[Nigal]

Originally Posted by DirtyBobbysBikes

For $450 you can buy a raleigh back alley and not ruin a nice ten speed. There are also other pretty descent complete fixed gear bikes that can be had in that price range. The back alley is really nice for the money. Comes with DP-18s, flip flop fixed/free rear hub, front and rear brakes, it's even got built in chain tensioners like the rush hour. Reynolds 520 frame. Raleigh Bicycles » Back Alley if you really want to convert the bike you have the DP-18s are great rims in my experience, laced to some formula hubs or something like that. I'd recommend them.

Wow! That Raleigh Rush Hour FB over there gives me bike wood.



Harris Cyclery has a ton of good info on there web site and parts. I'd find a good LBS first because ya never know what parts they may have laying around.

[Cycle Snack]

I personally like converting old crappy ten speeds to fixed gear bikes. It's recycling because in most cases these bikes will end up at the dump. I have converted 6 or 7 bikes so far, including a 1972 Raleigh.

[DirtyBobbysBikes]

Around here kids do that and call them track bike and try to sell them for rediculous amounts of money. Sometimes, stupid people buy them. Conversion were cool until I started buying real track bikes/ fixed gears. I have a rush hour flat bar in my stable Nigal, it's the 2010.

[Cycle Snack]

My first conversion was a Bianchi Classica that I sold for 4 Hundy. I did a Fuji, a Raleigh, and a Bridgestone. Almost sold my Marin, which was is a steel comfort bike but I am glad the buyer backed out at the last second because I realized that I like it too much.

For me, it's hobby. Rebuild to a fixie, ride it, love it, write about it (another biking blogger), and then sell it. Although, some bikes you just can't sell.

[DirtyBobbysBikes]

$400 for a conversion is about the max ones worth. You can buy a real fixed gear for $400. I'd say maybe for a real nice one with lots of new parts, that would be the max a conversion would be worth. I see people trying to sell conversions for anywhere from $600 to over $1000 all the time. Some people have some pretty funny ideas about what things are worth. When you price out the parts on some of these bikes, they didnt cost half of what these people are trying to sell them for. It's sad.

[Eagle]

Hey

Ya I'm thinking about the whole rebuild of the BB and headset and stuff, I just luv the frame, still has original paint and stickers and stuff its a classic.
My local "fixie" shop is around $400 for front and rear wheels, BB, chain rings and crank, then I just gotta put it together which is not a biggy.

[DirtyBobbysBikes]

I'd overhaul it and ride it as a road bike, but thats just me

[billnuke1]

I restore/collect old LBS bikes. I call them the "rich kid bikes". I was riding hand me downs and "box store bikes". I coveted these bikes! I find them in basements, attics, and crawlspaces! I "rescue" them! I have about 50 in my garage! 18 +/- hanging! The rest are on the floor, and one on the bike stand! Half the fun is getting these old bikes performing again! Most of them need tires and cables. As the budget permits , I buy what is needed. I don't really get the single speed thing, even though I do have some canidates for this conversion. Some bikes are just too far gone, just too abused! There is a lot of satisfaction in getting these bikes working again! Somebody just gave me an unridden Raleigh Grand Prix. I added air to the tires, lubed everything, and took itn for a cruise! Nice, solid old bike! Want to send me your "cast off" parts for shipping costs? I don't if I'm serious or not! Canada to Cape Cod! Have fun!

[billnuke1]

I'm not sure if the picture came out or not, but, you can see my album in the galleries."Lots of bikes". There are a few more bikes now than in the picture! I had a good week rescuing!

[Cycle Snack]

I try to keep as much as original as possible. I usually replace the rubber, bars (flop and chops suck), rear wheel, and BB if it really needs it.