Gtvlusso's fixie build number 2

gtvlusso

This; is going to become fixie build number 2.

As it is January, I am gonna do a re-use and cost based fixie build - everything will be bloody cheap, in my shed as a spare or home made where possible.

The intention is to re-use all the parts that are serviceable and come out with a very low cost "new" bike.

I am picking the bike up in Laaaandon on Tuesday.

First jobs will be to strip the bike down and check for serviceable headset and bottom bracket. Then an attempt to build a single speed chainset out of the current chainset. I will also be cutting the drop bars and making them into cow hors - every home needs some angle grinder action!

The Barron was my daily bike until the roads become gritted - Now use the Boardman as I don't mind trashing a C2W bike!

tailwindhome

Last build made for a very interesting thread.

I would love to build a single speed bike (too hilly and windy and fat for fixed) from scratch out of cheap bits of Tebay, however this week I struggled with a puncture and couldn't remember/ didnt know how to get the tyre off. :oops:

If you have the patience and/or time you should make your thread an 'idiots guide' full of detail and pictures

For me it would need to be pitched around the "this bit's called a frame" level


Some questions that occur already

serviceable headset and bottom bracket

What are these bits?

Why did you pick that frame/ what would I look for in a frame?

Is that your kitchen table? Your wife is going to kick your head in!

UnworthyPapaLazaru

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Last build made for a very interesting thread.

I would love to build a single speed bike (too hilly and windy and fat for fixed) from scratch out of cheap bits of Tebay, however this week I struggled with a puncture and couldn't remember/ didnt know how to get the tyre off. :oops:

If you have the patience and/or time you should make your thread an 'idiots guide' full of detail and pictures

For me it would need to be pitched around the "this bit's called a frame" level


Some questions that occur already

serviceable headset and bottom bracket

What are these bits?

Why did you pick that frame/ what would I look for in a frame?

Is that your kitchen table? Your wife is going to kick your head in!

Its never as cheap as you plan or hope, at least that has been my experience on my ongoing project!

Try Bicycle Tutor (for general where about on a bike is that questions) and Bob Garage for the making a fixie project, bike selection etc (I got pointed in the direction of this one last night). Stick them in google!

Littigator

Doesn't that frame have vertical dropouts?

Where's your link for projet number 1?

Ta

tailwindhome

@UPL

Thanks for the Bicycle Tutor tip, looks promising, struggling to find the Bob Garage site, could you post the link

Thanks

Also just picked up your Project A thread, looks interesting, though I don't understand most of it :?

UnworthyPapaLazaru

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

@UPL


Also just picked up your Project A thread, looks interesting, though I don't understand most of it :?

Dont worry, neither do I.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/columns ... indexb.htm

gtvlusso

Link to previous build: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12597872

Loads of questions - firstly, WheezyMc - The headset is the bearing that connects your handlebars to your frame and fork. Basically a double bearing, they come in 2 sizes 1" and 1 and 1/8th and 2 versions: Threaded (older bikes) and Threadless (newer bikes). You can also get integrated or semi integrated - depends on how your frame is made! Youo either have cups built into the frame for the bearing or have to press seperate cups into the frame. As for the Bottom Bracket - this is the bit that runs your chanset/cranks. Again a double bearing - comes in 2 types generally, British or Italian threaded - depends on frame builder for thread type. Generally there are 2 sizes 68mm width or 73mm shell (68 is more common). The length of the spindle depends on what is recommended for your chainset - in this case it will be 118mm to 119mm. All I will do is strip them down with WD40, clean the cups and bearings with solvent, assumed they are working okay and not worn out. Grease with silicon grease and rebuild and re-install with loads of copper grease on the threads to stop corrosion and seizing into the frame. The kitchen table is the guy who's selling me the frame - I do my work in my shed, wifes orders!

The team banana frame runs semi horizontal dropouts - vital for a nice fixie, otherwise you have to mess about with a chain tensioner. Track ends or fully horizontal dropouts are preferebale, but semi horizontal is perfectly useable without any tensioning device. I will do a more in depth photobook for this book as I will be doing more work to build it. I am pretty sure I will go over budget due to unforeseen circumstance or just being a tart!

I am in Bristol, happy for people to come over and see the build or help with other peoples builds....I am a natural born potterer!

The only tricky bit with builds of this nature is the cabling, I have got it down to about an hour to recable a bike completely - never have enough ferrules though or the right diameter!

What to look for in a frame.....hmm...tartyness (colours and style), is it in good enough condition? Not too rusty? Has it been stored for a while - i.e. everything is seized, can write off a frame instantly (unless you have access to welding gear or a blow torch - luckily I do!). For an SS or fixie horizontal or semi horizontal dropout or a track end frame. Standard sized part frame (some early Raleigh frames ran odd sizes and odd threads)

All I can say is that if you have had the temptation to go SS, building your own bike is very satisfying for several reasons:

no one will have a bike like yours!
You can fix it completely as you built it and understand it
Learn about components - gives you some engineering confidence and saves you giving cash to the LBS
You look cool riding it
You work harder riding it - especially in hilly areas....Like Bristol!
Enviromentally friendly - recyling old frames and bringing them back to life.
Nothing quite rides like Reynolds 531 steel!

And I say go for it - I can make you a basic parts list and tools list. Always on the end of a phone and can travel worst case scenario!

I may make a few and sell them off for cost of parts only - i.e. you spec it and I will build it for free....!

whyamihere

NO!

I'm afraid I have to put my foot down here. You are not allowed to make a Team Banana frame into a fixie. It is simply sacrilege. That bike must be restored with as much original equipment as possible and ridden as it was meant to. You can't do such a thing to a classic.







Unless it's the copy made with crappy steel, in which case go to town on it.

2tired2ride

Yay another gtvlusso Fixie Build!

Are you keeping the colour scheme?

Just a personaly thought but I think you should keep the drops.

keep us updated!

edhornby

whyamihere wrote:

NO!

I'm afraid I have to put my foot down here. You are not allowed to make a Team Banana frame into a fixie. It is simply sacrilege. That bike must be restored with as much original equipment as possible and ridden as it was meant to. You can't do such a thing to a classic.

it would be more of a crime to have it rusting in a loft somewhere, or painted over - if it was part of Tom Simpson's personal collection with a letter from the man himself saying 'keep it authentic please' then ok, but this isn't so rare is it....

bikes are to be ridden

robbarker

gtvlusso wrote:

The team banana frame runs semi horizontal dropouts - vital for a nice fixie, otherwise you have to mess about with a chain tensioner.

You can't use a chain tensioner witha fixie - the chain all scurdles up when you try and slow down by resisting the pedals.

Nice frame, interesting project and I'll follow the build with avid interest!

whyamihere

edhornby wrote:

it would be more of a crime to have it rusting in a loft somewhere, or painted over - if it was part of Tom Simpson's personal collection with a letter from the man himself saying 'keep it authentic please' then ok, but this isn't so rare is it....

bikes are to be ridden

Depends on the version. If it's the cheap consumer copy, then no, it's not rare, and there's no problem. If it's the team issue (was it 753?) then it's a hell of a lot rarer.

gtvlusso

Hi All, It is the 531 version - cheapie one for the fans as opposed to the 753 Team edition...hence a quick ss/fixie build.

The drops are going as I have an injured back (snowboarding accident in 1993 and many years of rowing have killed the poor thing). Cow horns, I personally think, are a bit more upright and look pretty cool.

I will try and do a more comprehensive study of the build than last time - Although I made a couple of improvements to the Barron fixe (some better brake ferrules and threadlock on the headset)

Holy moly, I better take the dog out for a walk - wondered what she was moping about.

gtvlusso

Hmm - small problem. Frame is actually 20" and way to small for me. Luckily some bloke in Newport, South Wales has one for sale for £25 that is 23". So, I will be picking that up on Saturday! Bonzer.
Camera ready!

tripwire

Ack! I'm so jealous! I used to have that very same model of frame built up as a fixie:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CRXwc8W1fDSxuJmZZYPZYw?feat=directlink

Sadly I crashed it into a tree and bent the forks and downtube :oops:

I found it made a really practical commuter, the big frame has loads of space to take a lock, pump etc, unlike compact frames. The internal cable routing for the back brake makes it easy to shoulder too.

Are you sure they're made from 531 BTW? Mine had a sticker on it claiming it was made from 18/20 steel or some such, which is basically gas pipes

gtvlusso

tripwire wrote:

Ack! I'm so jealous! I used to have that very same model of frame built up as a fixie:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CRXwc8W1fDSxuJmZZYPZYw?feat=directlink

Sadly I crashed it into a tree and bent the forks and downtube :oops:

I found it made a really practical commuter, the big frame has loads of space to take a lock, pump etc, unlike compact frames. The internal cable routing for the back brake makes it easy to shoulder too.

Are you sure they're made from 531 BTW? Mine had a sticker on it claiming it was made from 18/20 steel or some such, which is basically gas pipes

Ah nice - I like the quill adapter too! Yes, it is not the reverred 531 or 753 job it is the 18/23 pig iron based frame - heavy, but it should be fine around town.

Feltup

What wheels are you going to put on it? I am thinking of converting my old peugeot which also has semi horizontal drop outs to a fixie.

gtvlusso

Feltup wrote:

What wheels are you going to put on it? I am thinking of converting my old peugeot which also has semi horizontal drop outs to a fixie.

I already have these:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alloy-Track-cycle-wheel-set-with-flip-flop-hub_W0QQitemZ360124328465QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item360124328465&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1298|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

On my Barron and they are fine - pretty light and work well - I de-stickered mine for a shinier finish /TART!

Feltup

They look just the job, I presume the seller is reliable? Always good to tart it up! Still trying to work out if it is worth converting the bike as it works at the moment or buying a tricross single. I have a feeling they will work out to be about the same cost.

gtvlusso

Feltup wrote:

They look just the job, I presume the seller is reliable? Always good to tart it up! Still trying to work out if it is worth converting the bike as it works at the moment or buying a tricross single. I have a feeling they will work out to be about the same cost.

Had no issues with the sellar or the wheels. Yeah, must admit, I could probably have bought an SS for the price I built the Barron for - but, I enjoyed building it and no one has one like it! And I know I did a quality job (in my own imagination!).