Raleigh Competition as SS (or fixie)
 

I am a noobie in SS/Fixie - so excuse me if asked before

I have a mid-70's Raleigh Competition that I had since high school. Presently in pieces and thinking of putting together as single speed - as cheaply as possible to just try it out. the bike has a lugged frame, chrome fork and rear stays. It has old Dura-Ace stuff (10-speed) and Dura Ace side-pull brakes. Bottom line, a really cool looking vintage frame.

I'm 50+ and where I live is relatively flat - but not sure if this all makes sense. I already have a road bike, vintage Fuji Touring bike, MTN bike (pre-suspension) and Pro-Flex Mtn bike that I need to put together.

I read about flip-flop hubs and perhaps that where I will go eventually. But would, or should, this bike be put back together as semi-original? I thought about a conversion to 700c wheels (requires some frame work for the brake mounts), rear frame widened to accept a 8 or 9 speed rear free wheel and add index shifting. Not sure if this would just be a 531-flexible flyer or not. Maybe this forum is not the place for an un-biased answer, but.....

Just thinking a bike that I can grab and ride the 11 miles "around the block" after work, or 20-25 on weekends. Longer rides would have me grabbing something else likely from the shed/aka bike barn

John

Get a rear wheel with a flip-flop hub. Figure out what gear ratio you would enjoy the most and buy a cog or two and a chain. I did the freewheel thing for a few months, but you may as well go fixed from the get go. If you don't like it, sell the wheel and you can convert your bike back to a multi-gear. Ride fixed for a couple weeks minimum. Once your body gets over that coasting thing, it will be hard to go back to a freewheel. I like the control you have when riding.