everyone starts out not knowing what will/won't make a good conversion. the best way to find out is make lots of mistakes yourself. it's awesome to have a bunch of not-so-awesome final products. if they can roll you and some non-bike owning friends somewhere, you win! then do it the right way.

(i still haven't done it the "right" way)

There's no rule that says you can't change back. The nishiki in my signature was too small for me. I bought another bike, complete and ready to ride with all shimano components. I stripped the parts off the new frame and turned it into a conversion, and the other parts went onto the nishiki for a geared bike for my brother. As long as you don't cut the crap out of it, theres no reason a bike can be converted, then converted back.

well....you officially have my retroactive approval for such a conversion. :)

actually, i think people should do whatever they want. someone should build up a conversion that violates all of these little rules that folks have. like a custom italian road frame built up with sakae cranks from an old beater, 27 inch front wheel with a rotted tire, rusty quill stem with drop bars flipped up....and don't forget the suicide levers. of course the rear wheel would be a formula laced to a weinman cuz nothing says vintage italian like formula hubs. this just HAS to be done.....or would it be considere bike abuse?

It would be incredibly dumb, but as long as you don't use brick walls as brakes or assemble it with vice grips then its not really abuse. Its like when people dress up their pets.

Mistakes = wasted time and money.




Measure twice, cut once.

So true. I've been preaching that for quite a while now.

As has been said here before, with a conversion you trade time, effort, and thought for money. Some people have more of one than the other. Everyone would like a bike with boutique parts. Some people will ride what they can and are less concerned with the psychosomatic BS.

well duh...that's the point. :D

Kinda like university too huh?

I definitely saw that thing earlier. I'm pretty sure it was the same photo as well. Can't find any Haros on FGG though. *shrug*

yeah definitely...my psychology degree = waste time and money. my relationships = wasted time and money. my bike addiction = wasted time and money. perhaps the fixed conversion is so attractive because it's a metaphor for life.

"As has been said here before, with a conversion you trade time, effort, and thought for money. Some people have more of one than the other. Everyone would like a bike with boutique parts. Some people will ride what they can and are less concerned with the psychosomatic BS."

That's certainly true, but there's also the group that has more money than time.. but values owning something they've built up themselves more than either of the two. Sure I could go out and pick up a Sputnik, but I'd much rather browse Craigslist looking for either a nice 531 frame or one that just straight up appeals to me (bright yellow Varsity? yes please) and work on it myself. Sure I know it will probably be months before I finish stripping them down, building the wheels, and putting it all back together.. but it's not like I don't have other bikes to ride in the meantime. If I had enough time, a bit more skill with a torch, and access to a metal shop again.. I'd weld my own frame (even though it would likely mean catastrophic failure & an awe-inspiring crash).