san jose fixed
 

okay, so i'm considering converting my SS Bianchi San Jose to fixed gear in about a week, and i was just wondering if anyone else has done this.

i'm going through with it anyway, and i'll post pictures when i'm done, but i figured it'd be a good idea to see if anyone's converted one. it's amazing as a SS, but how do you think it'd run fixed?

http://www.bianchiusa.com/07_san_jose.html

Almost identical.
Except for the whole coasting thing.

some of the 07's come fixed already

Are these stock hubs flip flops with true fixed threading on one side?

yup. though there are conflicting reports, i can honestly say that I've seen a fix/free San Jose at my LBS.

I converted mine, I would have just bought the Pista but didn't want the frame. Here is a link: http://flickr.com/photos/johnbot/324357455/

they are flip flop yes.

Very nice! I like the orange...

I don't get it.

I would have gotten a pista but I didn't want a pista.

damn i thought this post was about a get-together in the south bay...

Yeah, they are essentially the same bike, I just wanted the cyclecross frame style.

For the geometry? tire clearance?

I thought the San Jose was more of a castro valley/volpe with trackends than a pista with cantis.

Am I wrong?

No.

It is the same frame as the volpe with track ends, hence the 130mm rear spacing. I fixed mine with a Paul high flange hub. The track ends are long enough that I can run a 16t cog and a 20t freewheel using the same chain and still maintain clearance for my 38c cyclocross tires.:D

yup same frame.
minus a couple braze ons.
which is a bit odd, since the volpe/castro has horizontal dropouts already. Albeit pretty short ones.

With true horizontal track ends you do need to re-position the brake pads each time you flip your wheel. An angled long, front facing dropouts (standard semi-horizontal) would solve this problem.

edit: so the volpe comes with semi-horizontal drops?

I thought I was going to be running single speed and I wanted canty brake mounts, also the less aggressive geometry was fitting for my work commute. However, I ended up falling back and using it as a track frame, so in hindsight the pista would have been a more logical choice. But if anyone is curious it feels tight set up as is. The pedals aren't too low and the frame geometry works well with track forks.