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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Advice please

Old 08-19-10, 07:34 AM
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Advice please

Hello everyone, I've been interested in cycling for around 2 years now and I'm looking for advice. I'm fourteen so money is tight but I have a Mountain Bike and a BMX both of them aren't a flash make the BMX is from Decathlon and the Mountain Bike from JJB but I've really took an interested in Singlespeed/fixed gear bikes recently and I'm looking to mash parts from the two bikes to create a good all around single speed bike the only problem is the front forks have suspension and I want to have drop down handle bars, will this make much difference? I was thinking of road tyres too.

I really want to know what you people think I should do.
Cheers

Steve
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Old 08-19-10, 08:03 AM
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I don't think I've been very clear, what I mean is I want drop down handlebars does it matter that I have suspension forks? Will the suspension make a difference?


Cheers
Steve
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Old 08-19-10, 08:51 AM
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... I don't think it will. Its just like putting a drop handlebar on a mountain bike with front suspension. Whatever suits your need, but I think it'll look funny.
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Old 08-19-10, 09:26 AM
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??

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Old 08-19-10, 09:35 AM
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Before you start messing with it make a list of all the components you will have to buy (ie. drop down bars) and any tools you may need to buy to build the bike. That stuff can add up fast, and it might be cheaper to look for a fixie on CL or something. Or maybe you can do it on the cheap... i'm just saying look into it first.
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Old 08-19-10, 09:55 AM
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Thanks for the responses guys, Crappymonkey is that your bike? Yes? If so do you enjoy riding it?

Also I have looked into all the components I need and I have the tools to fit it I just need the bars you can get a set of drop downs in Go Outdoors for £20 at the moment and my brother and two cousins work there so I guess you could say I get it on the cheap ;D

Cheers guys
Steve
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Old 08-19-10, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by ewing9593
Thanks for the responses guys, Crappymonkey is that your bike? Yes? If so do you enjoy riding it?

Also I have looked into all the components I need and I have the tools to fit it I just need the bars you can get a set of drop downs in Go Outdoors for £20 at the moment and my brother and two cousins work there so I guess you could say I get it on the cheap ;D

Cheers guys
Steve
Not my bike. I found it on Google images
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Old 08-19-10, 10:11 AM
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Thanks CrappyMonkey, I went through google images myself and even though there few and far between people have Mountain bikes with drop Handlebars, I'm getting some drop handle bars soon and I'll get a cheap leisure bike (Ill save up) and the leisure bike I've seen has rigid forks so I'll slowly change things.

Thanks for the input everyone!!
Steve
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Old 08-19-10, 10:22 AM
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Most expensive part will be STI levers. If you already have a 31.8 stem, that will help, as road bars come in that clamp diameter too. If you've a 25.4 stem, you'll need a new one of those, too. Although I think there are one or two bars with 25.4 clamp and proper diameter for road brifters.

In your last sentence you say you want road tires, too??? It would be easier and better to just get a low end road bike, or even better - a nice used one. Oh, and check out cyclocross bikes too.

Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 08-19-10 at 10:26 AM.
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Old 08-19-10, 10:28 AM
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Lester of puppets thanks for the input, but that hole first paragraph made no sense sorry. Also the mountain bike is now only temporary as I've found a nice bike with rigid forks single gear for £70 and that will be bought soon.

Cheers
Steve
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Old 08-19-10, 10:38 AM
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As to the first paragraph, over the past 10 years, stem clamp diameters (where they clamp the bars) come in 3 varieties. 25.4 mm, 26mm and 31.8mm. Plenty of drop and flat bar choices in 31.8. plenty of drop bar choices in 26. Plenty of flat bar choices in 25.4 and maybe 4 or 5 drop bars in that clamp diameter.

Oops, didn't look to see what forum this is in. No need to worry about the STI action.

Is the mountain bike you already have a singlespeed at the moment? If not, I wouldn't bother with the conversion. Just wait 'til your 70 pound bike gets in. Man, that is cheap. I'd be almost scared to ride it

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Old 08-19-10, 10:39 AM
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I wouldn't bother spending money to put drops on the MTB. Save all you can and get what you want.
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Old 08-19-10, 10:39 AM
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Oh dear! You've caught the "bicycle tinkering" disease. There's no cure so you might as well just go with it.

Whatever you're thinking about - just do it. I can pretty well guarantee that you won't be happy for very long with your first attempt or two and, when you do finally produce a bike that you're happy with, it will have cost more than an equivlent new one. On the other hand you will learn all kinds of things through the process and you will have the satisfaction of having done it yourself. Just think of the money as tuition in the "University of Bike Tinkering".

Have fun!
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Old 08-19-10, 10:59 AM
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Thanks guys well here are the bike I'm receiving (Fingers crossed that is, its all down to my mum and dad ya see ;D) https://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/vitamin-117071608/ And hopefully the parts https://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/vitamin-117071608/ and then Ill hopefully go on a ride every night thats my aim, just to improve my fitness for the lacrosse.

I know the bikes nothing special, I don't want anything special, I just want something small and what I want, if that all makes sense.

Thanks again everyone
Steve
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