Brief venture into the dark side - my first fixed gear build

[Tony Raynor]

Don't tell the classic and vintage peeps but here's my pre 53 Humber fixed gear rebuild.

Just a word of caution for any other noob person, changing an old 3 speed into a fixed gear is not as straight forward as it would seem.

Major headaches to spread front forks and rear stays to take modern wheels. Next headache was that the axles didn't fit into the forks. Quick measure, mark and a dremmel and voila, they fit like a dream.

Would think twice about doing another, but it was good practice.

 

[totallyfixed]

Good stuff, but methinks you have made a mistake with the title, gears are the dark side .

 

[Shaun]

Love the look of the saddle (is it as comfy as it looks?) - but I'm not really feeling the blue bar tape vs the green rims (sorry, but one colour or the other for me) - well done though.

 

[Tony Raynor]

The handlebar tape is green ( or maybe turquoise). It looks good in the flesh. The saddle was a cheapo eBay bargain for less than £5 delivered and it's ok. Not ridden it far as I'm a non cyclist, just do them up for my son.

 

[Shaun]

The handlebar tape is green ( or maybe turquoise). It looks good in the flesh. The saddle was a cheapo eBay bargain for less than £5 delivered and it's ok. Not ridden it far as I'm a non cyclist, just do them up for my son.

Ah, I see - I did wonder if the photo wasn't doing the colour justice. I take it the saddle isn't leather then?

 

[Tony Raynor]

No the seat isn't leather, will get one at a later date, just wanted to get something half decent on it.

 

[biggs682]

looks good

 

[Ian H]

Good stuff, but methinks you have made a mistake with the title, gears are the dark side .

Fixed-wheel is the traditional side.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I like it, job well done.

As far as cold setting frames goes, AASHTA.

I've always used the threaded bar method myself, works well, is simple and cheap to arrange, and gives a great level of control when your doing the job.

 

[Tony Raynor]

@smokeysmoo that's how I spread the front forks, but it took a lot to get them to spread. Think I had to thread them out to nearly 130mm to get them to stay at 100mm. Definitely lots of spring in the front forks.

 

[uphillstruggler]

The handlebar tape is green ( or maybe turquoise). It looks good in the flesh. The saddle was a cheapo eBay bargain for less than £5 delivered and it's ok. Not ridden it far as I'm a non cyclist, just do them up for my son.

Hello tony. Nice job on the bike.

That saddle, was it stock eBay shop or a one off private sale. I am looking for cheap similar. If you have a link, I would be grateful

 

[Tony Raynor]

@uphillstruggler there are a couple of users I use. Depends on what your looking fir, here are 2 links

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-C...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item5400bf215c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-F...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item48618da19d

The second one has some at buy it now usually as well.

With free postage they are a good stop gap.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Che

@uphillstruggler there are a couple of users I use. Depends on what your looking fir, here are 2 links

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-C...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item5400bf215c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-F...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item48618da19d

The second one has some at buy it now usually as well.

With free postage they are a good stop gap.

Cheers Tony