To convert or not to convert?
 

to get right to it..

1983 Lotus road bike

Low grade Tange
Semi horizontal drop outs

thats about it..

Convert that ****

Alright think I will. Think I'll get: Sell San Marco saddle, Blue or Red Dimension Hubs, and rims TBD. I can build the wheels so my options are wide.

The bike in question...

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMGP0946.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMGP0947.jpg

off topic but, I got those same pedals. Can I just throw clips on them or do I need new pedals as well?

Those dropouts are going to suuuuck for a conversion.

Those pedals are designed for straps / clips and I would not hesitate to convert that bike with the adjunct that one does no harm to the frame.

I was at the bike co-op yesterday and a fellow was eyeing up a handbuilt Ron Cooper with the intent to convert it into a beater fixed gear.

:twitchy:

When I told him what the bike was and how much it was worth he agreed that this would have been wrong and if things work out I will soon be the owner of a gorgeous Cooper racing bike.

Looks to be full horizontal drops with a claw hangar to me...

They are semi horizontal. I think. If I know my terms right. They arent completely flat, go up a bit, but certainly can slide back for chain tension.

I won't harm the frame, but, by saying not to harm it, is it a decent frame?

Looks like a great conversion frame to me. Good tight geometry + lugged steel + nice factory paint = good fixed gear.

If it had high-end components and was a top-of-the-line old school road bike I would discourage converting it, but it doesnt look that way. That thing is WAY better than what I started on.

Decent? Sure, but nothing special. Tange #5 was pretty far down on Tange's tubing heirarchy.

Alright. That's what I figured, don't know to much about road biking. More of a mountain biker :p that's where all my money goes anyways. Do you (anyone) like the paint? I am unsure about it.

Why is good geometry 'tight geometry?' I like my bikes nice and slack, makes it more comfy for actual riding.

how the hell do you collect the street cred then?

srsly

by "don't harm the frame" i think what's being said is "don't dremmel off all the cable stops and do an asswipe job of rattlecanning the whole think pink".

lol.. look at those stem shifters. convert!

that things basically begging you to start stripping off those accient components.

Yeah I wouldn't do anything to the frame. Okay, after I pick up my new road bike I'll build some wheels for it - maybe in fall or winter when the shop is quiet and I get to do whatever I like and get paid for it :D