Convert 1980s road bike to fixed wheel?

gloomyandy

I have a 1980s Orbit America road bike (6 speed 105, 53/39 crankset I think). I'd like to have a fixed wheel bike to give that a go. Is it possible/sensible to convert this bike? What would I need to change?
http://www.gloomy-place.com/photo/showi ... G_0974.jpg
It has a sort of horizontal drop out if that helps:
http://www.gloomy-place.com/photo/showi ... G_0992.jpg

Thanks

Andy

Monty Dog

Firstly, a fixed gear hub is likely to be 120mm so you may have to fit spacers to fit your slightly wider rear drop-outs e.g. 3, 10mm washers on each side or you can simply wind them in using the track-nuts. You may need to play around with different sprocket sizes to arrive at the right chain-length and achieve decent tension. All you need to know here: http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

rolf_f

Looks bit nice to turn into a fixed surely?

gloomyandy

Was hoping not to do any damage to it in the process! Just swap wheels, remove rear mech, new chain. At the moment it has been sat in my shed unused for a long time, so I guess it is either use it for something like this or sell it!

I bought it many years ago when I was a mountain biker. Never really got into the road at that time, I suspect the rather ambitious gearing did not help! When I returned to cycling 5 years ago I was tempted back by a carbon road bike. A touring bike followed, plus a tandem! So I now have far more bikes than I know what to do with, but it seems a pity not to do something with it. My club has a session booked at the velodrome and never having ridden fixed I thought that perhaps now was a good time to try!

rolf_f

TBH, you'll probably feel right at home on the track bikes in five minutes. As long as you remember to keep pedalling! It's an awesome experience - off for my second session next month.

One option would be to try it with softer gearing. Eg £50 gets you a nice looking compact double with a wide variety of ring options. http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 2b0s109p45.

Mind, if you aren't going to vandalise it by chopping off the braze ons then it can't do any harm!

nicklouse

Don't forget about the modded XT front disc hubs.

Useing the disc mount for a cog mount. And hub spaced to suit the frame.

craker

One option is a seven speed freehub (£18 ish off the bay) bolted onto a more recent back wheel to get the right spacing (worked for me on a R500 back wheel) + a single speed kit, though if you're buying all that new you may as we'll just get the right wheel.

Any idea what you'll use it for? That may inform what gearing to start with. I'd start with, say, 68" depending on your local hills ?

gloomyandy

Initial use is just to get used to riding a fixed wheel, how to start/stop etc. Anyone got a recommendation for a conversion kit, that is likely to fit? Or a cheap wheel?