Building a singlespeed

djoptix
djoptix Posts: 23
edited June 2009 in Road buying advice
Long time lurker, first post.

So I want a singlespeed for riding to work. I was considering a Create, then read all sorts of bad news about them and decided it was a bad idea. The general consensus on various forums seems to be "why buy new when you can get a Langster for £200?" Well, because you can't. Not for a 6'2" person such as myself.

So if I don't go OTP the other way to go seems to be to buy an old frame and build it up. The LFGSS forum is full of people who've built up singlespeeds from old frames, spouting what a good idea it is to anyone who'll listen. The trouble is, I'm not a FG geek or a polo player(!). I just want something to ride to work (10 miles each way if I don't get the train) and I happen to like SS.

At the moment I've got an old Carrera frame with various nice bits on it, but at the end of the day it's a steel MTB frame and weighs rather too much. Heavy wheels and Panaracer town tyres mean it doesn't roll that well either. I clearly need something lighter, road frame based.

I'm happy to buy an old frame and start from it, but I'm concerned about the geometry. Surely anything intended to have drop bars on the front will be far too short/upright if I put flat bars on it? Plus it probably won't have chain tugs, will have crap brakes, and will my bars fit in the stem?

Basically I'm clueless. Tell me what I should look for in a frame. Or sell me a 61cm Langster for £200.

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