Building a bike is not a major project.

Building a bike is not something to fear.

It's easy - even for the inexperienced.

And it gets even easier once a person gains experience.

I know this. But the guy is 15 and on a budget. I just think that he should buy a complete bike instead of this project. And if he *is* set on a project, start with a track frame.

If you think that having nothing more than a $25 frame and no tools, parts, or experience this project will be "easy - even for the inexperienced" you are mistaken. The easy way is to buy a complete bike and modify it over time.

Not everyone cares about gaining experience. Some just want to ride a nice bike.

I'm out. You guys got this. squiresuzuki, let us know how it works out.

A track frame might be fine if you want to ride like you're riding on a track. If you're not riding like that, a road frame geometry is probably better. If the frames decent and fits you, then go for it.

Sometimes good bike stores will have old parts lying around for good prices. I got cranks for $20 once, and I've gotten small parts now and then for free.

I ditched the idea - not because I thought I would not be able to handle it, but just because I found a cheaper alternative. I found an early 80s Centurion road bike, in perfect condition. I paid 150 bucks for it...but he said he paid 700 bucks for it back then. I thought it was a good deal, and the brand seemed good quality from looking around the internet. Of course, this eliminates my need to buy the bracket, cranks, handlebars, brakes, etc. I just bought the EighthInch Amelia wheelset with cog, tire, and tube for 100 dollars online. I'm waiting for it to come. You can see pics of the bike here: click here. Tell me, is this bike too valuable to be painted? I wish to paint it white. If it is, then how do you think it will look with the existing frame, but with white rimmed wheels, orange bar tape and and orange chain?

i think the painy looks fine the way it is. but its your frame, do what you want with it.

Sorry but I wouldn't have paid $150 for that bike. I'm not saying you got ripped off, but no way was that a $700 bike in the 80s. It will, however, be perfect for your fixed gear project. Paint it if you want, but be warned: it probably won't turn out as good as you're hoping unless you know what you're doing. You might want to consider getting a new crankset for it, as yours are not forged.

Edit: You might need a new front brake if you're changing the front wheel. It looks like your pads are already bottomed out in the front. A 700c wheel is 8mm smaller in diameter than your 27 inchers, and as a result you might not be able to get the pads to reach.

Why do fixers pick the front wheel to leave the brake on?
Before I ordered those wheels, I only measured the rear wheel brake pad's room for adjustment, stupidly. Originally I was going to only buy a rear wheel until I saw just that these 2 wheels were cheaper than any one wheel out on the internet...

Front brake is more effective than the rear, so if you're going to leave on one brake it should be the front.

Because the front brake is the important one. Plus, a fixed gear bike already has a rear "brake" because you can slow down or skid the rear tire by backpedaling.

Sweet centurion decal! I haven't seen one like that before. I like that bike the way it is, but it's yours and you should do with it what you want, I think you'll enjoy it as a conversion. But since you asked here is my 2 cents.. I wouldn't paint it, I'd clean it up real nice though, make it nice and shiny. I think it would look awful with an orange chain and bartape, go with a regular chain, and since you got white wheels I would do white bartape, or cream-colored like those decals!\

Edit: KEEP THE TIRE SAVER ON!

I was considering white at first, but then I thought that they would just get really dirty really fast.

Sorry man, I haven't been checking this stuff lately! Yes, SRAM is sweet. Decently priced and pretty much bulletproof. Their chains are awesome.

It won't really mess up the geometry that badly, but I just like the uniformity of keeping 27's on a bike that was built for them. You can get pretty decent tires and tubes...I mean, my bike is wearing Conti gators. Weinmann LP18's are nice, light 27" rims. Problem solved, mate! I mean, I see what you're saying, for sure, there's a larger selection of 700c's. I don't know, I guess it's just my opinion in the end, and it's definitely possible to build a nice set of 27's.