Starting a single speed bike project

HardDrive · 10-11-2007, 08:08 PM

Not sure if anyone is into single speed/fixed gear bikes, but I'm starting a build on a single speed. Fixed gear is cool, but you have to be nuts to ride them here in Seattle (or SF or anyplace with hills for that matter.....).

Picked the bike up for $150, and it is rock solid. I feel a bit bad taking down a perfectly workable old steel dreadnaught, but I'm not altering any original parts, so it can be returned to org if need be. It rides beautifully as is. You forget how smooth a steel frame is going down the road.

Already test mounted the 700c wheels off my road bike, and the diacomps reach them just fine.

Anyone into this lunacy, or do you guy have lives?

HardDrive · 10-11-2007, 08:09 PM

And YES, the front tire holds air for all of about 30 minutes.

SlowToady · 10-11-2007, 08:12 PM

Say, HardDrive, just what model Fuji is that and about when was it made?

Anyway, cool project. Single speeds are pretty neat. I haven't ridden one extensively, but I took one for a spin and it was pretty neat. They seem to be rather common here on campus.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

dd74 · 10-11-2007, 09:11 PM

Single speeds are said to represent the best pairing of man and machine. So I wholeheartedly subscribe to this thread.

The most I've heard so far is steel works best for the frame and a 42x12 is the way to go for a crankset/gear.

BTW: for inspiration, here's fellow Pelican Ed Bighi's single speed:

alf · 10-11-2007, 09:42 PM

Very cool, I love old steel frames. I see a visit to Recycle Cycle on Boat Street in your near future...

kstar · 10-11-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Single speeds are said to represent the best pairing of man and machine. So I wholeheartedly subscribe to this thread.

The most I've heard so far is steel works best for the frame and a 42x12 is the way to go for a crankset/gear.

BTW: for inspiration, here's fellow Pelican Ed Bighi's single speed:
. . . image snipped . . .

That's art, wow.

I would like that same aesthetic in a longhood - very "clean".

Best,

Kurt

HardDrive · 10-11-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alf

Very cool, I love old steel frames. I see a visit to Recycle Cycle on Boat Street in your near future...

In my future? My friend, I'm in there once a week(or more). So much good stuff. I just picked up a seat with ti rails for $35. Feather weight. Their mechanics are a bit obtuse (I think they smoke a lot of pot), but they do great work. I just had a rear wheel built there last week for my 'pullin' da kid in da' trailer' bike. Excellent work.

HardDrive · 10-11-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Single speeds are said to represent the best pairing of man and machine. So I wholeheartedly subscribe to this thread.

The most I've heard so far is steel works best for the frame and a 42x12 is the way to go for a crankset/gear.

BTW: for inspiration, here's fellow Pelican Ed Bighi's single speed:

Yikes! Now how am I supposed to top THAT?!?!?!?!

Pure art.

dd74 · 10-11-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I just picked up a seat with ti rails for $35. Feather weight.

What? What? WHAT? I need a new seat for the rebuild of my old Peugeot C/F. Do they have another. Can you post a web address/link to these guys? PLEASE!

Bob Goding · 10-11-2007, 11:48 PM

Heres mine--its aluminium ,was probably a bit flexible on the track,but its nice on the street with the carbon fork.The original track fork didnt have enough
clearance for the clinchers. I wont tell you what my gearing is after reading that I should have 42x12!

If your looking for inspiration ,may I suggest a look at http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/

HardDrive · 10-12-2007, 10:17 PM

@slowtoady, its a Fuji S-10 S. Probably 73-74.

@dd74, Recycled Cycles has a website, but they don't sell parts online. They disassemble old bikes, and just throw the parts in bins that you can rummage through. Mostly junk, but sometimes you hit a gem. They do sell new bikes and gear, but its nothing special. http://www.recycledcycles.com/index.php

Ok, update.

Got the 700c wheels (Shimano wh-550) put on. Got the rear end rebuilt with the single cog on it. The spacer rings that came with the kit (kit comes from Performance Cycles) left me with a little play, so as you can see, I put an extra sprocket on as a spacer. Tight as a drum. The smaller front sprocket is still on because I can't find my crank puller to save my life. It setup at 52x20.

Took it for a spin. Niiiiiiiiiiice. That old steel just purrs along over the pavement. Only technical issue is the brakes. They reach the wheels just fine, but its way out at the end of the brake arm. Need to tighten everything up to get more leverage.

I was going to put on a modern Selle seat, but now I'm thinking a Brooks in black leather.

I'm going to get a final mockup done, then knock it down for paint. Any suggestions on color? I don't want to do black or gray primer, I want a color. Polka dots?

Cheers.

kstar · 10-12-2007, 10:30 PM

How about clear powder-coated brushed steel? Take the paint off then pick a grit close to the grain you like. Or you could get fancy and do a machined look.

That would look cool, IMO.

Best,

Kurt

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:34 PM

Ah! Sweet! Damn that looks like fun. Color? I think your best bet is a vintage Fuji color. You'll have to research it, but somewhere there's a listing of colors Fuji used during the time period of your frame.

For instance, check out this Colnago Super Pista. The color is very 1970s.

Damn, that thing looks sweeter to ride than Jessica Alba.

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:35 PM

...ur...retraction on the Alba thing.

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:39 PM

BTW: check out this link...
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-268233.html

cantdrv55 · 10-12-2007, 10:42 PM

I just bought an old steel Specialized but not for fixie conversion. I've never ridden steel before but heard their smoothness is unsurpassed. So, I'm refurbishing it and will be riding centuries on it. I agree fixies are cool but I'm afraid my knees wouldn't survive the hills.

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:49 PM

Some nice Fujis from the '80s. Check out the colors.
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Japan/Fuji.htm

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I just bought an old steel Specialized but not for fixie conversion. I've never ridden steel before but heard their smoothness is unsurpassed. So, I'm refurbishing it and will be riding centuries on it. I agree fixies are cool but I'm afraid my knees wouldn't survive the hills.

Save the fixies and tight gear sets like 12-23 or 11-21 for the flats. Gearing like that is pure baseball bat to the kidneys, drill bits in the knees material, sometimes even on the flats. It's one thing when you're 18 and have the resolve for gears like that, but two or three decades later, forget it.

dd74 · 10-12-2007, 10:55 PM

One last photo for hard drive. This is a Fuji single speed.

cantdrv55 · 10-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Agreed. My current bike has a 11-28 SRAM cassette and Ultegra compact crank. It's perfect for the hills here in the SF Bay Area.