Question about buying a road bike for a conversion
 

I'm planning on buying a road bike to convert to a fixed gear. I've found one on craigslist and the guy is willing to give it to me for $80, however I'm a bit skeptical of giving the money because I've asked several times what brand the frame is and he has avoided answering it. here is the ad http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/2837251334.html
also if it's a generic brand is it worth dishing out $80? I mean it is quite cheap, but I'd rather fork over 120$ for a schwinn or Peugeot that I've seen. And also as for the rear wheel/gear/hub what are some recommendations for turning it from 6 to 1 fixed gear? Should i just buy spacers and use one of the stock gears? I've been reading on the forums but haven't been able to decide and also figure out what number of teeth I should go with. Btw, I just started cycling this past week. I've ridden on and off but now I'm getting into it more, but frankly the idea of one single gear appeals to me more than many.

Also I'm not trying to be a hipster. I may upset some people with this but making a fixed gear and painting it some extravagant colors just because your friends did is stupid. I want a fixed gear because they are awesome to ride. That's what cycling and riding should be about. Not pink and purple combos. No offense to those that have those colors and actually ride.

Much gratitude replies. Thanks!

It was probably a huffy or another crappy department store bike from the 70s-80s. Not worth the price.

Why not just buy a singlespeed specific frameset instead of going through the trouble of converting a frame that wasn't meant to be ridden as a fixed gear.

Terrible advice.

+1

Seriously. Why spend good money trying to convert an Apple into an Orange. Why not just buy an Orange?

Because then I would have to fork out 200+ on a frame, and more on a wheelset, bars, fork if the frame didnt come with one, and other parts. I don't have that kind of money. I'm a college kid. The most I could probably dish out for a fixed gear is about 300 and that's everything included. Not a lot for a bike. And even if I could put together a fixed gear for that money itd be ****ty, where I can get I road bike for like 200 and just change the hubs, or with minimal other work. Unless I'm completely wrong, and you guys know how to build a relatively cheap fixed gear. Then I'm all ears.

Thanks again.

1) Buy complete, functional bike.

2) Buy rear wheel with flip/flop hub, cog and lockring.

3) Strip all the **** you don't need.

4) Install new rear wheel.

Conversions are great for new riders because it's a cheap way for a person to get their feet wet. If it doesn't work out, bring it back to original or just flip the wheel and ride single-speed. And aside from bottom bracket height, there really isn't a practical reason why someone can't enjoy a conversion on the road. Pedal strike can be mitigated.

That said, for $300 I'd go to bikesdirect and buy any of the several completes they have there. It's a lot less work.

Is there a specific road bike brand you would recommend? Part of the reason I wanted to do a conversion was because of the manual effort it takes. I tend to be the type of person who pursues success by doing. I want to be able to say I converted this myself and slapped a paint job on there. I'm not afraid of getting down and dirty. Any specific brands? Or brands to avoid? I know my cycling bike is a specialized sirrus. I got it for free but no idea if the sirrus model is any good. I've heard that schwinn is pretty bad for the cheaper models.

Thanks

Your budget is about 300 so why not get a complete Windsor for about that price on Bikesdirect. Or just buy a overpriced conversion that's ready to ride on Craigslist.

buy a schwinn world sport and don't pay more than 50 bucks for the complete bike.

I don't know how many people would be willing to give it for that low. I'm looking local on craigslist and most I see are going for 150+. I swear the SF Bay area is so over priced. and its so hard to find a 52cm bike. Every bike is always 56+ or a really small size.

The kind of bike doesn't really matter. Just make sure the rear dropouts have some horizontal travel for chain tensioning and make sure the thing isn't tooooo rusty. Then buy a rear wheel and tire/tube. Won't be the prettiest but that's about it.

Still, it would be easier to buy a complete from Bikes Direct.

If the sale on Nashbar is still going on, they have a Veulta SS/FG frameset for 59.99.

Sheldon Brown is your friend: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

And check out this thread for some inspiration: Your fixed-gear conversions...

I have looked at both those sites. And as for the vuelta is this what you're referring to http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...category=10000 ? It is pretty cheap but for 300 can i put together a fixed gear with this frame? And is the frame any good? Or am I better off looking for a conversion? Dang so many questions. I wish I could just answer them myself.

$70 Frame
$100 wheelset
$30 tires
$10 Tubes
$20 Bottom Bracket
$40 Crank
$20 pedals/straps/cages
$20 seatpost
$20 Stem
$20 headset
$20 handlebars
$10 bartape
$20 chain
$20 saddle
$10 seatpost clamp

$430 Total

its safe to assume im missing something... you can decide what would be cheaper for yourself..

A tad bit over budget. I think you hit it spot on though. Maybe I'll just get a job or do some small work here and there to get that money. It's well worth it I think. But then again I can probably get a complete and just change the rear wheel. Dang.

my point was to show you, that even with really low end parts, sh*t still is expensive.


Pick one: name brand bikes, mid level parts:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/trackbikes.htm

many within your budget....

True. Idk all valid points. I'll see what happens. Thanks for all the comments.

Patience and perseverance should find you a decent older road bike for $200 or less. Add a rear wheel like you said you're done. Or you can go uber cheap and just get a cog and BB lock-ring with some lock-tight, redish/respace and run a "suicide wheel" with the existing wheel (no skidding though!) You could then sell the un-used components to re-coup a bit assuming they're decent pieces which would hint at a decent bike to begin with. Prices quoted above are certainly not top shelf stuff at all. I'd look for and older frame with no shifter bosses and the like. Look for tubing material rather than specific brand, such as Renolds, Columbus, Tange, ect. There should be a sticker on the seat tube designating what it's made of. Good luck and happy wrenching/riding.

PS a job would still help;)

If anything is described with the adjective "suicide" I would advise against it.

Bike in the CL ad looks like a 70's Raleigh Gran Prix or Sprite with 27" wheels. Pass on it and just buy a complete bike or get a Nashbar frame for $75 and build that up if you really want a project.

No it doesn't. Crankset is Ashtabula.

I found another bike on CL. The guy said its a bianchi, and he sent me pics but I can't tell what model it is. It's missing cables And a seat. It's 10 speed and dark blue. I believe it's a piaggio. It looks exactly like this http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ianchi-Piaggio how much should I pay for it. It's listed at 100 but maybe I can get it for 70? Or am I lowballing him

It'd be heavy, but serviceable. You can do much better if you're patient.