HI, I want to build my first singlespeed bike and am looking for some suggestions/help with frame and parts selection. I have been an avid Road and MTB rider for quite awhile, but can not anymore due to knee issues so I just ride for recreation and because I love it so much. I currently have an Electra cruiser which I love and is great to ride, but have wanted to build a singlespeed for a couple of years now and have decided to do it.

I do not want and can not afford a high end bike at this time and honestly don't ride enough anymore that I need one. I want a fun, versatile singlespeed to ride on bike paths, around the neighborhood, but also be able to handle some off road riding, mainly grass and hard packed smooth dirt trails.

My budget is going to be under the $250-$300 range and I would love to find an older used road frame to use if possible, just need some suggestions on what ones would be good to look at. I would also like suggestions for the rest of the parts as well. I do not want this to be a flashy bike, I want a low profile looking bike, clean and simple. I also want to mount a rack on the rear and possibly some simple fenders down the road, but those aren't a definite. I was also thinking of putting cross tires on it, thoughts? I do not want clipless pedals on it either. I do not want a fixie so I'm not sure what a good hub to go with would be, maybe a flip flop? Or one that is just a singlespeed, I can not spin at a continuos high cadence with my knee so I need to be able to coast once in awhile. Also for brakes to keep cost down I want good, simple, reliable brakes for now, but may down the road want think about adding manual discs to it if that would be possible. I also want to have a chainguard on it to keep my pants from getting tore up and dirty.

To give you and idea of the look I am going for I will probably paint the frame either all white, or matte black and go with all black parts on it where possible. I want it to have a very utility, aggressive urban look to it.

Thanks, I know that's a lot of info to ask, but I'm really looking forward to building this and was thinking with all the knowledge in this forum I should be able to get some great help and after I'm done with my build I will be able to do the same for someone else too.......Oh and of course I'll post some great pics of it up here through the build and once it's completed, cause who doesn't love some good bike porn.

Dan

craigslist

If you fit 52cm
https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=2265
Otherwise they are $400 at bikes direct.

I haven't actually seen this bike in person but it sounds like you want a single speed cross bike from your description.

Thanks for your replies, I have been watching craigslist and will continue, but there is not a lot popping up in my area (Tampa, FL) and a 52cm would be small, I had a Trek Madone that was a 56, but I'm looking to go with a 54 for this build I think so it's a little more compact and maneuverable. I do not necessarily have to have a cross bike, just as long as it has enough clearance for a little bigger tires would be preferred. I had even thought about going with an older MTB frame, but I know most have vertical dropouts which I do not think would work as good with out adding a chain tensioner which I'd like to avoid if possible.

I'm guessing it is out of your price range but max5480 is selling his bike and it is probably exactly what you are looking for:
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/vassag...-for-sale-3089
I don't know anything about these kinds of bikes except that I don't like to ride them.

Also consider:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/deadeye.htm

That's a sweet ride he's selling, jabber's rock.....but is def out of my range for now. I actually might just end up making this more city geared and stick with road tires and look at building a sweet ss mtb down the road when I can afford to build it the way I would want. I live in Tampa Florida so there are not many mountains around here anyways, but I do love the way the ss mtb's look, I have a thing for fat knobby tires even though I've been a spandex wearing roadie as well.

I really want a bike that I can get out on and is super fun to ride, fast, responsive and aggressive feeling. I've got my electra cruiser to ride, it looks sweet and is super comfortable, but it's def not responsive, or fast.

And I also want a project, part of what I'm looking forward to most is building the bike, it's something I have not done before but have wanted to for a few years.

Ah, so you are looking at a conversion. Craigslist is the first option for getting a used frame. Also try swap meets. But this really isn't the best bang for your buck when it comes buying a bike. You are almost always better off buying a complete bike and then upgrading components. It seems like it should be cheaper to recycle something but it doesn't ever end up being that way. Suppose that you find a road frame that you like for $70. You still need to buy wheels, which will be at least $115, plus a crankset for $45. Stem and handlebars for another $40 and seatpost and saddle for another $80. Tires and tubes another $40. That's almost $500 for getting components that are not as good as you will find on the $300 bikes direct bikes.

I would recommend the Kilo TT but it has clearance problems for larger tires.