No...it won't cause any problems. I'm also usually one for using a bike for what its designed to do...that said I can also see how it would suck trying to find a decent frame in an odd size.

yeah the hanger won't pose any problems,
i'm just being a sourpuss about converting
frames that would make great geared bikes.
do what you want, a proper fitting frame is a
nice thing to find, but i honestly don't think it should be
that hard to find a proper track frame or even something with
horizontal drops in that size.
either way, beautiful frame. have fun.

Totally understand. And thanks for the compliment on the frame; when i saw it on ebay i knew i'd end up spending money i was supposed to be saving for my move. What can you do?

Maybe i should convert my '03 zurich instead

I suppose i might gear this thing up at some point and use it as my winter bike. But for now, i think i'll probably go the FG route.

hint: many of the people on this forum would rather have you driving an suv, running over multiple litter of kittens, than riding a nice conversion. it's because they're pompous. don't try to figure it out beyond that. we still love them and passively accept their discrimination. i would suggest either buying a build kit or a complete bike, stripping it, and reselling the frameset. you'll save money and head/heartache.

The "proper tool for the job" or "what it's designed to do" thing is meaningless. Track bikes are meant to be ridden on the track, road bikes are meant to have gears. Either way you're using it in an unintended way, which is just fine. Set it up and have fun with it, fixed or geared. Nice looking frame.

IRO has a build kit for $189 and a $200 set of wheels. You might want to call Tony to see if he can get italian threaded BB's.

I get cynical when people get conversion fever(not refering to OP). When they are so narrowly focussed on FG's that whatever bike they see is candidate for conversion no matter what its background or history or anything. I'm sure most people would cringe to see a 3rensho track frame drilled for a rear brake and someone running a SS freewheel with two brakes and fenders etc. Same thing.

In my view of things, converting a bike with period correct, good working parts is a shiesty thing to do, and typically lame. But converting a bare frame is fair game, it's not like we're losing some part of bicycle history, it'll be used and hopefully used well. I've got an old 72-3 Italvega Super Speciale conversion that I bought as a bare frame and have never once been called out for "destroying history." Although if I had bought it with all the drilled out campy record stuff on it and then converted it, yes I'd be a dipsht.

...and yet most seem to adore strange colored deep v clinchers on classic lugged track frames...makes you wonder if it's not just fashion rather than histor(icit)y/authenticity/(taking the broad view)

you know, after reading some other posts that suggest keeping this frame geared, i'm slightly more inclined to agree, even if you have to set it aside till you can afford that. for a rain bike, use a thrift store frame and parts like i described--functional, but not priceless. you want to have something that rolls but you don't feel bad for taking out in inclement weather. that's my next project, a rain bike.

but yeah, portland's got a lot of fixed riders here. go to stumptown somtimes, i always see nice fixed gears locked up in front of that coffee shop. man, don't get me started on the fun things to do in portland. and not only is it a good city to commute in--you have problems, but compared to my old home in idaho, it's not bad--but in addition to good commuting conditions (aside from weather), there's a bike scene, so there are bike parties, etc...in june or so, there's pedalpalooza, a week (or is it two?) of bike-related stuff--rides, parties, shows, dance parties, obstacle courses, races, bike rodeos, all sorts of ****. i love it here, i think you will, too.

i'd probably get the miche primato pista grupo for it from chucksbikes.

if you're patient, you can get a lot of really nice new/like new parts off of ebay for a steal. for example, i scored a thomson elite stem and a campy record headset for about $30 each.

D/A 9 is 130mms that frame is 127mm i know, 3mms r nothing... but well

Convert it and have fun. Screw what anyone says.

Jesus it's just a frame. If you want a fixed gear, make a fixed gear. For a group of people who tend to be iconoclastic about most things, people sure are conservative when it comes to bike frames.

Sacred cows make the best hamburger.

Grind off the extra stuff if you want and ride the hell out of it.

jesus, i keep going back and forth, but looking at rvabiker's thing, now i'm saying convert it. i mean, i think you should use a much cheaper frame as a beater, you know? but since you're looking for a rather small size, maybe this is a good idea. still, i'd say that for a beater, a cheaper frame, if found in your size, is a better bet.

blow it up with a big brick of c4. that way you can piss everyone in here off instead of just pissing some of them off.

or you can just do whatever you want with it and not really care what some people who live thousands of miles away think.

buy a waterbed instead. theyre awesome!!

Although it will be my main city bike, i wouldn't say it's going to be a beater. Like most bikes, if it's nice to look at, you'll want to ride it more and i plan on taking care of it as best i can. Plus, i have to get a crappy bike by the end of the summer anyway, as last years burningman bike is now totally out of commission. So by then, if i decide that the Viner is too nice to keep taking out I'll have another option.

It comes down to what i need right now too. I have a road bike with gears, i don't have a fixed gear. For better or worse I own this frame now and it's getting converted for at least the first part of it's life with me. I'm not going to file anything off so who knows down the line. Truly though, if you look on ebay at any given time for a 48/49cm (and that would have to be 49cm c-t) frame the selection is paltry at best. Especially when it comes to older, lugged, steel frames with horizontal drops. Track frames are probably slightly easier to come by but (and not that it matters much at this point) isn't the geometry a lot tighter and therefor not quite as comfortable a ride for the city? I could be way off but that was my impression.

c4 is SO 1990's, die hard style. And i don't necessarily care who thinks i should convert it and who doesn't, i posed the question because i'm new at the fixed gear game and not sure what kind of stuff i should be searching for. I have a friend here that could help but since i won't be living round these parts much longer i figured i'd consult the BF experts. Consider yourself consulted.

According to the auction info, it's actually 126mm. I assume you're talking about the dropout spacing. I was told i could fit an 8 speed were i to be gearing it up.

isn't wangster selling a weeny track bike?

8 thru 10 speed is all the same spacing: 130. but i think the eariler 7/8 cassette spacing is 126. either way, my guerciotti is spaced at 126mm, but i easliy run d-a 10. you have to spread the dropout barely, but it works fine and i have NO shifting issues.

but i think moz138 is on to it: buy a waterbed get a fat girlfriend... holla!!

I say convert it; I have a converted Masi. This way you can figure out if you like riding fixed. do not grind anything off though, you may want to put gears on later. If like riding fixed then either buy a track specific frame or fixedgear trainer.

Conversions are practical, it looks like it has good drop outs so it won't be slipping all over the place and with some high quality track nuts you should be gravy. It's absolutely ridiculous for all these people to say that somehow a track frame is such a magically better choice for runnning a fixed gear. Yes, chain tensioners are sweet, but it only takes a little more vigilance to keep your chain tight.

Here's what this frame has going for it:

• easy to mount full fenders on
• it fits him
• he already owns it
• and it's just cool
• also if you're into this sort of thing, two brakes if you're running a freewheel

Conversions with nice frames can be quite a nice bike, I adore my single speed conversion.

Here are a few of the other pictures from the auction, sorry if you have a slow connection and this takes a bit... baby blue is so f'in HARD!









I'll probably put a flip flop hub on it so that if the FG thing doesn't work for me i'll have the option to switch it over to SS mode. My knees aren't the best in the world so I'm a tiny bit worried about backpeddling.

I've been searching around online and haven't founbd a single other picture of this bike or any Viner from that era.

Sick cutouts.