My first conversion
 

Submitted for your approval, an 80's USA Schwinn. And here's a ridiculously obsessive photo essay of the process for anyone who isn't busy...http://www.jaycokingpin.com/singlefix.pdf

Thanks for lookin!

Butted tubing is indistinguishable from straight gauge tubing generally. What you're actually talking about in the whole butted vs. welded discussion is lugged frames vs. welded frames. As for butted vs. straight gauge, butted generally results in a lighter frame and indicates higher quality. Other than that though, this looks great. Excellent job!

Not to disappoint you, but if you have the money to buy a pista, IRO, ext,ext why go to all the truble to build a conversion?

Nicely done. Better a conversion ridden then a track bike poised

nice ride. the thing looks pretty sweet. you could have cut some expenses by getting a bike with a decent front wheel and tires you could re-use. you can also just resize the chain...at least that's what i did. changing the rear spacing seems unnecessary since you can just use a couple of washers on the rear wheel to space it out to 126 or 130mm. however, you had the money to spend so more power to you.

i think building the bike yourself can give you more appreciation for riding it since it's your own work. also, your bike is not like anyone elses. i wish i had access to your document before i built my fixie...it's always easier and cheaper to learn from other peoples mistakes. perhaps you can submit this to sheldon brown or fixedgeargallery. actually, i think having a series of these stories would be great. you can learn alot by searching this forum and the other aforementioned websites, but it's nice to read a story from beginning to end.

if you haven't tried the fixed side yet, i would highly encourage it. i've ridden on the freewheel and fixed side of my bike. riding fixed definitely gives you a tighter, more connected feel. you don't have to trash your knees by doing those skid stops....that's what your brakes are for. leave the track stands and skids to the kids....;-)

You're Right
 

I should have said "lugged" when I said "butted"...I'm gonna upload changes, I still gettin the terms down so I'm counting on the community to keep it straight and make it the most use for newbies.

cheers

h

I'm starving for a garage...
 

You're absolutely right, I could have got a really cool bike for the money. But I don't have a garage in NYC to putter in and I miss it, so I'm counting these dollars as entertainment too. I've spent lots of fun time researching and getting my hands on the tools and getting greasy and I never get that chance. And I can tell myself that it's more fun to ride because I built it myself. sorta.

cheers

thanks
 

cheeeeers, dude

knees
 

yup, I'm not too proud to hammer the breaks in event of the of brain freeze while riding happy (me or a cabdriver). I'm leavin them on and I'm gonna spin it around to the fixed side when I get back in town after the long weekend...thanks for the words

h

If it spins your wheels, keep rollin'. ;)

I know what you mean. When I built my first conversion I was real proud to build it myself and with the help of my lsb of course. Within a month It was stolen by some crooks :mad: while I was at work and my bike locked outside of my job. I Guess the crooks liked it too, and ill be damned if they aren't riding it like they stole it.:D

bike theivin' sucks
 

Another reason I undertook the process was to build something I could ride to work without getting it stolen. I totally sympathize with your story. I'm thinking if I bring the front tire and seat into work with me and u-lock the frame and rear wheel to a parking meter, maybe no one will take it...might be wishful thinking though. Anyway, hope you've got a new ride you love.

Looks good! excellent story and excellent resources you tapped. Hope you have many happy hours of riding on your Fixt. And you set up an excellent journal for many other novices to read and learn from. A+
Nice apartment w/ killer sky light too <;^)

Nice writing- Im one of those Panasonic guys!

Why a pdf? Why not just use html?