can actually keep everything on the bike and just get a 27" rear track wheel.

https://www.totalbike.com/items/wheel...ing_s_7d38.htm

Maybe ask the guy if he will come down on the bike a little bit, but the original question of how bad and idea is this-- the answer is not very bad.
kurremkarm is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 12:03 PM
  #14  
Seggybop's Avatar
o.O
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MLPROJECT
if that's anything like my friend's schwinn, it probably weighs about 3,000 lbs
it looks like an ok lugged Japanese model, not one of the tanklike American ones
Seggybop is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 12:17 PM
  #15  
AfterThisNap's Avatar
Taking "s" outta "Fast"
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,989
Likes: 0
From: Zoo York City
I heart anything schwinn.
AfterThisNap is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 12:19 PM
  #16  
reich17's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by shants
it's not worth it.
So how much do you want for that large/x-large rust-free central Ohio frame you have laying around?
reich17 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 07:04 PM
  #17  
Aeroplane's Avatar
jack of one or two trades
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 0
From: Suburbia, CT

Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB

I wouldn't pay more than $40 for that thing. Gas pipe tubes, STAMPED DROPOUTS, and just for the frameset and headset? Way more trouble than it's worth. Hit the thrift stores, garage sales, and classified ads. You can do far better. You're worth it.
Aeroplane is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 07:13 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: dallas

Bikes: busted trek510, hotrock mt bike, iro angus

my fixed is a schwinn traveler

this thread makes me sad
matthavener is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 09:16 PM
  #19  
Leadpedal's Avatar
No.82
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Chicago

Bikes: lots

Ah, yes. I remember that bike. It has style written all over it. I used to ride one of those listening to my walkman. Back then they were about the size of a vidocassette but at least it had a cool belt clip.
Leadpedal is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 09:20 PM
  #20  
junioroverlord's Avatar
Better than you since 83!
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
From: Up a big F'ing Hill

Bikes: Fixed Gear 79 Schwinn Sprint

Meh, my bike is a schwinn sprint, I paid 10 bucks for it. If you want a conversion I highly recommend thrift stores. You can get an old school road bike for less than $20...strip it down and you're in bidness.
junioroverlord is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-06 | 09:34 PM
  #21  
Rikardi151's Avatar
redonkulous
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
From: West Philly

Bikes: 2001 GT GTB

value of:

stem = $8.00
frame/fork = $20.00
front wheel(steel I presume) - $15.00
deraillers, brakes, shifters, cables, rear wheel = 0.00
seatpost/bars/headset - $20.00
stamped dropouts = -$50.00
--------------------------------------
see if he'll take 13 bucks
Rikardi151 is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.