Assistance - conversion to fixed/SS
 

Spend my money...wisely? :)

I've got a 1987 Miyata 912 which has recently started collecting dust. I broke the rear derailleur, and the races on the back hub are starting to see some pitting as of this year. A copious amount of grease will keep them spinning efficiently for another year or so, but I will eventually need new wheels. Seeing this impending money sink, I fell in love with a new road bike. I don't wish to commute with the new bike as theft, inclement weather, and 4 wheeled-frustrated-folk make it less desirable to take a nice bike in to work. So, as my winter project, I'd like to convert my Miyata into a SS/fixed.


Necessities:

• New wheelset with a flip flop hub
• new crankset & chain

I'd like to maintain some semblance of a classy bike. No super deep V multicoloured rims. Nice black or white rims & black spokes. Ideally, I'd like something like these, maybe with a bit higher spoke count(I will be about 185lbs by spring). I really like the silver Sugino cranks that are depicted on Sheldon Brown's site as well. Please help me out with some experience here. Thanks!

Wants(later on in the winter months)

• New bars
• either a new stem, or a quilled stem that accepts 31mm bars? Or stem converter?
• I'm keeping my brakes on for the SS component of the bike. New brakes as well

http://www.burdon.ca/pics/miyata_clean.jpg

If I had a conversion I wouldn't put much money into it. I'd probably just end up getting a kit like this, unless I knew exactly which parts/brands I wanted. http://www.ws-outlet.com/casearch.as...ersion+kit+cog

You don't need a new crankset, unless there is something horribly wrong with the current cranks that you failed to mention. Procure wheel(s) (try Velomine for lots of affordable options), add cogs, shorten chain or buy new chain as necessary.

Nope. Nothing wrong. Shimano 600. I just thought they might not be compatible. Thanks. I'll be tearing the bike down this weekend.

I was not aware of Velomine. Thank you.

Best spot on the webz for budget-friendly wheels IMO. I've bought from them several times.

You can do that conversion with a rear wheel and a cog. You may find that a complete wheelset makes more financial sense. You should find your inner chainring is close enough to the right offset and if has about 40 teeth, all you need to do is remove the outer ring (okay, you'll need some shorter chainring bolts). Mind you, some people grind the teeth off the large chainring and leave it in place as a chain guard - dunno that that's necessary.

Actually, all you really need is a cog - just spin the new cog onto your rear hub (if it's a fixed cog, use a bb lockring as a lock ring for it), then redish the rear wheel make the chainline right (no need to change spokes). Sheldon Brown has an article on doing this. This works perfectly if you're only going single speed ie, using a bmx freewheel. If you're going fixed, it's called a suicide hub because if you try to skid or otherwise put a lot of back pressure on the pedals, the cog can spin off. It's fine (ie, no problems at all) if you use your brakes. I and many others have done many safe and happy miles on a suicide hub, just by being sensible.

What's wrong with your brakes?

You might try just replacing the pads with good ones....like Kool Stop.

I'd try to use the crankset..........unless you just don't like the looks.

Nothing wrong, really. This bike has the full Shimano 600 Group(not arabesque). I have some sentimental attachment to it and the unique qualities I've grown accustomed to over the years. Both chainrings are Biopace and pretty cool IMO! If I ever discover a replacement 600 RD in my travels, I may put it back together as a vintage road bike. Until then, I'd like a SS commuter with modern components :) As it stands right now, I'm prepared to throw $500-$600 at it. Bicycle commuting is essential to me as parking is not an option(at $42.00 a day).

Didn't notice the Biopace. I wouldn't use those for SSFG, might want to look for a chainring as well. Luckily, those can be had on the super cheap.

VeloBase shows the 600 crankset to use 130BCD chainrings. They should be all over the place at a quite reasonable price. I just got a new 52t for my old 105s for $32 with shipping.

Biopace works fine for conversions, i run a 52 Biopace with stock bb on a Shimano 600 crankset, the chain line isn't perfect but works just fine.
Just adjust it fromtight spot without slack and you will be fine just don't make it super tight.

Just keep An eye on tension.

Besides Sheldon is the reason i still run it

Go home. You're drunk.

VeloMine is a good source if you want to drop $300-$400.

Otherwise, you've got horizontal dropouts. I'd just look for new freehub, a cog, a freewheel, and a build with your existing rim.

Also, you HAVE to park at $42/day? Does the winter make a longer walk impractical? When I lived in the Bronx and worked in mid town, I obviously never drove, but if I absolutely had to drive in I could find $40-50 rates, all day, every day.

Calgary must be coming up in the world.

The high end Biopace are a lot more round than what people usually imagine, it also helps to use a large ring like a 52t.

I could pay 25-35 a day and walk for 15 minutes. Or $90 for a monthly bus pass. It's a bit unreasonable. I only live 5km from work though, so even cycling in the winter is doable. I have been taking the bus since last winter though. Too many close calls.

I suppose I could rebuild the rear wheel as you suggest. That'd keep everything intact and solve my cone/race pitting problem. I'll probably do an order in the next month or so and document my build as I go :) Exciting!

http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

When i get off I'll take a picture of my setup I've been running for a year now.

Forgot about my pedal room.
http://www.pedalroom.com/p/centurion...-rs-9890_3.jpg

See, he's not drunk, he managed to find a picture of someone else's bike :)

Actually, I'd be interested in seeing the 'loose' and the 'tight' photos - just casual interest because I'm not going looking for a biopace, but I have had cheap chainrings that give more sag than that.

can do.
i didnt look for the tightest or loosest, just close to it.
http://imageshack.us/a/img20/9605/387b.th.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img29/9647/69c6.th.jpg
I havent had any issues with this setup as long as i maintain zero slack at the tightest spot. Im not talking super tight where you can hear it when riding.

the chain line also is off by a decent amount using the stock bottom bracket but i havent had any issues.

but whatever i must be drunk again :rolleyes:

You're obviously drunk. I've read the forums. You must never have the chain that slack and a mm perfect chainline is essential if you don't wish to die a horrible death.

Thanks for taking the effort, it puts a lot of what we think into perspective and it's interesting that the biopace cranks work.

no problem, didnt mind at all. In all honesty id just stick with this chainring when i finish my rumrunner build when i swap over the crankset except for the chainring is silver and not black.

Btw i think that miyata will make a sweet conversion.

a set of the black sun m13's or the black tb14's from velomine would make it super sexy.

Of course it works. It's just silly.

So a simple inexpensive conversion is silly?

I suppose riding with one gear is silly as well when multi speed bikes are available.
Whats the problem here?

They're just not appropriate for the purpose. Sheldon was a very knowledgeable guy, but he was also an old kook and not everything he says is gospel. The world at large seeks round chainrings on FG bikes for a reason -- there is nothing on the bike to regulate chain tension. Sure it won't kill you, but I like to take it one step further and ride my bike without feeling like it's going to fall apart under me. Thus, given the choice between a jankity-ass build and a non-jankity-ass build, I will always choose the latter. Good day pricks.

disclaimer- The above opinions are based on experience.