Here is my first attempt at SS/FG and since I've seen a bunch of inquiries about how cheap it can be done figured I post mine as an cheapie example.

Found this bike with a free sign on it a week ago. It was missing the front wheel and one brake pad, but otherwise complete. Took it apart to frame. Threw away crank, pedals, bb, ders, brake pads, seat. Cleaned and reused the rest.

Here's what I bought:
Ultegra bb - $45
HS bearings - $4
Aztec brake pads - $16
Wheels Manufacturing single cog spacers - $12
Campy 12t lockring - $19
Single chainring bolts - $10
Campy chain and cog - free (lightly used from lbs)

Here's what I already had laying around:
Ksyrium Elite wheels
Rolls Saddle
Speedplay pedals
Ultegra crank w/chainring

Had first test ride and it seems pretty decent for just over $100. Will change seatpost, stem, handlebars, brakes (original levers are crap) and centerpulls are a PITA imo. If I like it after a few rides I'll invest in fixed rear wheel.

Did the frame fall on your from the sky?

Seems like it.

So you CAN keep the drop outs.

I've read a few sites that say to weld in track fork ends.

I'm thinking about picking this up. It's probably one of my neighbors.



I need a cheapy ss/fixie to get to work. It's 15 bucks. Unless my parents still have an old road bike I remember seeing. Not sure if they gave it away yet.

Why wouldn't you keep the dropouts?

Quoted from https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

Most newer bikes (made since the late-1980's) have "vertical" rear dropouts, where the wheel slides upward as you install it. These are a problem when you want to dispense with a derailer, because you need some way to regulate chain tension.

Im sure that bike has horizontal dropouts though..

What bike? The one on craigslist? Tadley's definately doesn't have horizontal dropouts.

Tadley have another bike that you're talking about? Because the yellow LeTour that he posted up there definitely DOES have horizontal dropouts.

Cyrus -- If you mean it doesn't have track forks, that's correct. I believe orbThorn is correct. It has what I call horizontal dropouts anyway... about 1" of horizontal adjustment to tighten the chain rearward, but they open toward the front. You can definitely keep the dropouts if they have horizontal adjustment. I suspect my frame is early '80s. By the way, is that bike you are looking at an old "free spirit"? Can't tell from the small pic, but I recall they looked like that for a few years.

Sammyboy -- I suppose it did kind of drop out of the sky on me. I was on an 18-mile training run north of Boulder. At about mile 16 I passed a house that had a pile of junk in their front yard with a big sign that said "free". Bike was in the pile of junk. I've actually been looking for a frame for quite a few months, so it was kind of strange to find one when I really wasn't looking. What's that old adage; something about not finding it until you stop looking? The picture I posted doesn't show how bad the paint is, but I guess I don't mind it being a beater.

thats the most orange bike i have ever seen, ever.

Apparently my written comprehension skills are not all I thought they were.

Maybe its all rust... Including the saddle.

Actually, I think the rust is the only thing keeping it together!!!

Sorry, I'm a big nub to this. Thanks for setting me straight. I'm not sure what kind it is yet, they haven't got a hold of me yet.

I hope there's no rust on it. If so I'm not interested.

just buff that ***** out and repaint.

Absolutely. Mine looked like crap when I started, but it has kind of grown on me. Paint is chipped so maybe I'll paint it some day, but for now... I'm just gonna enjoy the ride.

BTW - Rode the SS for a couple hours yesterday. What a blast! I now understand the elegant simplicity of one gear that I've read about here. Glad I found this site for all the great info. I'm saving for a fixed rear wheel!

I was going to fix that & put if the were rusted around the welds, but I was leaving for work.

I just picked it up it's a "Murray 10 SPEED spectra". It's from the late 70's. The retired gentleman's company gave it to him for a race that never happened. He says it's never been rode(I'm sure it's been tried). There's no rust, but some specs on the rims and light. The light's batteries corroded inside. Also a very few scrapes. I'm sure from storage. It's ugly, but it was cheap & it's mine. It will also beat the Dyno Nitro I rode to my jobs last year(not including the mountain bike I messed up).

It's a 26" frame. Is that small for me? I'm 6'2". What's the difference between a fixed wheel and what you have now? Does yours spin freely backwards?

Thanks Tadley for the info & letting me post my nub Qs.

I don't know much about Murray.

I believe the 26" refers to the wheel size as a 26" frame would be really big. Check the tires/rims for size. To find the frame size measure from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the top tube along the seat tube. That dimension is the frame size. Mine is 20.75" and I'm 5'8. Just a wild guess, but I think you want about a 23" to 24" frame.

My rear wheel does spin freely backwards as you said. Fixed takes a track hub that has threads for a cog and a lockring so you can't coast or unthread the cog. When the back wheel turns, the pedals turn.

I'm new to this SS/FG thing too.