n+1, no exceptions.

Should I convert a 1988 Raleigh Technium 400 into a singlespeed winter/commuter bike? I bought it for 190 bucks but I just purchased a Shimano 7600 crankset, now I need to switch the bottom bracket (I believe the current one both sucks and is not compatible) and of course, I don't have the tools to do it. So it could cost around 140 to just do half the conversion. Worth it? Anyone have experience with these bikes?

Wheelbase is a little long for my taste. Not a huge fan of glued skinny tube aluminum either, but...

The more bikes you have the more tools you realize are worth buying... A crank puller and BB removal tool are two of my favorite tools to have.

++ I use both a lot more than I thought I would at first. Also, headset bearing cup removal tool. Also also, pedal wrench.

Do both!

He might need these for his BB:

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pub...38_eVI0fdWFVmkhttp://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pub...0QR4oQXhT8-fQ0

You can sometimes get by with creative use of hammer + screwdriver or hammer + punch.
Maybe a big Crescent or pipewrench also. This all as long as you don't mind slightly mangling BB being removed, of course.

should i... trade my phil wood/h+son wheelset for dura ace to deep vs (which i'd sell) + cash

the question is, how much cash should I require he throw in? I can probably sell the deep v set easier because they'll be cheaper, so I'm open to just reflipping them if I need to

You should trade and just keep the Deep Vs.

i agree with scrod. v's to dura ace is a solid wheelset

yeah I could do that, but I don't really need them. I kinda like having a cheaper wheelset on the pixie blue (Sun M13 II / Formula) and a wabi set on the other 722, and just got a set for the Mash, so one of them would just be sitting around.

any ideas on the $ he should toss in? I know deep rims and track drops aren't cool on bfssfg anymore, but they're not total throwaways :p

Who cares what's "cool"? The Velocity Deep V is one of my favorite rims.

oh I was joking, but I meant the H+Son, not the Deep Vs.

I see you can get his wheels with DT Swiss spokes for $350 brand new on velomine, but he seems to think they're worth closer to $500 new. meanwhile my hubs run about $350 alone. he thought $50 + him driving to me was worth it, but I told him, I don't need them, so him driving means nothing to me :/

I thought all velomine wheels had straight gauge spokes?

most of them

so... I'm overhauling this old Suzue Promax hub, I don't like the bearing balls in them, pitted and really bad quality. The bearing balls that are in it are 5mm. I have new ceramic 3/16" laying around. So, my question is: Do you think the size difference would be a problem? do note that I plan to change all of them, and not just swap the ugly ones, so the size would be uniform.

5mm = .0196850394 inches
3/16" = 0.1875 inches

oh sorry.. obligitory "should I?": should I?

should I go full townie with the pixie blue pista and get fenders and a basket and some swanky VO bars

yes, no basket.

Shouldn't be an issue. It's not likely that the "5mm" bearings were precisely that size anyway.

Doo eet. Townies are amazing.

Why "5mm" and not 5mm? Quotes throw me off...

I meant rack
http://store.velo-orange.com/media/c...a-0020_1_1.jpg

Oh, then get hella.....
Racks on Racks on Racks on...

In all seriousness, get a rack.

anyone have any recommendations for sturdy fenders and racks for a frame/fork without eyelets

Axiom makes a rack that works on bikes without mounts. there are p-clamp mounting fenders, not sure which brand makes them