Is this bike good for a fixed gear?
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Is this bike good for a fixed gear?
I picked it up today at a second hand store for $20, I figured why not? I don't really know anything about it, just that its a Columbia Deville 10, it kinda looks like that front fork is bent and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure if it is. Enjoy. Oh and sorry, I mean single speed..... (possibly with a flip flop though)
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honestly, that bike looks pretty ****ty. One piece cranks and dropouts crimped into the stays are pretty much giveaways that it's most likely heavy and poorly made. On the other hand, it will probably last forever and nobody will want to steal it. If I were you, I would put a bmx freewheel on it and not spend any more money on it.
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ok thanks! thats all i needed to know. and to the two other guys.. why are you getting sick of those type of threads? Im not *****ing Im just wondering... I dont want to start off with something that sucks. Looks like I did, but thats no big deal, its was only $20.
Heres a different question then, What should I look for when Im looking at older bikes for a fixie?
Heres a different question then, What should I look for when Im looking at older bikes for a fixie?
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Originally Posted by F.T.W
ok thanks! thats all i needed to know. and to the two other guys.. why are you getting sick of those type of threads? Im not *****ing Im just wondering... I dont want to start off with something that sucks. Looks like I did, but thats no big deal, its was only $20.
Heres a different question then, What should I look for when Im looking at older bikes for a fixie?
Heres a different question then, What should I look for when Im looking at older bikes for a fixie?
edit: im also kind of in a crap mood. someone dented the **** out of my top tube in my panasonic. im really sad.
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Originally Posted by babychris
im getting sick of these threads. sorry, im no help.
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P.O.S.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
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Originally Posted by dwainedibbly
P.O.S.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
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#11
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Originally Posted by blickblocks
What's wrong with dork disks? All derailer bikes came with them.
I've seen plenty of bikes with stem shifters converted, and they're clean since there are no bosses on the downtube. Just like every other bike, there can be cheap fixies, midrange fixies, and high end fixies.
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yeah but id rather have a cheap fixie that wasnt a total peice of crap. So basically, I should look for an aluminum frame or lugged steel, with a 3 peice crank, and none of those funky brake levers correct? My mom has an old shogun i might be able to talk her out of..
#13
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any flavor of chromoly steel will be at least decent, and forged dropouts are a good indicator of a nice frame although there are plenty of decent chromoly frames with stamped dropouts.
If you pick up the bike and it weighs a ton just walk away. A bare frame and fork shouldn't weigh more than 7 pounds (that's on the heavy end of decent) and a complete bike should weigh closer to 25 than 30 pounds. a light bike would be somewhere near 20 complete 5 for frame and fork.
If you pick up the bike and it weighs a ton just walk away. A bare frame and fork shouldn't weigh more than 7 pounds (that's on the heavy end of decent) and a complete bike should weigh closer to 25 than 30 pounds. a light bike would be somewhere near 20 complete 5 for frame and fork.
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Throw it away.
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If you can keep that Deville rolling as is I'd ride it till it broke. As everyone else says, it isn't worth converting unless you've got a stash of free parts and plenty of free time.
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no free parts what-so-ever. thats why im saying screw it. ill keep looking. il keep all that stuff in mind. like i said my mom has that shogun, and there is a really nice schwinn at a pawn shop down town.
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Originally Posted by blickblocks
What's wrong with dork disks? All derailer bikes came with them.
i think they meant the huge metal ones. those are usually indicators of 70 pound monsters. s
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Originally Posted by dwainedibbly
P.O.S.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
(The reason so many of these threads keep popping up is that there are so many of these "bicycles" around.)
What to look for? As somebody on another thread wrote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "avoid anything with the 'big disc between the freewheel and spokes', one-piece 'Ashtabula' cranks, shifters mounted on the handlebar stem, or 'safety levers' on the brake levers."
All of these are markers of heavy, old (sometimes not THAT old) clunkers that are better off in the trash. Sorry if I sound like a cranky old guy.
shiet my conv had all of these sans ashtabula cranks
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let me guess. it weighs 45 pounds now and will weigh 30 when/if you take all the junk off. and the frame is well over 3 kilos?
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I'm glad I noticed this thread before starting a new one. :>
I just got a Nishiki "custom sport", which (from descriptions on this forum), I'm thinking may be one of the 70s "gas pipe boat anchor" type clunkers. My gf just got an 80s (guessing here [ok - she says actually probably early 70s) Japanese bike (a Zebrekenko), which feels significantly lighter and rides really well. The guy who sold it pointed out that the bike would be lighter with most of the components taken off, but it's still pretty heavy. I can lift it with one hand, and it's still lighter than my Bianchi Milano, but it's definitely on the heavy side. The frame is in pretty good shape; not really any rust and not too many dings / scratches. There's a license renewal sticker from '81 on it, but based on pictures and descriptions, I'm guessing it's a 70s model.
looks somewhat like this, only with maroon paint:
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/spo/336549139.html
It does have the stem shifters, safety levers on the brake levers, possibly the metal disk in the wheel; don't believe the crank is one-piece at least.
I'm planning on replacing both wheels, and removing the rear brake, etc., and will possibly replace the crankset etc. later. I guess if it's still too heavy, I could find another frame later and move over the components... but am I going to regret this? Should I cut my losses and try to sell the frame and parts? Or will I be happy to have a slightly heavier frame for riding around town?
I can take a picture later if folks want.
I just got a Nishiki "custom sport", which (from descriptions on this forum), I'm thinking may be one of the 70s "gas pipe boat anchor" type clunkers. My gf just got an 80s (guessing here [ok - she says actually probably early 70s) Japanese bike (a Zebrekenko), which feels significantly lighter and rides really well. The guy who sold it pointed out that the bike would be lighter with most of the components taken off, but it's still pretty heavy. I can lift it with one hand, and it's still lighter than my Bianchi Milano, but it's definitely on the heavy side. The frame is in pretty good shape; not really any rust and not too many dings / scratches. There's a license renewal sticker from '81 on it, but based on pictures and descriptions, I'm guessing it's a 70s model.
looks somewhat like this, only with maroon paint:
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/spo/336549139.html
It does have the stem shifters, safety levers on the brake levers, possibly the metal disk in the wheel; don't believe the crank is one-piece at least.
I'm planning on replacing both wheels, and removing the rear brake, etc., and will possibly replace the crankset etc. later. I guess if it's still too heavy, I could find another frame later and move over the components... but am I going to regret this? Should I cut my losses and try to sell the frame and parts? Or will I be happy to have a slightly heavier frame for riding around town?
I can take a picture later if folks want.
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Originally Posted by wyardley
I'm glad I noticed this thread before starting a new one. :>
I just got a Nishiki "custom sport", which (from descriptions on this forum), I'm thinking may be one of the 70s "gas pipe boat anchor" type clunkers. My gf just got an 80s (guessing here [ok - she says actually probably early 70s) Japanese bike (a Zebrekenko), which feels significantly lighter and rides really well. The guy who sold it pointed out that the bike would be lighter with most of the components taken off, but it's still pretty heavy. I can lift it with one hand, and it's still lighter than my Bianchi Milano, but it's definitely on the heavy side. The frame is in pretty good shape; not really any rust and not too many dings / scratches. There's a license renewal sticker from '81 on it, but based on pictures and descriptions, I'm guessing it's a 70s model.
looks somewhat like this, only with maroon paint:
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/spo/336549139.html
It does have the stem shifters, safety levers on the brake levers, possibly the metal disk in the wheel; don't believe the crank is one-piece at least.
I'm planning on replacing both wheels, and removing the rear brake, etc., and will possibly replace the crankset etc. later. I guess if it's still too heavy, I could find another frame later and move over the components... but am I going to regret this? Should I cut my losses and try to sell the frame and parts? Or will I be happy to have a slightly heavier frame for riding around town?
I can take a picture later if folks want.
I just got a Nishiki "custom sport", which (from descriptions on this forum), I'm thinking may be one of the 70s "gas pipe boat anchor" type clunkers. My gf just got an 80s (guessing here [ok - she says actually probably early 70s) Japanese bike (a Zebrekenko), which feels significantly lighter and rides really well. The guy who sold it pointed out that the bike would be lighter with most of the components taken off, but it's still pretty heavy. I can lift it with one hand, and it's still lighter than my Bianchi Milano, but it's definitely on the heavy side. The frame is in pretty good shape; not really any rust and not too many dings / scratches. There's a license renewal sticker from '81 on it, but based on pictures and descriptions, I'm guessing it's a 70s model.
looks somewhat like this, only with maroon paint:
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/spo/336549139.html
It does have the stem shifters, safety levers on the brake levers, possibly the metal disk in the wheel; don't believe the crank is one-piece at least.
I'm planning on replacing both wheels, and removing the rear brake, etc., and will possibly replace the crankset etc. later. I guess if it's still too heavy, I could find another frame later and move over the components... but am I going to regret this? Should I cut my losses and try to sell the frame and parts? Or will I be happy to have a slightly heavier frame for riding around town?
I can take a picture later if folks want.
#22
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Originally Posted by andypants
You're better off, but 80 is a little steep for a lot of rust.
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Originally Posted by wyardley
Sorry if I wasn't clear... it's not that bike - just a bike LIKE that one (in terms of the components, age, etc.). As I mentioned, the bike I got is in pretty good shape and without any significant rust (i.e., nothing that won't come off with a scrubby sponge).
I have no point to this post... but I like stories.
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Another sign of clunkiness is a fork with an exaggerated rake - and the shape of the blades. Also, the heavy rack in the same colour as the bike. Sometimes these are integral part of the frame.
Is that a leather seat, though? I'd keep that. I find them really comfy, reagardless of the shape.
Other parts you might re-use: front and rear wheels, handlebar, brake levers. Maybe the brakes, too.
Is that a leather seat, though? I'd keep that. I find them really comfy, reagardless of the shape.
Other parts you might re-use: front and rear wheels, handlebar, brake levers. Maybe the brakes, too.