Credit-Crunch Fixed
meagain
Posts: 2,331
Sorry, not as in "solved", rather as "in reponse to"!
As all here know, "fixed" has become almost common-place in recent years (I've even seen 3 or 4 here in Nottingham!). Now this is a "good thing" in some ways (choice of off-the-shelf etc), but a "bad thing" in others (ludicrous prices for any old frame that happens to have the right drop outs etc - I can live with the loss of exclusivity!). So cheap is ever more difficult I think.
I've had a DIY build Langster for a while and just added a 2nd hand Tricross Single: the latter was to be for winter but even at only 250 quid a bit good. So I wanted ....fixed, room for 'grds + big rubber. Almost settled on a Pearson's Hanzo, but 450 notes in these straitened times....??
Remembered that I'd bought a 12 Y.O. Raleigh Pioneer (ridden twice!) for £36 - and sold Brooks saddle off it for 30, so didn't stand me a lot (especially as came with 50 quids worth of dyno and lights).
And it does have shortish horizontals...so on Sunday a.m. I built a 135 oln DMR Revolver mtb SS into a wheel, bought a 10 quid c'set (Alivio rings not separable) and today I tried it:
It ain't bad! Still got the Alivio g'set to flog, so the donor bike will have cost a negative sum. I suppose the "new" wheels and hub have some value but I still have the original wheels (and tyres!) which will make a fine single free set, so even being honest about stuff I had on the shelf to put on it doubt it's cost over 50 quid!
And with a 501 Double Butted main frame it's probably just as good as most 500 quid new fixeds. But cheaper...
As all here know, "fixed" has become almost common-place in recent years (I've even seen 3 or 4 here in Nottingham!). Now this is a "good thing" in some ways (choice of off-the-shelf etc), but a "bad thing" in others (ludicrous prices for any old frame that happens to have the right drop outs etc - I can live with the loss of exclusivity!). So cheap is ever more difficult I think.
I've had a DIY build Langster for a while and just added a 2nd hand Tricross Single: the latter was to be for winter but even at only 250 quid a bit good. So I wanted ....fixed, room for 'grds + big rubber. Almost settled on a Pearson's Hanzo, but 450 notes in these straitened times....??
Remembered that I'd bought a 12 Y.O. Raleigh Pioneer (ridden twice!) for £36 - and sold Brooks saddle off it for 30, so didn't stand me a lot (especially as came with 50 quids worth of dyno and lights).
And it does have shortish horizontals...so on Sunday a.m. I built a 135 oln DMR Revolver mtb SS into a wheel, bought a 10 quid c'set (Alivio rings not separable) and today I tried it:
It ain't bad! Still got the Alivio g'set to flog, so the donor bike will have cost a negative sum. I suppose the "new" wheels and hub have some value but I still have the original wheels (and tyres!) which will make a fine single free set, so even being honest about stuff I had on the shelf to put on it doubt it's cost over 50 quid!
And with a 501 Double Butted main frame it's probably just as good as most 500 quid new fixeds. But cheaper...
d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
0
Comments
-
Love it! Well done. Thats what I like to see. A cheap to produce bike you can actually use. And with some spares to keep it going. Well done.
Think my Jealousy Factor Number has gone up to 4 now...
FCN 3 or 4 on road depending on clothingjedster wrote:Just off to contemplate my own mortality and inevitable descent into decrepedness.
FCN 8 off road because I'm too old to go racing around.0 -
Thank you!
And it IS very "useable". I usually mix tarmac and gravel/hardpack paths on my a.m. pedals - and it is happy with all!d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
And the smug points go to .......... Meagain 8)
Well done, nice to see.http://twitter.com/mgalex
www.ogmorevalleywheelers.co.uk
10TT 24:36 25TT: 57:59 50TT: 2:08:11, 100TT: 4:30:05 12hr 204.... unfinished business0 -
Well, a bit smug I suppose! Used to be able to knock out 10 speeders converted to fixed for similar cost a few years ago, but difficult now. So in part the purpose of the exercise (and certainly of the Post) was to show that can still be done albeit with a bit more thought and effort.d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
Before scrolling down, I was expecting to see an On-One clone, but that looks like a classic old style club run bike, with the canti's enhancing that look. The bars look like they have a slight flare to them, what are they?
Jam butties, officially endorsed by the Diddymen Olympic Squad0 -
"The bars look like they have a slight flare to them, what are they?"
They do - and quite shallow. As to "what", I have no idea! Old and came on something...very probably well past their safe use date. I may replace them with what look to be the closest copy yet of WTB Dirt Drops and currently available from US on ebay - before the lawyers get at 'em!d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
I believe those dirt drops are WIDE, and read some comments as not suitable for riding with hands on hoods
Jam butties, officially endorsed by the Diddymen Olympic Squad0 -
I had genuine WTB Dirt Drops on my Ti fixed cyclo crosser - best bars I have ever used! Brill off-tarmac - which was of course their purpose. Used the hoods as far as I can recall.d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0
