Cheap fixed wheels?

dave.obrien

I have converted an old, rusted, long forgotten mountain bike to a single speed bike, which has brought it back from the dead. It has horizontal drop-outs, and while it's relatively heavy, it's great to ride locally as a single speed, but I'm thinking of a making it a fixed gear. Does anyone know of where i could pick up a cheap wheel?

Keep in mind i'm a student, and haven't got much to spare cash wise... There's no rush with buying it, I can hold off till i'm back in employment (hopefully the summer, with any luck and some kind employers...), but if anyone knows of good value, entry level stuff, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

NeilMcEoigheann

i recommend waiting until you have a bit more cash to spend on a wheel cheap wheels get you nowhere, i bought a fixed wheel with a mavic rim for 85e in joe dalys dundrum, still perfect in true after being in in one accident with a car one with a van forced into the curb by a bus 5000km and two alleycats... my friend bought a really nice high flanged hub for 90e there 3 months ago and its still perfect think it had ambrose on the rim...

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Mountain bike frame to Fixie aint really a runner imo. Too heavy.

flickerx

Sean_K wrote: »

Mountain bike frame to Fixie aint really a runner imo. Too heavy.

+1 on this. Wait for an old road bike frame to come along.

Someone mentioned on 'Dublin Fixed Gear Agus Singlespeed' forum on LondonFGSS about cheap rear wheels for around the €55 mark, cant remember what shop now though... dammit.

blorg

Gavin has a fixed MTB, he seems to find it OK. If you are cycling it OK as a singlespeed I don't see any reason you couldn't go fixed. What gear ratio are you using? The only risk would be if you are using a very low ratio and currently freewheel down hills.

TinyExplosions

flickerx wrote: »

+1 on this. Wait for an old road bike frame to come along.

Someone mentioned on 'Dublin Fixed Gear Agus Singlespeed' forum on LondonFGSS about cheap rear wheels for around the €55 mark, cant remember what shop now though... dammit.

Wolfe Cycles on Sundrive Road in Kimmage was the place

dave.obrien

Sundrive Road, I'll check that out.

And the current ratio is 48-12, but it's a little tough on the hills around my house, so i think i might go for a 16 or 17 on the rear.

The frame is a bit heavier than your average old road frame, but i did it cause the frame was lying around not getting any use, and it seemed like a fun project. I'm not willing to part with any more cash than strictly neccessary!

Thanks for the advice guys.

Gavin

blorg wrote: »

Gavin has a fixed MTB, he seems to find it OK. If you are cycling it OK as a singlespeed I don't see any reason you couldn't go fixed. What gear ratio are you using? The only risk would be if you are using a very low ratio and currently freewheel down hills.

Hell yeah! You should see the reaction The Banana gets from the chicks.

To OP, pay no attention to those naysayers, a MTB frame is well suited to being a fixie with a high bottom bracket. About wheels, they are right though. It's worth buying a decent pair of wheels. What I did with my bike was get a rear wheel with disc mount and put a disc mount cog from londonfixiebike.co.uk on it. Must easier and probably cheaper than getting a 26" fixed wheel built. (With a freewheel on the other side, it works as a flip-flop hub too)

blorg

dave.obrien wrote: »

And the current ratio is 48-12, but it's a little tough on the hills around my house, so i think i might go for a 16 or 17 on the rear.

48-12 is a _very_ tough gear indeed. I have 46-17 which gets me up the hills while not spinning too much going back down them. With a 48 front, I'd go 17, even 18 on the back- unless you are mainly on the flat.

dave.obrien

I'll probably go for the 17 so, i've seen you cycle, you're a bit of a freak...

I was planning on just getting the rear wheel, leaving the 26" on the front, i've seen a few like this, and i just like how they look! (plus, as mentioned before, i am broker than the economy, 2 wheels would be taking the piss out of my bank balance)

Gavin

You want to put a 700C wheel on the back?

dave.obrien

yep, i've checked for clearance on the rear, and once i strip the back brake, there shouldn't be a problem. is a 700cc onto a mountain bike not the done thing?!

Gavin

Just need to be aware of the dropout spacing on the mtb is 135 and 120 on a track frame, so I guess most fixed hub wheels will be this spacing?

You might need a longer axle/spacers. I don't know how chainline will work either.

blorg

Almost all mountain bikes will take 700C wheels, Mavic even make a set specifically designed for mountain bikes adapted as commuters. Gavin highlights issues with the spacing, obviously it will also transform the geometry of the bike giving you a much more forward position and drop.

If you want to go up any hills I would go 18 rather than 17, 17 would be OK on gentle rises only I reckon. The weight of the bike will make it that bit harder to go up a hill so ease on the side of the easier gear.

dave.obrien

well, i wouldn't be using it to get me over djouce anyway! but i'll probably lower my own expectations, it's going to be just for local riding, no need to kill myself...

on the spacings thing, i'll keep that in mind, definitely. are the longer axles difficult to attach or anything?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

dave.obrien wrote: »

And the current ratio is 48-12

respect

dave.obrien

Thank you! but to be fair, i don't use it for more than 8km at a time, nothing major. it gets me to and from the shops. anything more than that, i resort to gears...

criminal, i know. i reckon with a fixed wheel (and easier gearing), i'd push myself to commute on it, 16km each way.

Pjordanoz

So why do you ride on it? Also for cheap fixed wheels check out http://www.on-one.co.uk

dave.obrien

i ride on it cause it's fun! what other reason do i need?! at the minute, i have my road bike, my single speed and my hybrid. my hybrid i got last september to get me to and from college, and i got addicted to cycling cause of that. started doing some distance on that at the weekends, 60-80km at a time, and decided to invest in a road bike, which i now do about 100-160km per weekend on, and took the old mountain bike on as a project, cause i've gone a bit bike-mad. ultimate goal is to turn it into a fixie, and possibly sell on the hybrid.

thanks for the link though!