newbie to cycling( Fixie's ) any help/advice greatly appreciated!

chrisguy116

Hi guys, Im thinking about building/buying a fixie bike and was just wondering if i could get some advice by anyone with experience or an interest in fixie's..

wheres best to go to pick 1 up? ( if anyone has a frame etc please let me no! )
i'd be looking to start an ongoing project so doesn't have to road ready!

anything to watch out for or avoid when getting/building one?

any basic tips or knowledge that can be given ( and most graciously accepted by myself )

cheers in advance! :pac:

Darkglasses

Avoid anything in this thread obviously! Seriously, this'll give you an idea about the frequency and indications of over-priced, poor quality fixies in the second-hand market. Have you considered building one yourself with Rothar? They aren't massively popular on here, but it could be pretty rewarding and not all that difficult.

Beasty

Moved from cycling adverts

chrisguy116

Darkglasses wrote: »

Avoid anything in this thread obviously! Seriously, this'll give you an idea about the frequency and indications of over-priced, poor quality fixies in the second-hand market. Have you considered building one yourself with Rothar? They aren't massively popular on here, but it could be pretty rewarding and not all that difficult.

yeah i've had a look at those and have seen the likes on adverts etc :rolleyes: ..
actually had a look online at rothar at the "build your own fixie" how does it work though they have the parts and you pay when leaving or something?
thank you!

Darkglasses

chrisguy116 wrote: »

yeah i've had a look at those and have seen the likes on adverts etc :rolleyes: ..
actually had a look online at rothar at the "build your own fixie" how does it work though they have the parts and you pay when leaving or something?
thank you!

Don't know to be honest, but the idea has always appealed to me if I had the time and was located in Dublin! I'm sure they can sort you out with the parts for a reasonable price. You could give them a call and check it out? In my experience they are very friendly and happy to talk about the different things you can do with them.

If you have an old beater bike around the place, I found it very helpful to just dis-assemble it carefully and then re-assemble it as best you can to give yourself a basic idea of what's involved in building a bike. Make sure it's a bike that nobody will mind wrecking slightly!

chrisguy116

yeah i'll give them a call. If i was to buy a frame i suppose lightest and cheapest would be best suited from what I've read would between €60-100 seem accurate to pay for a frame do you know?
thanks again
Chris

Mycroft H

chrisguy116 wrote: »

yeah i'll give them a call. If i was to buy a frame i suppose lightest and cheapest would be best suited from what I've read would between €60-100 seem accurate to pay for a frame do you know?
thanks again
Chris

Buy a frame. Preferably one with horizontal dropouts or track dropouts. They are pretty essential to regulating chain tension. A dropout is the point where a rear wheel attaches to the frame. Moving the wheel back and forth is the easiest way to regulate tension.



Includes helpful smiley faces.


I'd look in the small adds for a frame. Adverts and DoneDeal are a nice place to start(don't disregard rothar, though they are expensive for complete second hand bikes.)

For 100 euro you should be able to snag a nice lightweight frame. Look for something with a Reynolds/Columbus/Tange/Ishiwata sticker on the frame. They are quality manufactures which made framesets from lightweight steel. Reynolds 531 is a pretty common one.

Make sure its the right size too, older traditional frames don't have a step down top tube, so sizing is a bit more critical.

Mycroft H

Also have a look at this

http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html

Mycroft H

Also have a look at this

http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html

chrisguy116

BX 19 wrote: »

Also have a look at this

http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html

Really helpful thanks! ( smiley faces make it me friendly too LOL )

Squidgy Black

If you're looking to build one cheap, your best bet is to buy an old road bike like a Raleigh or some other brand with decent tubing. Then you just have to restore it and then convert it. All you should need is a new rear wheel.

Building fixed gear bikes is quite simple, all you need is:

Frame and Forks
Stem
Headset
Cranks
Chain ring
Bottom Bracket
Seat post
Pedals
Saddle
Wheels
Lock ring and cog
Bars

If you get an old second hand bike, all you need to do is remove the inner chain ring, new chain, pop on the rear fixed wheel and you're on your way.