Is building fixed gear bike out of old vintage folding bike possible? Our local craigslist has alot of good deals on fairly good condition folding bikes from 60's and 70's for around $40~60...

If it is possible, it would be a perfect summer project

oh, and what parts would i have to buy?

bikes like these($60)



horizontal dropouts.. and i suppose i could use the crank. what would i have to do with the wheels?

It's impossible...


1973 Phillip's Twenty fixed gear conversion.

those cranks are cottered, so if you aren't gonna use them you'll need a new bottom bracket. probably wouldn't be a problem. also remember you'll need a pretty high ratio for those tiny wheels.

as for what to do, you'll need to relace the rear hub to a track hub. that's about it. check spacing, I don't know if folders use the more or less standard 120 spaced rear. also, it may be hard to find spokes that short. that would probably be the largest difficulty in this build. (well at least with that blue one. that raleigh looks like it has short but pretty available spokes. the blue one has teeny tiny wheels lol)

you confused me there. you said it was impossible but showed me a picture of a folding fixed gear bike D:

Seriously... Raleigh twenty's and their clones make excellent platforms on which to build on and many people have converted them onto foxed gear bikes.

They require more work due to non standard parts but the finished bikes are very nice to ride since they have grown up road manners.

Spokes on my new high flange front (not shown) are 165mm... can't remember the spoke length in the rear although they are longer.

Since they are 406 (BMX) wheels spokes are readily available and a 20 inch, 36 spoke wheel is really freaking strong.

s a r c a s m

most of the older folding bikes looks like they have a one piece stem/handlebar. am i wrong? or can you just unbolt the hex bolt and add on a new bar. because truthfully, i just want to have a badass vintage-folding-bike-esque folding bike with bullhorns that i can use to get around town.

i am hoping to not spend too much on the project.

$60 max on the bike
$25 on bullhorns
$50 on bringing it back to rideable/optimal condition.

read up on sheldon brown's R20 page.
I assure you 65'ers R20 does not have the stock handlebars.

I should really get around to fixing mine up...

Twenty's did not come with Nitto B52 bars and aero levers although they did fit in the Raleigh stem quite nicely.

Some 20's have a one piece stem and fixed risers... others had a two piece with an adjustable bar which is preferable.

The only stock parts on my 20 are the frame, fork, and fenders.