Cheap fixed gear conversion help
 

I've been looking for an older bike to convert to fixed, but I'm unsure which brands of bikes are better. I think I passed up a good deal last week, older univega road bike in perfect condition for 30 bucks.

Is it possible, saying I find a decent old bike for around 100 to have functioning fixed for 200 or so?

My first buy was a slight bust, but it's working out alright for an entry road bike.

Any advice on finding older bikes, brands, things to look for, etc?

thanks.

converting to fixed for 100 is very tight.. probably not. But i have seen it done.

With luck and patience it's doable.

Luck in finding a good bike to work with. 80's road bike. Double cranks, everything (brakes, bottom bracket, front wheel, headset, all in good condition and the seatpost not fused into the frame.

You want a conversion, not a restoration.

Patience in waiting for such a find to come along for less than $100.

If everything about the bike is good, then the only matter is removing un-needed drivetrain components and getting a rear wheel.

[Nashbar fixed hub (comes w/ cheap lockrings) + Dura Ace 3/32 cog] laced to existing 700c rim. w/spokes = about $100

Just gotta get a bike w/decent wheels to start with.

Wow thanks for great replies!

Any certain brand bike I shouldn't get ? I know that obviously fuji, bianchi, raleigh are better brands, but what are some other decent brand bikes that maybe aren't as popular. I'm still pretty new to bikes.

i converted my first fixie using about 250. my second fixie was even cheaper at 200

Just watch out for local garage sales by you. I had the frame I used for my fixie from our house, but I have lots of friends who have found their frames on the side of the road or at goodwill.

Well, a decent wheel set can be found for $100 or so, after that if you buy a decent quality 80's road bike in working order, you can put together a decent bike. I have bought decent 80's bikes in the $25-$50 range, so it is do-able.

Got a bike. I wanted a nicer bike, but oh well. 1991 ( i think) schwinn world sport. Its got 700cc rims and nice newer botranger tires. 40 bucks. I feel the like the wheels alone were worth it.

Is it possible to change the hub on the bike? I can't seem to find an answer about changing hubs on bikes.

i was able to take a $20 schwinn frame and get if ss for about $80. but that's with a lot of extra parts that my dad had and getting parts from my lbs for cost. to get it fixed, that'll be a new wheel set. even with parts at cost it comes to $110 for f/r hub and rim.

Wait until you ride the worldsport fixed to judge her! I am kicking around on a worldsport conversion right now (1989ish) and I love it. You may too! Be sure to report back in this thread with pics...

Don't forget before and after pics.

I've got a worldsport conversion as well, works great

Yeah, I should've taken some before pics but I've already gotten to work on it. Took off back brake. Old sticky bar tape. Did the typical thing and flopped and chopped the bars. Had to though. It wouldn't have worked out without original brake levers.

I'm shopping around for a fixed gear wheel. lbs said 90 with no tire.

I'm still convinced I can change the hub on this wheel. Any advice on that?

See above. 32 spoke? Nashbar hub.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...%2FRear%20Hubs

Wheelbuilding:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

I'm still a huge noob at most bike stuff. So thanks so much for helping.

But where can I find right spoke length and spokes? Nashbar doesn't have spokes.

I feel like it'd be easier just to buy a complete wheel with a fixed gear hub. Possibly cheaper too.

Oh, yeah, it's easier. I thought you were trying to do it for under a hundred bucks.

Yeah, you're right. I just can't seem to find any place online to buy spokes from or figure out the length to get.

I just converted a mountain bike with horizontal dropouts for $40 in parts. Yes, $40 in parts. Total price for me was $70, the added $30 was for the park spoke tool, park chain breaker, BB lockring wrench. Mind you this is a suicide hub build however, I could buy a Harris hub and rebuild the wheel for another $40 ish. So that still puts me under $100 easily. The bike was free, but in my eyes a conversion can be done for under $100. This comes from someone who two days ago had no idea how to take apart a bike, rebuild it, true a wheel, fix the out of round wheel wobble, etc.

I tell you what though. Building this bike was some of the most fun I have had in a while. I learned a hell of alot as well. I plan to do a road bike build in a month or so. Either going with new parts,frame etc and building it up or just converting a road bike.

it can be done. learn from my mistakes. i went with 2 new wheels, theres where i spent all the money. i bought a frame for 40 from this shop near me, i scavenged for many other things, like stem, handlebars, seat post, etc etc. but still dropped 400 almost. i got a new bottom bracket, cranks, pedals, and wheels.

talk to a local shop, talk to the guys in the service bay, from my experience, i've found them to be more down to earth, and willing to really help out. i got my tires and a bunch of other stuff too from working in the service dept. its a cool place to be.

Well, looking up stuff to order.

Chain breaker tool. Crank remover tool (want to strip the bike).

Nashbar fixed hub - $40 Or Dimension
Dura Ace 14 T 3/32 Cog (gear ration will be 40/14)- $20
Nipples- $4

Still need spokes, but don't I need a certain size? I need help on this. Also, I see I can order dimension (nashbar) hub at either 100 mm or 120 mm?

What other tools will I need too? Spoke wrench?

You might want to think about a prebuilt wheel. You're going to have to spend about $1 per spoke. That's already going to put you close to the $90 prebuilt wheel that you're lbs quoted you. You also need more than directions to build a wheel. You're going to need a truing stand and spoke wrenches. How true is the current rear rim? If the old rim is not true and round when you unlace it, you're going to have a weak wheel once you build it back up again.

You might want to go with a 15 tooth cog to go with the 40 tooth chainring. 42x16 is a typical gearing and 40x14 is going to be a relatively steep gear, especially if this is your first ss/fg.

Spokes and nipples come in a few varieties of sizes, so if you do go the wheelbuilding route, make sure that you can find matching spokes and nipples for the right length that you need. Your best bet is to go to your LBS for the spokes and nipples, but don't be surprised if they don't seem that motivated to help you since you are not buying hubs/rims from them. And DO NOT go into your LBS to get information just so you can buy online. Only scum does this.

Went to LBS and ordered wheel, but I'm already going to just cancel. It would be such a waste of money.

90 for rim with hub. 26 for cog. Who knows about lock ring and labor. I could buy all the parts and build my own wheel for that, or even cheaper redo my current wheel. Or even just buy a wheel.

If you're in a budget got to a Performance Store (not shilling I swear) they carry a nice looking complete fixed bike for about $220, I mean I've not seen a good wheelset for less than $150. You do the math.

there are complete bikes shipped for as low as 350

i would not bother for a conversion anymore ... unless i get my old schwinn conversion back

Or unless you live outside of the US - assuming there aren't a lot of places other than BD that has bikes for that cheap shipped.