Fixed wheel conversion

Made it!

2011-07-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Finally finished Freda the fixie, and I have to say I am very pleased with the result. Challenges to overcome were to make a bolt to mount the front brake, a headset spacer and fitting the mudguards.

Still pondering over the gearing current set up is 38 - 16 as the rear wheel is pulled right back in the frame there is no more chain adjustment so I am thinking to fit a 17T sprocket on to lower the gearing and give a little chain adjustment.

Now all that remains is to start my next project, a Amaco road bike endorsed by Tony Doyle circa 1987 the year when I first started racing happy days!

2011-06-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a while, various things have got in the way of playing with the fixie for example houses and women .

So here goes the original chrome forks have been replaces with some cheaper forks, why? Because they are destined to go on my next project! a retro late 1980's road bike of the ilk I started racing on.

Centre pull brake being fitted a) because I like them b) Because it is the only front brake I have. But I did have to make a mounting bolt shown in the picture along with 2 saucer type washers which fit around the fork to make a flat surface for the brakes to atatch .

2011-04-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Now things are looking a bit more fixie ish.

1) Had to measure frame width to determine which spacers are required on rear axel. In the end 3 washers on each side just allowed the frame to pull in slightly and hold the wheel in place.

2) Chain tensioners also fitted, this will allow chain tensioning - obviously! and prevent the wheel being pulled forward under load

3) The rear hubs are not track hubs with 2 threads on them, one for the sprocket, the other for a locknut with a left hand thread. Instead I am using a conventional hub originally designed to a screw on free wheel. The sprocket will screw straight on which is great, also there is sufficient thread protruding to allow a lock nut, did you know that a locking ring from a Bottom bracket will fit? Ok, I know it is not as good as a track hub with a left hand thread but it will do the job. Therefore the thread was degreased and the lock nut fitted using loctite,

2011-04-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

Photo's of encouragement, mainly for me! Can you guess what it is yet? Of course another fixie.

Stripped the rear hub down to re grease the bearings and was quite surprised to see a cage holding the bearings in place, most unusual.

So, tyres and tubes fitted to the rims( all second hand of course) and bearings regreased, next task is to measure the frame width and spacer out the rear axel.

He's at it again!

2011-03-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

well I am afraid I have been upto my old tricks again and decided to build another fixie and this time get it right! The first one turned out to be a vintage restoration all very lovely yes but..... then I built a track bike which was awsome to ride when you were not fixing ( no pun intended!) tubular tires who invented those damm things! they are no use on the road and should be kept to using in a velodrome. so dear reader I am embarking on another project, the track bike has gone to scotland thanks to e-bay, so now I am ready to build a fixie like Mr Pud did he got it right first time. Standby photos on their way. A fixie will be a bit rough around the edges smooth and quiet and a conversion of an existing bike and above all make you smile.

Back on track

2010-08-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Appologies for the lack of updates but I have been pre occupied with running. Tonight I found time to start putting bits back on the frame which is very satisfying. Assemebled on the frame is the handlebar stem and bar, front brake and seat post clamp. With the aid of Ebay I have managed to sell spare parts to the value of £54 , from which comes the expenditure;
2 cans of spray paint = £14
1 can of laquer = £7
front brake = £5
Handle bar stem = £10

total = £ 36

Balance = £18

We are making progress

2010-08-10T10:19:00.001-07:00

Here are the forks which were repainted then laqured, then when I got them home promptly dropped the damm thing so have to take it back to work to repaint a section*******ing heck!The good news is the bottom stearing race was pressed on using a piece of tube and the regreased front brake (shimano rxs) is shown in the photo.

Part of the original brief was to sell spares to create funds for this bike, and so far we have sold bits to the value of £36. These were an old pair of wheels chainset and pedals, the last reamaining couple of items if and when sold will hopefully help me reach the target of £50.

Paint on...paint off

2010-07-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to improve the finish of the frame I thought it would be good to rub it down and use the same paint as the previous owner . Well, hammerite should be re named hammer shite as it reacted. Stripped most of it back off and gave it to some one to sandblast and they made a hash of that by using too higher pressure and leaving a very rough pebble dashed finish!! But there is good news, under the layers of paint you can now read "campagnolo" on the fork drop outs.
Top tip the best aerosol spray paint to date is halfords own.

2010-07-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ihave been inundated with a single request for photographs, here are a few. whilst trying to paint the frame I have discovered that brush hamerite gives a better finish than spray which is very confusing, it still looks rubbish, so for the 5th time I will rub it down and have another go.also included is the refurbished campag seatpost that came with the frame.

Here we go again!

2010-07-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Now I have been bitten well and truely by the fixie bug, I have decided to do another one. Partly becasue I was offered an old track frame and a few bits and partly because the bits were cheap. Yes it needs work but hopefully learning the lessons from the first project, life will be easier.
The Plan
Budget £50
As the frame is rough I am going to handpaint it and paint each of the lugs a different colour
Sell parts to raise cash
Gearing to remain at approx 50"

A fixie should be simple, not a full restoration project, be subtle with a bit of class, not a road bike and not a track bike but a bit of a statement about the rider. Standby for more updates.

Looking better

2010-04-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

After a few more hours in the kitchen here is the result. Note the lack of rear brake, re shaped handlebars and old mtb brake lever. It looks and feels very different.

Couple of bits done

2010-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

The rear brake has now been removed and a proper front brake (used) bought for £10. I now propose using a MTB style brake lever which will be drilled out from 22 mm to 24 mm to allow it so fit over the handlebar, oh and the handlebars have been re shaped. Now with less curve on them , they look better and feel better.

Teething Troubles

2010-04-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

As you would expect, minor little problems materialise once you start riding, in no particular order here are a few items which need to be addressed.
1) Seat post not tight enough in frame - adjust frame to allow clamp to tighten
2) Wheels - tubs are 1" smaller diameter hence bike 1/2" nearer the ground and with 175mm crank arms cornering clearance on pedals is 2.5 inches ie Naff all!
3) Remove rear brake - will lighten bike and make it look like a proper fixie.
4) Handlebars - not comfortable due to being narrow and with a tigh bend, change required
5) Find a front brake brake and brake lever

The future is bright the future is orange

2010-04-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

The front wheel is now in with regreased bearings also a front brake has been fitted to keep the back company and with the smaller diameter wheels the brake pads line up (just) Might do a little calculation to see what the effect of the wheel change will have on the gearing. Yes the orange tyre is a bit poncy but hopefull it will distract your eye when you watch me try and stop

What's Occuring

2010-03-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

Now I have completed some rides on the bike I am pleased to report that all is well, it is comfortable and very smooth to ride. Starting and stopping is still an issue but then part of the joy of riding this type bike is aquiring these skills.

Recently obtained a pair of track wheel with tubular tyres, the good thing about these is they have a thread on each side of the hub, they are smaller than the original 27" wheels(so hopefully the brake pads will line up!) and they are light.

Also I have decided after some nagging to put the front brake on which will now fit with the smaller wheels

Legal stuff

2010-03-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

2 kind people have advised me of some legalities which you may or may not know about.
1) It is iilegal to just have a flashing red rear light you need a fixed light aswell or in place of
2) A front brake must be fitted - as I have only a rear brake this needs sorting out

Had a super ride on the bike recently, the smoothness and the momentum you get are very good indeed

Gearing

2010-01-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

There is only one thing more scary than riding a fixed wheel, and that it to ride someone elses!
Traditionally a gear of 80" would have been the norm. That is not sensible for this part of the world so a 38 x 16 was chosen. Partly because that was the chainring size and partly because it was cheap. Even this is a bit high, thankfully I have been given a 17T sprocket which will lower the gearing from 51" to 49". Time for some more experimenting.

Finished!

2010-01-20T13:14:00.000-08:00

At last she is finished, Carly the Carlton is ready for the road. Overall i am very pleased with the effect of mixing vintage with new parts. Gearing is going to be an issue. I am set up with 39 x 16, which according to someone who is riding a fixed is a little high esspecially if there are any hills around! I can't fit a smaller chainring so the only option is to change the rear sprocket.

Almost there

2010-01-08T13:41:00.001-08:00

The chain is now on and makes the bike what it is, a fixed wheel. Note the spacer needed to improve chain alignment overall I am very pleased with the result but still not brave or stupid enought to fit spd pedals!

Costings

2010-01-08T04:50:00.000-08:00

The end is in sight and now to add up what it has cost
Bike - £20
Spray paint - £14
Track nuts - £2
Headset - £7
Chainring bolts - £1
Chainset+BB - £40
Saddle - £30
Handlebar tape - £6
Sprocket + Chain - £24

Total - £144

Ramblings

2009-12-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

Driven mad by the extreem cold 2 thoughts to add
1) A film American Flyers is on the TV soon, all about cycle racing and last seen in the club ouse
2) Have to make 2 spacers for for the sprocket to improve chain alignment and one to move the brake calipers backwards, then due to various angles and curves of wheel my brake pads will line up

Putting it back together

2009-12-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Being a bit of an engineering type I made a tool up to pull the new headset in. The wheels are only tempoary to allow the fitting of mudguards, which I do think add to the looks of the bike. Yes it was a bit of an extravagent expense but they are really practical for a daily commuting bike. After asking around, track nuts for the rear wheels seem to be the order of the day with a fixed wheel to ensure the wheel stays firmly put. Mike at Cyclerama had a pair of 3/8 inch cycle thread nuts for £1! I also have some 9mm metric ones for free if you want them e-mail me at ian883@hotmail.com.

Dear Father Christmas

2009-12-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

With the introduction of a new ferry service to south wales this place could be easily accessible. Wonder if you could spend a week here.http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=leisure.centres&contentid=CONT067624

Handle bars

2009-12-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

Good news, with some nifty hacksawing and some imagination, the handlebars now look more like I had invisaged. In a nut shell I cut too little off the first time and they resembled cow horns, now they are more 90's time trial bars.

Damm and double damm

2009-12-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

After spending many minutes polishing up the brake calipers and fitting them to the frame, I decided to offer in the wheels to get an idea of the finished result. The result was spectacular, the brake pads miss the rim by 6mm or 1/4".****! Also cut the handlebars down for the low profile look, it looks ok but thet bend is a bit wrong for my hands, back in the seventies narrow bars with shallow drops were all the rage and no one had thought of turning them upside down and cutting them off.

A real challenge

2009-12-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

For those hard core fixed wheel junkies, how about this
www.coast-coast.co.uk
Not only would you earn international respect but you would help us to raise money for our local hospice.

Helpfull stuff

2009-12-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

If you are into restoring old bicycles to their former glory and require transfers, have a look at this site, they may have exactly what you require.

http://www.hlloydcycles.com/ListFeb09html.htm

Big thanks must goto sidwell street cycles exeter who dug out a second hand chainset for me and phoned another bike shop on my behalf when looking for a part. Thanks guys.

Shinny Bits

2009-12-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here are the photos of the wheels complete with 16T fixed sprocket. Amber Marketing at Stoke Cannon just outside exeter distribute the sprockets. As next years frame colour is black I have painted the frame accordingly.

The Wheels

2009-11-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

With the bike completely dissasembled, the easiest bit to do first was to regrease the hubs and polish the rims up. The wheels are Ridgida alloy rims 36 spoke, on some French hubs with a silly name which is difficult to read. Dimension wise they are 27" x 1 1/4".
Tripple O wire wool and t-cut is great for polishing up the rims.
Also, in these environmentally friendy days, to clean the grease out of the hubs and off the ball bearings, first wipe off as much as possible with kitchen roll then if you have some Sainsbury's kitchen cleaner put all the bearings in a pot squirt with cleaners, slosh for a bit then wash off in water and hey presto shinny balls. Of course if you have some nice posh degreaser then you will be better off using that.

Thinking

2009-11-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

I am still undecided on how the bike should look when it is rebuilt, somedays I think let's do something different, unique even, then today I thought, how about restoring it so it looks the same as the day it left the factory.

Finding a bike

2009-11-24T02:35:00.000-08:00

Intrigued by the simplicity of this type of bike, the papers were scanned, cards in newsagents windows looked at and, 1 or 3 trips to the recycling centre. The plan was for a MTB fixed wheel as the 26" wheels would allow me to cope with the hills with lowere gearing. I found a Holdsworth with Reynolds 500 tubing and a pair of v section wheels with sealed bearings, brilliant I thought, until closer inspection revealed the hubs on 1 wheel and the rim on the other were cracked. This was all recycled! Several trips later to the nearer recycle centre I picked up a Carlton with nice lugs and surprisingly, had hardly been used. Now I am more excited as it reminds me of my old race bike. In exchange for £20 I now had my doner bike. Pictures to follow.

The start

2009-11-24T00:13:00.000-08:00

Whilst out riding with Team Pud, we came up with a plan to build fixed wheel bikes in the spirit of scrap heap challenge.