modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?

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2010-03-22 3:20 PM

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Master
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Baltimore
Subject: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
My roommate and I decided to try to build a single speed or fixie as cheap as possible.

I found a cheap full carbon frame thats missing something integral for shifting, but is otherwise ok.  He's looking at a "vintage" road frame from the 70's or 80's.  So the question: Which would make the cooler SS/fixie, modern carbon or vintage steel?

2010-03-22 4:13 PM
in reply to: #2741040

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2010-03-22 4:26 PM
in reply to: #2741040

Champion
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Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
Doubt your carbon frame will work. You need horizontal rear drop outs. The modern frames are vertical. You'll have no way to tension the chain unless you spacer a modern wheel and use a Surly singleator adapter. An ENO hub might work' but you're talking about building some expensive wheels at that point.
2010-03-22 4:32 PM
in reply to: #2741040

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2010-03-22 4:55 PM
in reply to: #2741040

Champion
10668
500050005001002525
Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
The "cool" part is that it is a fixie, not the frame material. If you can get the frame to work (you'll have to hit on just the right combo for it to work, unless you're doing an SS, then a tensioner will work just fine), then that'd be really cool.
2010-03-23 9:45 AM
in reply to: #2741040

Champion
6786
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Two seat rocket plane
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?

Drop-out configuration matters MUCH more than frame material (like frame material matters at all, heh)

Read this if you have not already.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

If "cool" is an issue, nothing will do but a vintage Cinelli. Otherwse, you are consigned to the poseur-hipster dungeon of ironic t-shirts and skinny jeans.

2010-03-23 10:12 AM
in reply to: #2742488

Master
1572
10005002525
Baltimore
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
ride_like_u_stole_it - 2010-03-23 10:45 AM

Drop-out configuration matters MUCH more than frame material (like frame material matters at all, heh)

Read this if you have not already.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

If "cool" is an issue, nothing will do but a vintage Cinelli. Otherwse, you are consigned to the poseur-hipster dungeon of ironic t-shirts and skinny jeans.



I've looked into the fixie concerns with dropouts, but I've read about workarounds, a ghost chainring seemed cheapest/workable (has anyone tried that?), but I was concerned about how well it'll stay in there.  Regardless, I'll probably do SS for simplicity/ease of finding a cheap wheel and cause I don't want to deal with a fixie.  Performance has a conversion kit that seems good/cheap.  

Haha, and I'm definitely not a hipster - put me in a Banana Republic outlet and I'm like a kid in a candy store.  I really just want a bike to ride short distances around the city and not deal with clipless pedals or worry about locking up an expensive road/tri bike and for the fun of puting a bike together piece by piece.  Cool isn't an issue, but I thought a carbon frame would be sweet!

2010-03-23 10:45 AM
in reply to: #2742583

Champion
6786
50001000500100100252525
Two seat rocket plane
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?

jsiegs - 2010-03-23 10:12 AM
ride_like_u_stole_it - 2010-03-23 10:45 AM

Drop-out configuration matters MUCH more than frame material (like frame material matters at all, heh)

Read this if you have not already.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

If "cool" is an issue, nothing will do but a vintage Cinelli. Otherwse, you are consigned to the poseur-hipster dungeon of ironic t-shirts and skinny jeans.



I've looked into the fixie concerns with dropouts, but I've read about workarounds, a ghost chainring seemed cheapest/workable (has anyone tried that?), but I was concerned about how well it'll stay in there.  Regardless, I'll probably do SS for simplicity/ease of finding a cheap wheel and cause I don't want to deal with a fixie.  Performance has a conversion kit that seems good/cheap.  

Haha, and I'm definitely not a hipster - put me in a Banana Republic outlet and I'm like a kid in a candy store.  I really just want a bike to ride short distances around the city and not deal with clipless pedals or worry about locking up an expensive road/tri bike and for the fun of puting a bike together piece by piece.  Cool isn't an issue, but I thought a carbon frame would be sweet!

Ghost chainring? edu-macate me?

 

2010-03-23 10:50 AM
in reply to: #2742727

Master
1572
10005002525
Baltimore
Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
ride_like_u_stole_it - 2010-03-23 11:45 AM

jsiegs - 2010-03-23 10:12 AM
ride_like_u_stole_it - 2010-03-23 10:45 AM

Drop-out configuration matters MUCH more than frame material (like frame material matters at all, heh)

Read this if you have not already.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

If "cool" is an issue, nothing will do but a vintage Cinelli. Otherwse, you are consigned to the poseur-hipster dungeon of ironic t-shirts and skinny jeans.



I've looked into the fixie concerns with dropouts, but I've read about workarounds, a ghost chainring seemed cheapest/workable (has anyone tried that?), but I was concerned about how well it'll stay in there.  Regardless, I'll probably do SS for simplicity/ease of finding a cheap wheel and cause I don't want to deal with a fixie.  Performance has a conversion kit that seems good/cheap.  

Haha, and I'm definitely not a hipster - put me in a Banana Republic outlet and I'm like a kid in a candy store.  I really just want a bike to ride short distances around the city and not deal with clipless pedals or worry about locking up an expensive road/tri bike and for the fun of puting a bike together piece by piece.  Cool isn't an issue, but I thought a carbon frame would be sweet!

Ghost chainring? edu-macate me?

 



I read about it on wikipedia, no idea if its really a viable solution:
  • A "Ghost" or "floating" chainring. An additional chainring placed in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain.
    • 2010-03-23 10:50 AM
    in reply to: #2742583

    Champion
    10668
    500050005001002525
    Tacoma, Washington
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    I have that Performance kit on a MTB. Works pretty well, but you need to have the chain length ALMOST right without it or it'll skip.
    2010-03-23 10:56 AM
    in reply to: #2741040


    158
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    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    I like the Surly steel single speeds...fun bikes and you can't break a steel frame! Well I guess you can and if you do something to break a steel frame it's going to be a good stroy for a long time to comeCool

    2010-03-23 11:01 AM
    in reply to: #2742743

    Champion
    4835
    2000200050010010010025
    Eat Cheese or Die
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    If you are doing this on the cheap and looking for a bike you aren't worried about getting stolen, just do yourself a favor and find and old steel frame with semi horizontal dropouts http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.htmlSheldon Brown refers to them as horizontal dropouts and what track bikes have are called Track Fork Ends because originally what they used was a fork end welded in place of a drop out. I think this terminology is dated because modern single speeds and fixies rarely use track fork ends and instead have purpose specific horizontal dropouts.

    Depending on what size you need I think I have a steel frame in the basement with semi horizontal dropouts that you can have for the cost of shipping. My wife will be glad it's gone.

    ETA: I've got a 53cm lugged steel Raleigh. I have a fork for it, but it doesn't match. I also have a 58cm steel Ross w/ matching fork and it comes with a crank.

    OP gets first choice if wanted, but since I posting publicly anyone else is welcome to the same deal. I only still have them because I haven't bothered to post them on craigslist for free so they are out of my basement.

    Edited by graceful_dave 2010-03-23 11:07 AM
    2010-03-23 11:07 AM
    in reply to: #2741040

    Champion
    6786
    50001000500100100252525
    Two seat rocket plane
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?

    OK,

    I found this post on MTBR

    http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=231146

    about ghost rings. I had never thought of this before. It might be OK on a SS, but rigging a fixed like that seems really sketchy to me, especially given how cheap you can find a frame with actual fork ends is these days (iro, surly, etc)

     

    2010-03-23 11:08 AM
    in reply to: #2742768

    Master
    1572
    10005002525
    Baltimore
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    graceful_dave - 2010-03-23 12:01 PM If you are doing this on the cheap and looking for a bike you aren't worried about getting stolen, just do yourself a favor and find and old steel frame with semi horizontal dropouts http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.htmlSheldon Brown refers to them as horizontal dropouts and what track bikes have are called Track Fork Ends because originally what they used was a fork end welded in place of a drop out. I think this terminology is dated because modern single speeds and fixies rarely use track fork ends and instead have purpose specific horizontal dropouts. Depending on what size you need I think I have a steel frame in the basement with semi horizontal dropouts that you can have for the cost of shipping. My wife will be glad it's gone. ETA: I've got a 53cm lugged steel Raleigh. I have a fork for it, but it doesn't match. I also have a 58cm steel Ross w/ matching fork and it comes with a crank. OP gets first choice if wanted, but since I posting publicly anyone else is welcome to the same deal. I only still have them because I haven't bothered to post them on craigslist for free so they are out of my basement.


    PM Sent...
    2010-03-23 11:11 AM
    in reply to: #2742727

    Champion
    4835
    2000200050010010010025
    Eat Cheese or Die
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    ride_like_u_stole_it - 2010-03-23 10:45 AM
    >Ghost chainring? edu-macate me?

     



    http://bikemag.com/diy/diy-making-a-ghost-gear-singlespeed/
    2010-03-23 11:15 AM
    in reply to: #2742782

    Champion
    4835
    2000200050010010010025
    Eat Cheese or Die
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    jsiegs - 2010-03-23 11:08 AM
    PM Sent...


    Back to you.

    2010-03-23 12:05 PM
    in reply to: #2742791

    Champion
    10668
    500050005001002525
    Tacoma, Washington
    Subject: RE: modern or vintage frame for SS/fixie?
    Now that's just full of awesome.
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