Wanting to convert old Raleigh Record road bike to Fixed..Simple job?

[Loonarider]

Hi all,

I'm new here, first post and have LOTS of questions..

I have a Raleigh Record Ace 531C road bike. Its such a lovely ride, although I'm just bogged down with the derraileurs/down shifters.., too stressful, clunky and annoying tbh. I had a Bob JAckson which was fixed, but unfortunately got stolen and sort of wanting to replace that...SO going to convert this bike I have now.

Is it a case of me basically getting rid of the back wheel, rear brake, taking off the smaller chainring, downtube shifters, getting a new chain and removing brake levers? Oh, and what about bottom bracket, will there be any issues there? With it being an older road bike what do I need to look out for. Oh, it has horizontal dropouts so perfectly acceptable for this conversion. Oh, and tools? I've got allen keys , adjustable wrench, hammer, do I need short bolts for the chainring??? It'll be a 3/32 chain I'll need seeing as its an old school bike?

Ah, and lastly cross top levers, suggestions. I want one for the front brake , how easy will it be to fit, should be easy right?

Lots and lots of help appreciated from those in the know! and a step by step guide if anybody has the time!

Thanks, oh and heres the bike in question.

 

[raleighnut]

Be a shame to fixie that beauty but its your bike.

 

[Hop3y]

Sort your gears out and leave it as it is!!!

 

[wisdom]

Agree with the above 2 posts its too nice to become a fixie.

 

[Tim Hall]

If it's old enough you might get away with reusing the back wheel. Bikes of a certain age have a screw on freewheel rather than a cassette. Unscrew the freewheel and screw on the appropriate sprocket. Lots of grunt, some swearing and the correct freewheel tool are needed. Make sure your chain line is bob on - some sprockets are handed so you get a different line depending on which way round they're fitted. Keep the back brake, unless you're some kind of urban hipster.

 

[smokeysmoo]

+1 for the back brake, it's there for a reason

 

[Smokin Joe]

-1 for a back brake.

The fixed wheel is just as effective bearing in mind all the back stopper will do is lock the wheel under anything more that gentle braking. I don't even use mine on a geared bike unless it's wet and back in the day when every clubman had one fixed wheel bike in their stable no one fitted one.

 

[Brommyboy]

A fixed wheel really needs horizontal dropouts so that chain tension can be adjusted. A dérailleur bicycle has vertical dropouts.

 

[raleighnut]

A fixed wheel really needs horizontal dropouts so that chain tension can be adjusted. A dérailleur bicycle has vertical dropouts.

No they don't, they have forward facing angled drop-outs on a Raleigh.

 

[Poacher]

No they don't, they have forward facing angled drop-outs on a Raleigh.

, as the OP took pains to point out: "Oh, it has horizontal dropouts so perfectly acceptable for this conversion."

I'd still keep it as a geared bike, though.

Edited to add link to advice on converting road bike to fixie

 

[Deleted member 1258]

-1 for a back brake.

The fixed wheel is just as effective bearing in mind all the back stopper will do is lock the wheel under anything more that gentle braking. I don't even use mine on a geared bike unless it's wet and back in the day when every clubman had one fixed wheel bike in their stable no one fitted one.

I have a back brake on my fixed, I have it there for the bad weather, the snow and ice and other things slippery, I've found that leg braking supplemented by a little back brake works better than a front brake when its slippery.

 

[Loonarider]

Be a shame to fixie that beauty but its your bike.

Thing is I rarely use the gears, I'm pretty much stuck on the bigger chaining, due to my location being mostly flat terrain in the city. Just extra weight I feel, but thanks for the input!

 

[Loonarider]

If it's old enough you might get away with reusing the back wheel. Bikes of a certain age have a screw on freewheel rather than a cassette. Unscrew the freewheel and screw on the appropriate sprocket. Lots of grunt, some swearing and the correct freewheel tool are needed. Make sure your chain line is bob on - some sprockets are handed so you get a different line depending on which way round they're fitted. Keep the back brake, unless you're some kind of urban hipster.

Thanks, this really helpful. NO defo not doing no back brake for fashionable reasons, its only due to what Ive been used to from the past 2 fixies I had... plus wanted to make less work for myself

 

[Loonarider]

-1 for a back brake.

The fixed wheel is just as effective bearing in mind all the back stopper will do is lock the wheel under anything more that gentle braking. I don't even use mine on a geared bike unless it's wet and back in the day when every clubman had one fixed wheel bike in their stable no one fitted one.

Same here I've always used just the front brake on a geared bike unless raining... but I think the brake pad wore down quicker

 

[Tim Hall]

Thanks, this really helpful. NO defo not doing no back brake for fashionable reasons, its only due to what Ive been used to from the past 2 fixies I had... plus wanted to make less work for myself

Forgot to say, if it is a screw on hub you're replacing, you can also adjust the chainline by putting an old style bottom bracket lock ring between hub and sprocket. The thread's the same.