Throw another $6 for bar tape + plugs. Unless you like to take a core sample of your quads.

I think it is pretty cool, just need bar tape.

raotfl. +1

Yeah I should probably get those one of these days..

Is that a freewheel with one brake? If so, I highly recommend a rear brake, as well.

Yeah, I haven't gotten around to that either. The bike still needs some things..

am i in the right place?? i was looking for the trader joe's forum?

Hah!!

did you settle on a suicide hub.

Needs flat bars/risers for ultimate beating.

that crank bros fork must be worth twice the rest of the bike.

I found this 1973 Carlton (full Reynolds 531 frame and forks) at a thrift store for $10.00 and the vintage Weinmann wheels and Shimano 600 crank were taken from other neary mint bikes I paid little to nothing for. I figure my total cost if I factor in the total cost of the other bikes (that provided many other useable parts) was $70.00.

I had enough extra parts to build a nice SS for my friend and upgrade my son's road bike

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/biking/Carlton40b.jpg

Oh yeah...the bike curbs out at just under 20 pounds and should hit 19 after I do a few more free upgrades.

joke?

i just got back from target looking for this thing, all out in queens. i settled on a pair of socks and an almond snickers.

did you end up changing any components, like the bb?

EDIT: this was meant for the original poster, SingleSpeeDemon

This is my first fixed bike project, and also my commuter. Absolutely nothing fancy.
gears are 52/18. Why? free... oh and yes thats reflective tape on the rims,:D Beats getting hit.

Brian - Nice looking build...

I like the 52:18 (I run the same combo on a few bikes) and have also done the same thing to my wheels on a few bikes to make them more visible from the side.

It really get's people's attention.

I love ur bullhorn...what brand is it?

I saw your bike locked up at the Bicycle Film Festival. I recognized it immediately. It looks a lot nicer in person.

The BB was absolute crap. It was cross-treaded, bound up and barely any grease on the bearings. The BB was replaced with a sealed unit after the threads were chased.

The handlebar is a Richey Pro that I bought a long time ago from Wheel & Sprocket on ebay. I am thinking about going for a riser bar, but I'm out of $ for now.

Yes. If I had a proper fixed wheel laying around, I would have used it. There are not enough threads on the hub for a cog and a BB lockring, so I am putting all my faith in LocTite. And Jesus.

your target bike is cooler than most crappy 80's conversions, but i refuse to believe it rides nicely. i was simply appalled when i tried one on in the store. maybe with all you've done to it it would be nicer than a steel 80's conversion.


btw, this broke my heart today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/feaveri...l-singlespeed/

oh the things that could have been.

You need to understand that I have no clue what a nice bike feels like. I think anything that gets me around feels pretty good as long as the fit is there. Someday when I ride a 'nice' bike, I just might understand how crappy eveything I've owned really is. ;)

Ignorance is bliss indeed!

^^ +1 a bike is truely only good as its rider. True a bike can be well built but to a certain degree the bike makes the rider but the rider also makes the bike perform.

That being said, good bikes are so rad.

fast is one thing, comfort and response are another. if i was looking for a new, cheap, get-someplace bike i'd probably go for a target mountain bike.

pretty great looking flop n chops