My First Single Speed Build
 

I've been looking for an old road bike to build up as an ssfg for a while now. Recently I picked up an extremely rusted 1977 Gitane Gypsy Sport. I forgot to take a "before picture" but you can get some idea from these shots of the frame and the parts I took off of it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/...c6767d4f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/...e56b4258fe.jpg

With a little bit of rust remover and a whole lot of elbow grease (not to mention Park PPL-1), I was able to reuse the brakes, stem, handlebar, bottom bracket, headset, seat post, chainring and crankset. The stem is badly seized, but it's about the right height for me, so I overhauled the headset with the stem on there, and I'm just going to live with that. The bottom bracket is French threaded, so I'm more or less stuck with that too, but with $1.75 worth of ball bearings and a few squirts of grease, it's surprisingly smooth.

The crank is a Sun Tour with the 53-tooth chainring attached (I plan to replace that eventually). I picked up a pair of Tektro 200A brake levers, and some Planet Bike bar tape. For now, I'm using a pair of Alex wheels with Deore/Tiagra hubs that came with my Kona Jake. I had Crank Brothers Smarty pedals, an 8-speed chain, some brake pads and a saddle lying around. Until I get a proper set of fixed gear wheels, I'm using a Forte singlespeed conversion kit.

So, here's what it looks like as of today:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/...b8a4ff8e_b.jpg

i like the cyclocross touch to it. what wtb saddle is that?

Nice rescue! I like the tires. How does it ride?

looks excellent, what brake pads are you running up front?

lose the wheel reflectors btw.

Yeah, I think I might even race it when I get I a small enough chainring. Right now it's 53-20, which would be too high for cross for my legs.

The saddle is the Rocket V Comp that came on my Jake.

Honestly, I've only had it around the block so far...one of the hazards of getting it to this stage on Easter weekend. My initial observation is that the handling feels a bit jumpy. The handlebar is only 38 mm wide. I don't know if it's that or just different geometry than I'm used to. (The tires are Maxxis Locust CX, BTW.)

The front brake pads are Ritchey something or other. The major advantage they have over the Kool Stops on the rear is that they aren't worn down to the replace level yet. :thumb: On the other hand, the red pads on a blue bike bothers me more than the wheel reflectors.