The Chainlink

Building A Bike

So as my nice bike has been stolen, I am now riding around on a crappy Schwinn Spirit. I am thinkin for a new bike I just might buy it piece by piece. I have never done this before, but am very excited about the idea. I want a light weight frame, flip flop hub, bull horn handlebars. Anyone got any suggestions on where to buy parts and what to buy to make it light and cost friendly.

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Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on May 30, 2010 at 1:28pm
Permalink Reply by wig [ isaac ] on May 30, 2010 at 4:41pm

Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on May 30, 2010 at 9:48pm
Sounds like you're thinking of a fixed gear or single speed build. I would look on CL/yard sales/Working Bikes/Ciclo Urbano for a nice 80s Japanese (for example) road bike that fits nicely, with a light CR-MO frame, alloy bars/stem, and a nice alloy crankset with removable chainrings (Shimano 600 or SR Signature are examples).

Sounds like you want a fixed/free wheelset (or fixed/fixed); you can get em cheap on eBay or locally through CL. People sometimes sell basic 'take-off' wheelsets to fund fancier wheels. Then you'll need a chain, single speed BMX chainring bolts, and either a BMX freewheel for single speed or cog/lockring combination for fixed, along with some form of pedal retention. You can get these items at an LBS (such as Smart Bike Parts), a swap meet like the one listed above, or online through a number of sites (such as Ben's Cycle).

Best to consult with a legit fixed gear/single speed nerd to talk through the parameters (1/8" or 3/32" chain, bottom bracket/chainline, etc.). I would highly recommend leaving the front and rear brakes intact; you should have afront brake at the very least.

These projects can get very expensive very fast, so it's best to start out using as much as the original bike as possible; you can upgrade over time when you have more dough. Also consider trades with trusted bike nerds as a way to acquire parts cheaply.
Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on May 31, 2010 at 10:06am
"Trusted bike nerds." Very important, indeed.

Primitive Don said:
Sounds like you're thinking of a fixed gear or single speed build. I would look on CL/yard sales/Working Bikes/Ciclo Urbano for a nice 80s Japanese (for example) road bike that fits nicely, with a light CR-MO frame, alloy bars/stem, and a nice alloy crankset with removable chainrings (Shimano 600 or SR Signature are examples).
Sounds like you want a fixed/free wheelset (or fixed/fixed); you can get em cheap on eBay or locally through CL. People sometimes sell basic 'take-off' wheelsets to fund fancier wheels. Then you'll need a chain, single speed BMX chainring bolts, and either a BMX freewheel for single speed or cog/lockring combination for fixed, along with some form of pedal retention. You can get these items at an LBS (such as Smart Bike Parts), a swap meet like the one listed above, or online through a number of sites (such as Ben's Cycle).
Best to consult with a legit fixed gear/single speed nerd to talk through the parameters (1/8" or 3/32" chain, bottom bracket/chainline, etc.). I would highly recommend leaving the front and rear brakes intact; you should have afront brake at the very least.

These projects can get very expensive very fast, so it's best to start out using as much as the original bike as possible; you can upgrade over time when you have more dough. Also consider trades with trusted bike nerds as a way to acquire parts cheaply.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on May 31, 2010 at 11:25am
Primitive Don said:
Sounds like you're thinking of a fixed gear or single speed build. I would look on CL/yard sales/Working Bikes/Ciclo Urbano for a nice 80s Japanese (for example) road bike that fits nicely, with a light CR-MO frame, alloy bars/stem, and a nice alloy crankset with removable chainrings (Shimano 600 or SR Signature are examples).
Sounds like you want a fixed/free wheelset (or fixed/fixed);
...
These projects can get very expensive very fast, so it's best to start out using as much as the original bike as possible; you can upgrade over time when you have more dough. Also consider trades with trusted bike nerds as a way to acquire parts cheaply.

If you are not set on cromo, you can have the Le Tour III frame that Ken Gray was giving away a month ago.
free-to-a-good-home-nice Le Tour III frame. I got the seatpost and stem unstuck for you (thank you PB Blaster) and I've added a seat clamp. My plan is to build a fixed/SS commuter from it, but it is project #2 on my list of bike builds right now so it may be a very long time before I get around to it. I'm moving this summer so I'd like to drag fewer projects along for the move. It is fairly light for high tensile frame and the paint is a really pretty blue.

The cranks and brakes and bars are fine - so you could get started pretty quickly as Primitive Don suggests and this route would be very frugal (free!). If you find any of the included stuff intolerable you could swap them out later, but you might just find they are good enough - especially given that as you've sadly experienced, our bikes often turn out to be temporary possessions.
Permalink Reply by Daniel Villarreal on May 31, 2010 at 11:37am
I'll take it! When and where can I pick it up.

Tony Adams said:
Primitive Don said:
Sounds like you're thinking of a fixed gear or single speed build. I would look on CL/yard sales/Working Bikes/Ciclo Urbano for a nice 80s Japanese (for example) road bike that fits nicely, with a light CR-MO frame, alloy bars/stem, and a nice alloy crankset with removable chainrings (Shimano 600 or SR Signature are examples).
Sounds like you want a fixed/free wheelset (or fixed/fixed);
...
These projects can get very expensive very fast, so it's best to start out using as much as the original bike as possible; you can upgrade over time when you have more dough. Also consider trades with trusted bike nerds as a way to acquire parts cheaply.

If you are not set on cromo, you can have the Le Tour III frame that Ken Gray was giving away a month ago.
free-to-a-good-home-nice Le Tour III frame. I got the seatpost and stem unstuck for you and I've added a seat clamp. My plan is to build a fixed/SS commuter from it, but it is project #2 on my list of bike builds right now so it may be a very long time before I get around to it. I'm moving this summer so I'd like to drag fewer projects along for the move. It is fairly light for high tensile frame and the paint is a really pretty blue.

The cranks and brakes and bars are fine - so you could get started pretty quickly as Primitive Don suggests and this route would be very frugal (free!). If you find any of the included stuff intolerable you could swap them out later, but you might just find they are good enough - especially given that as you've sadly experience, our bikes often turn out to be temporary possessions.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on May 31, 2010 at 11:51am
Daniel Villarreal said:
I'll take it! When and where can I pick it up.


I've sent a friend request so that I can send you a private message. Today until 3 works for me - roughly 35th and Damen. We'll figure out some other time if today is not good.
Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on May 31, 2010 at 9:01pm
Sounds like a nice offer. Assuming the frame fits reasonably well? (looks tall)

My primary ride is a really old LeTour; it is gaspipe but fits great and rolls nice.
Permalink Reply by wig [ isaac ] on May 31, 2010 at 9:12pm
nice color.. what size is that?61cm
Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on May 31, 2010 at 11:33pm
Dumb question...why not just build up the Sprint with some better components? Depending on the era, those can be pretty decent frames.
Permalink Reply by Daniel Villarreal on June 1, 2010 at 7:57am
Frame is really heavy and need to use it to get around for the moment. I also always like to have a second bike on hand anyway. As you can see it came in handy.

Michael Perz said:
Dumb question...why not just build up the Sprint with some better components? Depending on the era, those can be pretty decent frames.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 1, 2010 at 8:28am
wig [ isaac ] said:
nice color.. what size is that?61cm

I think it is a 63cm. They came in 23" and 25" ( 25 inches = 63.5 centimeters) among other sizes that year. It is one or the other. I'll measure it tonight and report back.

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