daveyy

So,recently i have been reading up on the fixie scene and i am pretty tired of driving my car around and not getting the exercise that i really need. I have been stalking around craiglist for a decent bike but decided i had just wanted to fix up something of my own. I live in New York city so i see bike messengers pretty often. Few days ago i stumbled upon a old bianchi super sport that has been laying around my dad's basement. Looks a bit like this except the back end isn't so awkward looking. https://www.beginnertriathlete.com/di...&photoid=10227 Sorry, i am a big noob so feel free to flame me. Knowing it's Bianchi , i was pretty sure it's a good bike brand, so i took it home. But the tires a unflated and even more it looks it has deteriorated due to the aging and i was trying to find the size so i can replace it. It said 600 x 1/2 inch? in the front and 600 X something else in the rear. I don't what to purchase to begin converting to fixie, i don't even know the size of this bike i got on and my toes were touching the ground so im guessing 56? I am 5'7. I began looking for tires and tubes on ebay , here are some links i found. I will provide some pictures tomorrow. Again sorry for noobish post and feel free to flame.


https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

PedallingATX

check the "Start Here" thread that is stickied at the top of this subforum.

Also check out Sheldon Brown's website. He has a really helpful guide to building a fixie.

If you want to convert that bike, you are going to need a new rear wheel, a cog and a lockring at least. You might be able to reuse your existing crankset/BB, but you also might not. You can get a complete FG wheelset for not much more than $100. I would just do that.

carleton

This is sort of like asking, "I found some meat in the fridge. How do I make a nice meal?"

It sounds like you don't know what you are doing. Which is fine. We all can't know everything about everything.

There is a whole lot involved. The easiest being, leave the bike as-is and just have it restored to proper safe working order. It will likely cost you more to convert the bike yourself than to pay a bike shop to restore it to working order as a road bike. Seriously. Tuning it up is probably the easiest, cheapest, and fastest option to get your rolling. Riding is the objective, right? Or is the objective to have a fixed gear?

If you decide on getting a tune up. Find a reputable shop and take it in for an ESTIMATE including parts and labor. Don't authorize any work till you are happy with the cost. A tune up should cost about $60-100 not counting "consumable" parts that decay or wear out over time like new tires, tubes, brake pads, cables, grip tape. All of this depends on how dried up the bike is.

Start there.


There is a lot to be learned by doing it yourself...IF you are into learning that kind of stuff. Some folks just want to ride as soon as possible and don't care to know how to do this kind of stuff. Either way, you will have to pay for parts, and if you do it yourself you will have to pay for your mistakes and pay to get started (purchasing the wrong parts, right parts, tools, bike stand, etc...)

So, this could be as easy as dropping the bike off at the shop and picking it up in a week and paying for the expertise. Or you can pay with your own time and effort.

daveyy

Honestly it's a bit chilly here in Nyc but this past week has been shaping up to spring season. I would not mind waiting for a bit to ride. So i guess it's switching to fixie is the more better topic here, but i hardly know what size ,tires etc of this bike. i will post up some pics up tomorrow morning. If i buy those 700x22/23/24 tires will they fit on my existing rims?

hairnet

probably best to go to a shop and actually talk with someone. Unless your dad ruined the bike, it can be perfectly rideable with a little professional service in no time at all.

MaxSta

honestly man, i live in NYC too and don't buy used tires!

I've been having problems with getting flats, buy some new tires, you can buy a wheelset like someone said for a deal (rims tubes and tires)

carleton

See. This is the problem.

Buying stuff is easy. Buying the right stuff is the problem you are going to have. Bike shops have your answer. They will answer for free*. They will likely give you better advice in person when they actually see the bike and can inspect it rather than a bunch of random people on the internet (us) guessing as to what's up with your bike.

Do you know how to install a tube and tire?
Do you have tire levers?
Do you have an air pump?
Do you need rim tape?
Do your rims need truing and tensioning?
Do you know how to true and tension them?
Do the hubs need grease?
Do you have grease?
...
See what I mean?

Message boards like this one are good for answers to specific questions. But, you don't have a specific question. You have lots of questions. Questions you don't even know you have yet. From being around here for a few years, I doubt that this forum has the patience to guide you through each and every step.


*It's not cool to get advice and info from a bike shop then go order online. Just sayin.

EDIT:
I know the tasks listed above aren't hard when you know. But, when you don't know, you don't know. (How many times have people removed or installed tires with screwdrivers only to puncture the tubes?)

The OP sort of has 2 projects in one going on:
1) A minor restoration (hopefully a minor one)
2) Fixed gear conversion

Neither one is particularly hard. But, not really easy for the uninitiated.



Edit #2:

I'm not trying to shoo you off, man. I'm just offering the best advice I have to offer. There have been LOTS of failed projects because people thought all conversions were easy and cheap. Some are, but not all.

Young Version

I'm curious what size wheels this thing actually has...

I don't know much about obscure tire sizing, but it seems unlikely that a manufacturer would mix ISO and English dimensions (600 x 1/2").

daveyy

so i went to a local bike shop today to get an estimate for a fixie conversion. He said 180 for a new crank set, chains, tires and rims depending on my current ones. i did not bring my bike in to show, but i did take pictures to show him.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48257847@N03/

heres some i took..
i know i should leave it to him to convert but i sort of want to change it according to my own preference, such as chain colors, rims and tires.

but do not know where to start

PedallingATX

do it yourself. it's easy.

daveyy

I guess i start off buying 700c rims/tires and 170mm crankset?

carleton

So you don't know what to do nor what to buy and you will start with buying 2 of the most expensive components of a bike?

There's a saying about a fool and his money...

Mos6502

Especially if you don't know what you're doing, or have access to the tools you need.

eMXiMeR

180$ to get it converted with new crank set, chains, tires and rims is a good deal for your first bike. From there you can tinker with it as you like, and if you screw something up you could take it back to them and I'd bet they'll be nice enough to help you out. Since I'm not going to pounce on you like the Jackass Squad here, I'll give you a list of basically what you need (assuming the bike is a geared bike)

-new wheelset
-new cog (gear that goes on your rear wheel)
-new crankset
-new tubes/tires
-new chain (maybe)
-new pedals, bars, saddle, optional

Honestly it will be better to get it done at the shop for your first time out. It might cost you (based on my experience with local shop) more than 180$ though, think ~60$ for a crank, ~20$ for a cog (more expensive in shops), 100$ for a wheel set (can very greatly), maybe 20$ a tire, 5$ a tube. That puts my estimate at 205$ if they do the labor for free. Not sure if NYC will be more or less expensive than SLC (lower cost of living here but also less competition).

kato7997

Thats a clean bike. I wouldn't convert it...especially since it has DT shifters.

acoustophile

i converted the same bike last summer. It's a reliable steed that I use for bike couriering.

daveyy

^^ Can you tell me your setup?
so i been doing some searching the past few days and came to a conclusion of getting a 16t cog and a 42t chainring? but i dont understand the whole BCD thing theres 130/110/ and different ranges does this matter with the crank? and most cranks i been looking at dont come with single chainring and are mostly 170s and not 165s. on of the thread said it wasn't at high risk of pedal strike unless i do sharp turns which i highly doubt i'm going to do.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

will these cranks be fine?


Also im going with kmc4210 for chain? its a 1/2x1/8 but im might not since most chain rings im looking at are 3/32 anyone have some better suggestions for a chain ? thanks for the feedback guys

daveyy

So i got a new wheelset, new cog 17t, tubes and tires. ^^ thats the pm acustophile i m just wondering if you guys can help me out with some feedback as to bottom bracket out mean? and i'm going with that i dont need new cranks , i can just use the existing ones along with the exisiting 42t chainring?