So I picked up a Zebrakenko (10 speed maybe?) from a garage sale for $35. It hadn't been ridden in years. It was a fully functional bike, but I planned on making it a fixed gear. After picking it up and riding it as is for a few days, I stripped it down and started getting it ready for paint.

sorry for crappy cell phone pictures.



I sanded it down pretty good and grinded off and sanded smooth the derailer cable brackets and the rear brake cable bracket. You can notice them in the above picture, and they are no longer here in this one.

Went with a nice orange. Primered, painted, and clear coated.



My wheels finally came in today, so I fitted my chain, installed the wheels, reinstalled the front brake and adjusted it, shortened the super long ugly brake cable, wrapped the bars, shined it up a bit. It's pretty much all done. I need to get the cog and lock ring tightened down by the LBS since I don't have a tool, and it's good to go. Thinking about a new brake lever and a saddle, but that's later on. I'm very happy with how it came out.

it is quite orange
i like it

good work
zebra power bro

Nice conversion.
Now either use the outer chainring and push some gear inches, or take it off. You don't need a circular saw blade gashing your leg open when you wreck. While you're at the bike shop getting your cog/lockring tightened, get a set of single-speed chainring bolts ($5 - 6) and the tools to install them (https://www.comcycle-usa.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=1800687 and and allen wrench).

unfortunatey, from how it looks, it is the same situation as my Raleigh conversion. The inner ring is bolted to the outer ring, so unless he gets new cranks, you're stuck with the big ring.

edit: unless, of course, you want to get into some creative work with a mini-grinder... which I am thinking of...

I've seen a conversion where they ground the teeth off the big ring and turned it into a bashguard.

That's exactly right. I could get creative with the dremel, but I think that won't really make it look any better. Maybe if I get bored on a rainy day.

What do you guys think about running the outer (52t) chainring? I have a 16t cog. It would be slower accel/ higher top speed, correct? If I did that, I could remove the inner 45t chainring.

Removing the inner ring might lead to tacoing if the outer ring is weak,so take a close look first.Keeping the 16t with 52 might be a bit steep,but if you use a 19t you'll be close to the same ratio
How's your chainline now? If it's good on the inner,the outer may not work unless you get lucky flippin' the spindle.

Why is the danger of the outer chainring any greater than on a road bike?

just save up for a month and get some new cranks. I got a cheap pair of Pake's with a chainring for $45 at my LBS for one of my beaters. They are not great but they work for a beater.

I've never even ridden a fixed bike before other than a friends 100 feet down the road. I need to put some miles on this thing and see how it feels before I start sinking more money into it. The $45 cranks sound like a good deal though. Will take a look next time I'm there.

Just bought a U lock for this thing today...

Because the cranks keep spinning when you crash, unlike a road bike in which the freewheel lets the cranks stay put or move less as you fall? that's just what I thought.

If I crash on this thing, the crank is probably the least of my worries.

Nice fixie!!! i really dig the color!!

i actually got a zebrakenko about 4 years ago at a garage sale for about the same price! its not a fixie, i use it for day to day riding, but i did just get a raleigh frame from a friend for free and im turning that into a fixed gear.

i also noticed you have the vuelta wheelset on there! how do you like it?

Yeah that doesn't really make sense to me honestly.

For the cranks to be spinning, the wheel would still be spinning which I'm not sure makes sense logistically if you've crashed...

Also, the cranks/pedals would be spinning and they would hit you before you could get cut by the "sawblade" chainring.

I suppose it's possible in the literal sense of the word, but unlikely for sure.

IMHO it's really a non-issue other than aesthetics.

Enjoy the bike!

thanks for the feedback. I put about 10 miles on the bike today, and it rides awesome. Very fun.