Turning a road bike into a fixed?

CyclingBantam
CyclingBantam Posts: 1,299
edited December 2008 in Road beginners
I currently have a Trek 1000 but am due to be getting a new Bianchi in jan. With ths in mind I wouldn't mind turning my Trek into a fixed if possible. Does anyone know if this is possible (will the enclosed BB stop me doing this?) and if so, the cost of doing this or buying a ok standard new one?

Thanks,

Ben

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Unless you can get the chain tension spot on with dropouts and BB then it ain't gonna work.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    With vertical dropouts, unless you can find a magic gear, the only read option is a White ENO eccentric hub.
    These have the wheel axle offset from the dropout bolt, so you can tension the chain by moving the axle along a 15mm radius arc. This impacts on brake clearances, so you could end up needing a deeper drop rear brake.
  • Infamous
    Infamous Posts: 1,130
    You don't need a rear brake if it's fixed.

    You could always swap your Trek for a cheap track bike, like a Fuji track or something. You can pick one up for less than 300 new (the eccentric hub is £110 on it's own).
  • Sea_Green_Incorruptible
    Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
    As Redvee says, it's tricky to go fixed with vertical dropouts. I tried but gave up because it it was just too expensive to do and just went for a straightforward single speed instead (which I love: I have a ridiculously low egg-beater gear on it and use it as my 'pottering' bike - see 'cycle path cruiser' pic below).

    In this case, one solution to the vertical dropouts problem is to use a chain tensioning device of some sort with the existing freewheel (though it IS worth playing around with sprocket/chainring sizes for a bit to see if you can get lucky on the tension without one).

    One thing to watch out for: I used a nice thick BMX chain for the conversion, which turned out to be too fat to fit most MTB downhill style chain tensioners. The solution was a 'Surly Singulator' which you can see in the pic. About 20-25 quid if I remember correctly.

    Bit of a bodge and doesn't look as good but it's easy + safer and kinder to the bike than riding with an overtight chain. Also, As it turns out, and apart from some new brake cables this was ALL I spent on the conversion. The other bits were canabalised from the original road bike and an old MTB.

    EDIT: Sorry. Also bought a single speed conversion kit for about £15.

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