single speed project
 

This should have been titled 'Fixed Gear Project'
Sorry for any confusion.


Hello.
I just wanted to share some pictures of a project I have been working on since late November. I am converting a Bridgestone RB-2 (my first road bike I bought when I was a Junior) to a single speed.
I had been thinking of riding a fixed gear bike again just for kicks, and was looking at prices and realized something: I had a perfectly good frame at home living the good life:
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...6.vrydMbce.jpg

So..here are the pics of the progress. I went to 'the' bike shop last night and started preparing the frame for building, although I have yet to accumulate all the parts. The Color is Serotta Sapphire Blue painted at Cycledelics Custom Motorcycles :D Big thanks to Jacob S for swapping the dropouts for the track ends for me (Thanks again Jacob!)

Hope you all enjoy the pictures.

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...0.7c3bgmb7.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...3.djCTmiOS.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...4.oByNEI9V.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...5.otYLL4HF.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...7.XGv6dGuL.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...8.96jR247v.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...9.lImndokz.jpg

More pictures will come as the project goes along.

As a side note...if anyone has a rear Mavic Track hub they want to sell, please let em know :)

***if the pictures do not come up, go here: http://www.pbase.com/854/bridgestone_rb-2&page=all

ss or fixed? how will the chain tension work?

It will be a fixed. Jacob put track ends ao. Here's a horrible picture for now, but I will post a nicer one:
http://i5.pbase.com/o6/19/574219/1/7....Photo0009.jpg
camera phone, in the sun w/ metalic paint...LOL!

That color is awesome. I can't wait to see it built up.

I also have white velocity aeroheads to build up, once I get my hub situation resolved. :)

that thing is wonderful

The fork that will be going on it for the time being:
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...5.7k7X1naS.jpg

Very nice!

Thanks for the nod, for any interested parties:

http://www.jacobsbicycles.com

really...the track ends came out great! thanks again, Jacob :)

The polishing begins:
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...9.bBAGfF63.jpg

Are you removing anodizing? Polishing? What?

um...i'm not seeing very many pics outside the first post...

I'm sorry about the pictures...pbase has been really sucking as of late for me...dont really know why.
HERE are all the pictures of the project if you want to have a look :)



removing the anodizing and polishing the aluminum :)

Just curious, why? Formula hubs are available in silver, I'm assuming the black is just what you already had laying around?

Mac

- it's going to take hours at the buffing wheel
- the anodizing protects the hub from nicks and scratches

It will take some hours, especially since I will be using sandpaper: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000, and aluminum polish on a cotton wheel. I already did this to my Dura Ace cranks on my cross bike and they have been holding up fine with regular cleaning. With the fact that its a hub, I think it will be protected well enough with the spokes to avoid any scratches. I am willing to put up with the regular cleaning for the gleaming look of polished-to-high-hell aluminum. :D

Now I'm trying to source cranks...any suggestions will be welcome (and they will be polished as well, and in the same process as described above)

I had a set of rims already...before I got the hubs: 28H and 32H Velocity's. The only 28H Formula hub iI was able to find was in Black, so I got that and a silver for the rear in 32H.

I saw in another thread that oven cleaner works well for removing anodizing. don't know if scratching it up some first would help or not.

I'm not trying to dog on your bike, but why did you remove
the braze-ons? If it's going to be a single speed, wouldn't you
want those for your rear brake?

^^^I'm thinking he's going for a fixed gear project and the term singlespeed just slipped out.

Im scared of oven cleaner on aluminum from previous projects with cars.:o

lol...no dogging taken, man :)
I can always get some nice clamps for cable guides should I decide to run with a rear brake.
its a learning experience. :)

SingleSpeedDemon: you are correct sir.
my improper use of the word.


/kneels in shame

help me make up my mind: 130 BCD or 144?

love that color. I rattlecanned my old conversion that color with a yellow headtube and yellow aeroheads, yellow tape, yellow saddle. the paint chipped like crazy though. it looked really sweet for like a week.

I think 144 looks better

I wish I had an RB-2 (or any Bridgestone frame) just lying around that I could forget about and surprise myself with down the road.

Depends on your budget. If $200 for a crank and chainring isn't obscene to you, go 144 (sugino 75, etc.). If it is, go 130 (old road cranks, Sugino RD, etc.).

More pics! :)

Headset installed. Cane Creek C2 1" threadless.
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...9.UIkYwmcw.jpg


The crankset. This, so far, is my favorite part acquired. Keirin approved Sugino 75's. 165mm length, 46T chainring with 144mm BCD for a 109 spindle length. This will be polished to high heaven as well.
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...0.JsEmP3vF.jpg


Velocity Aeroheads in white and machined braking surface in 28 Front/32 rear.
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...1.I81bFcWm.jpg

$50...cant go wrong :)
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...2.KtURaSE4.jpg


120mm to 127mm (sorry for the blurry)
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...3.VhFT1nhL.jpg


Side view of the drop out that Jacob installed with the hub in place (sorry for the blurry):
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...4.ZgwdWEEL.jpg

Another headtube/headset shot:
http://i5.pbase.com/g6/19/574219/2/7...5.pxdAeqKM.jpg

Man, those dropouts are pretty.
And the colour looks super hot on my screen.

this is looking super nice man. i wish i had the loot for a trackend install and a re-paint. sigh...

The track ends were not that much at all.
When I was working in a bike shop, ColorArt (I think it was) could paint a frame for about $150-200(??)