Upgrade a Fixie?

[Rockn Robin]

I've been contemplating getting a road bike. I loved riding them years ago in my youth, but I don't particularly like many of the newer ones today. I don't care for the looks of the slanted top tube. Just my preference. It seems that fixies resemble the older style road bike but minus the rear cassette. Can today's fixies be modified by adding a cassette etc., or are the rear forks too narrow? Thanks.

 

[ColinJ]

That's a weird way of avoiding a sloping top tube! Why not just buy a bike with a horizontal tube?

My Cannondale CAAD5 has a level top tube.

I can see some similar bikes on eBay for a few hundred dollars.

 

[swee'pea99]

I've been contemplating getting a road bike. I loved riding them years ago in my youth, but I don't particularly like many of the newer ones today. I don't care for the looks of the slanted top tube. Just my preference. It seems that fixies resemble the older style road bike but minus the rear cassette. Can today's fixies be modified by adding a cassette etc., or are the rear forks too narrow? Thanks.

Most fixies, at least hereabouts, are 'older style road bikes' that fixie fans have converted. Switching them back is just a matter of replacing the missing bits. But I would've thought there'd be loads of old style bikes on ebay - there certainly are over here.

 

[Rockn Robin]

That's a weird way of avoiding a sloping top tube! Why not just buy a bike with a horizontal tube?

My Cannondale CAAD5 has a level top tube.

View attachment 428991
I can see some similar bikes on eBay for a few hundred dollars.

I’m with you on that. I’ve been looking on Graigslist, but slim pickings, but what they have are either the wrong size or scratched real bad. I’ll keep looking, but the idea of upgrading a fixie seemed reasonable as they are not that expensive.

 

[Rockn Robin]

Most fixies, at least hereabouts, are 'older style road bikes' that fixie fans have converted. Switching them back is just a matter of replacing the missing bits. But I would've thought there'd be loads of old style bikes on ebay - there certainly are over here.

For now I’ve just been looking on Craigslist. Kinda like to see what I’m buying first.

 

[Lonestar]

For now I’ve just been looking on Craigslist. Kinda like to see what I’m buying first.

Is Gumtree any good? I'm looking for another Dawes Audax.

Didn't see anything on Craiglist.

 

[Cycleops]

There's loads of stuff on Gumtree, you might find a Audax.


Edit: There's one on eBay:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/273429285882

 

[Sharky]

If the frame has rear track ends - (i.e. horizontal rear facing), it has probably been built for a 120mm fixed wheel. It will be difficult, but not impossible to fit a rear derailleur gear. I did this with a pure track frame and had a wheel with a screw on 5 speed block. Had to force the rear forks apart to slide the wheel in.

A modern wheel with an 8+ cassette I think would be too much.

A frame with horizontal forward facing or vertical ends would probably be ok, especially if it had an integrated gear hanger still on the forks.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

fitting modern twin-pivot brakes to an old steel frame is a pain though...

 

[Deleted member 26715]

He's a Merkin guys, do they have Gumtree over there? hence Craigslist

 

[Gravity Aided]

For now I’ve just been looking on Craigslist. Kinda like to see what I’m buying first.

Do you have a local bike co-op? Ours has about 20 old style framed ten speeds, some of them actually quite nice.

 

[Rockn Robin]

If the frame has rear track ends - (i.e. horizontal rear facing), it has probably been built for a 120mm fixed wheel. It will be difficult, but not impossible to fit a rear derailleur gear. I did this with a pure track frame and had a wheel with a screw on 5 speed block. Had to force the rear forks apart to slide the wheel in.

A modern wheel with an 8+ cassette I think would be too much.

A frame with horizontal forward facing or vertical ends would probably be ok, especially if it had an integrated gear hanger still on the forks.

Would forcing the forks apart not jeopardize the integrity of them? Reason I mention that is that I wanted to get a motor kit for my Brompton. The new wheel with motor would mean spreading the front forks. Issues had arisen over time with forks breaking.

 

[Rockn Robin]

Do you have a local bike co-op? Ours has about 20 old style framed ten speeds, some of them actually quite nice.

No, but what a great idea.

 

[Sharky]

Would forcing the forks apart not jeopardize the integrity of them? Reason I mention that is that I wanted to get a motor kit for my Brompton. The new wheel with motor would mean spreading the front forks. Issues had arisen over time with forks breaking.

The one I did was a steel mercian track frame and I managed getting a 126mm wheel into the 120mm forks. Raced on it for a few seasons in the late 60's, then it went into hibernation until the mid 90's and then was reborn as a pure fixie and I raced on it again for about 10 yrs. It was still sound when I sold it a couple of years ago. Not bad for a frame I bought second hand for £8!

 

[Rockn Robin]

The one I did was a steel mercian track frame and I managed getting a 126mm wheel into the 120mm forks. Raced on it for a few seasons in the late 60's, then it went into hibernation until the mid 90's and then was reborn as a pure fixie and I raced on it again for about 10 yrs. It was still sound when I sold it a couple of years ago. Not bad for a frame I bought second hand for £8!

Indeed. You got a lot of use out of it. I don't mind getting an older bike and fixing it up, but finding something with a decent frame that hasn't been scratched up, is not easy. I'm very fussy when it comes to that. I've had my Brompton since 2012. Not a mark on it, and I ride it a lot. Still looks as good as the day I bought it.