Super cheap fixed, first time, advice
 

Hey all,

I recently picked up a cheapo ten-speed in great working order, seems to be an 80's era Huffy, though I am not knowledgable about such things. It is basically just to use to get around campus, and works great for that.

I have been reading a lot about fixed-gear conversions on here, on Sheldon's page, etc., and would like to try it out, but have a few limitations. First, I have pretty much no cash to spend on this. Second, I have no bike tools or access to any short of going to a bike shop.

My plan is to figure out what kind of freewheel is on this thing, and get it taken off by the bike shop...as long as they charge very little for it. The only part I would need to buy then is the cog and lockring I suppose. It is my understanding that once the freewheel is off, you can install these in its place?

The chainrings are riveted and I don't see a way to get them off of the crank, so at least for now I would have to deal with having two chainrings for no good reason, until I could afford a replacement.

I'd use spacers to line the cog up with a chainring, get some loctite on there and use a lockring, and then once more to the bike shop to shorten the chain. I plan to leave the brakes on and just leave the rear wheel dished the way it is for now; yeah it isn't pretty, but I am not confident enough to do that myself even if I had the tools, cannot afford to have it done, aaand I kind of want this project to be easily reversible if possible. In the future I would look for other cheapo bikes to get parts off of, like cranks and chainrings, or nicer wheels or something.

My overall question is, is this plan viable? Can it work without spending too much more money? Am I missing anything? And finally, is there a cheaper way I haven't thought of? :D I have seen a lot of threads talking about cheap conversions, and replies often reference what are (to me at this time) parts or tools or other things that are way out of my budget at the moment.

One other thing is, I am aware of the risks involved with actually riding, and with using this method of conversion. I plan to ride very carefully and be gentle with the backwards pedalling until I get used to it all.

Thanks!

You sound like you are on the right path.

your plan sucks. just get a bmx freewheel and make a single speed.

What difference would it make if he put a track cog or a freewheel? And why give him crap for a legit question? Not everyone jumps in both feet first.

im doing the same thing with a old schwin i redised the wheel myself all in all i have spent 7 bucks for a new tube all i need is to buy a cog. just keep going and deal with problems as they arise it will be fine and fun to

I guess I could always try redishing, but am I correct in assuming it is not absolutely necessary? I guess followup question, where's a good place to find an inexpensive cog?

i'm not giving him crap, just more realistic advice. if he's unfamiliar with working on a bike in and seemingly unwilling to learn, doesn't have tools, let alone proper equipment, and is not willing to invest in either, a single speed would be more viable and safer. it just seems to be putting the cart before the horse. but then again i am an elitist jerkface prick.

Search the forum for "suicide wheel" or "bumbike" to bond with your brethren of similar construction.

Enjoy

Cool, I just don't want to discourage the lad. We all start on the path somewhere and then get to be elitist jerkface prick. ;)

Sell some plasma and buy a fuji or langster or something (I think that was one guy's plan awhile back).

Cheap cogs? Business Cycles had steel EAI for 22.50...don't know if that's real cheap or not, but I bought a couple.

Good luck, man!

I see your point, but I am not unwilling to learn. I have done bicycle maintenance before, when tools were available to me, just not everything you can do to a bike. As for spending I really just do not have any money at this time. I can't afford tools either. I'm just a bum I guess :)

I was just trying to see I could do anything with what I have right now, or if I have to wait until I have more financial resources. If it turns out I don't like it, I'd rather not be in the hole any more than necessary. Also wanted to verify that I understood the procedures I have been reading about correctly, and I would consider that a learning process.

Any bike co-ops in Grand Forks? Maybe you can find someone around campus with some tools to help you out...

If the 'ol Huff is in "good working order", just ride it around as is until you can save up some funds...as long as you are riding it's all good!!

yeah, you're on the right track. concerning the freewheel, if you have one with the cassette/freewheel mounted on treads, the cog can be directly mounted to the hub. but if you have cassette mounted on a freewheel with splines, you'll need to rig the freewheel so it doesn't "freewheel" any more. i did this recently, but you'll need a metal grinder and a welder. i disassembled the hub, took just the freewheel, ground into it until i reached the ratcheting mechanism (the paws) and then welded the ground areas shut. i then got a cheap cog, mounted that on the freewheel and welded to two together. this is rock solid way to make a ghetto fixed wheel. for maximum strength, jb weld the freewheel to the hub! yay, ghetto fixie!

Cool. Well I will consider my options and see what happens. Thanks for all your input, guys!

Surly cogs usually run $15-20, and any shop that uses QBP (most shops) can get 'em. They are also thin, leaving extra room for a lockring. And they come in sizes 13-23t, 3/32" and 1/8" chain, making them super versitile...
Use A BB lockring to secure the cog to your hub... and loctite!

If u can come up with about 100 dollars u can come up with a decent probably used track wheel, get a chain cutter screwdriver adjustable wrench. thats all i used to make my first fixie(huffyframe too)