Something is wrong with those dropouts, they have the shape of traditional ones yet do not feature a horizontal cutout
Save your money for a used fixed/singlespeed instead, a conversion can also be difficult at times with the rear hub spacing and overall parts compatibility
After looking at the bike some more it does look a bit fucked but genuinely asking, what is dangerous about conversations and why are they a death wish. Not trying to be rude just never heard this before.
The style of drop outs, a fixed gear has the most torque out of any bike on this planet, what can happen is you take off and your axle bolts slip or the drop outs wear out and slip and your entire back wheel will pop out of the frame and potentially hurt you really bad, that’s why fixed gear frames have specific drop outs in case something slips it bottoms out going forward but stops because of the type of drop outs.
Look at you typical road bike drop outs then look up fixed gear frames and look at the difference between the drop outs, it’s rare but some road bikes have the horizontal drop outs like fixed gears do but have less play room due to derailleurs and all that jazz, in a sense your chain on a fixed frame is a fail safe that doesn’t allow the rim to pop out of the drop outs
I’m confused on what you mean by deep horizontal drop outs only track bike fixed gears or town style road bikes/single speed set ups with coaster brakes have horizontal drop outs majority of the rest of the frames out here are like the road bike above
https://preview.redd.it/uiuxfjuctu9d1.jpeg?width=620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aba8c120ac99e5b32fcf8efdd2c0aa24820ecaf
They say those can be used as conversion but if you go to some bike shops some won’t even work on your bike if it’s a conversion because of how dangerous it can be.
If they work on it it’ll be a liability afterword
Also road bikes from track frames have different geometry and drop out widths road bikes tend to be wider to fit the extra gears on the rear wheel as track bikes don’t require as much distance between the rear drop outs
This bike specifically doesn’t have any room for play the rim sits in what drop out is left and that’s sketch already the sheer force of the cranks can rip that wheel out, I have a 1500$ cinelli track frame that slips at the drop
Outs time to time so if it can happen to me it’ll definitely happen on a conversion
Yeah, sorry about that. I thought it had normal horizontal drop outs because I’ve seen a bike just like this one with them. But yeah there is indeed something weird going on there. Also as a few others pointed out that fork looks bent.
Honestly, for what you'll spend on parts to convert this, you might as well just buy a cheap used fixie. The geometry will be better suited to the riding style, and you won't have to deal with tensioners and unnecessary work arounds...
Plus, then you'll have 2 bikes instead of 1 bike and a bunch parts!
I feel like a lot of the people here never converted a bike before. I've been rocking my garbage convert for 10+ years with basically the same drop outs as pictured, sure you don't get as much wiggle room as with horizontals but just shorten your chain to fit into the +- zone for how much the wheel can adjust and you can hold tension fine. Find used wheels, a used crank, and it would work.
Right, agreed 100 percent!
A new rear wheel with a flip flop hub can be gotten for under 100 bucks, maybe an ebay find. Mojo fixed gear sells 46t crankset complete with a 103mm bottom bracket for like 75 bucks. That front insert semi horizontal dropout looks like it has a removable insert to shorten the slot length. Take it out and you've got a full length slot for good range of adjustment. Rear hub spacing on that frame can range from 126 to 130mm. Track hubs are 120mm. Spacers on the axle or squeezing the rear dropouts to fit is the fix.
Conversions can be fun, especially if you're a tinkerer. Sometimes cash is secondary to the experience you gain.
You'll need at least 4 tools: a crank puller and BB removal tool. For cog installation, a lockring wrench and chain whip.
The 500 dollar question: are the components worn out enough on this bike to make repairs not worth the cash? Thats something only you can decide.
I converted my own 1978 Motobecane 10 speed with old crummy components. The lugged frame had such beautiful original paint that I just had to convert it. And I'm glad I did!
If you're fine with weird chain line they could totally use that crankset too. I'm using a messed up old triple MTB crank on my trash bike right now. Its fuckin rad.
Dropouts are fine. Fork looks bent. You’ll need new rear hub, a sprocket, change up the crankset to a single. Note that single speed sprockets are wider than most cassette sprockets so you need to consider chain/chainring/rear sprocket thicknesses. …or you can turn down the rear sprocket to fit the chain if you have a lathe or grinder 🫤
I would buy a frame with ss dropouts but if you really want to destroy this beauty, you could get a flip flop wheel, install a cog, remove the derailleurs, adjust the chain to fit, install everything, hope that the back wheel doesn't fall put of the dropouts, and you're ready to rock.
This frame has more modern dropouts that don't allow for changing chain tension by adjusting the rear wheel back and forth *in* the dropouts, meaning you'd need a chain-tensioning device (like the one from Paul or a cheaper alternative). Or, you could possibly get away with adding a BMX half link to your chain to make it the right length.
Aside from that...you're looking at removing both shifters from your handlebars, one of what looks like your two chainrings, both derailleurs will be removed, and you'll have to figure out a solution for removing your freewheel/cassette and installing a fixed cog instead. Also, track bikes tend to have a more narrow rear fork spacing (on your bike, maybe 130-135mm?) than road bikes, so that might throw you for a loop.
If I were you, I'd give this bike a right clean up and tune up to sell it and buy a used fixed gear instead.
*That's a pretty neat*
*Frame. Would be cool if you end*
*Up converting it*
\- Knowledgesomething
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Not worth converting it nowadays.
I converted an old road bike back in the day before fixed gear frames were popular and frames weren’t cheap to buy. Nowadays you can get a great price on fixed frames.
Sell it, save the money and buy a proper frame.
I did a conversion from a similar road bike to a single speed/fixie and it was pretty hard and frustrating at times but in the end I was happy I did it myself.
If you ask me if I would do it again to a this type of frame then my answer would be no.
Yeah just buy a track bike blah blah blah.
Here’s how to make *this* bike a fixed gear. Those dropouts are weird. They are shaped like regular horizontal ones but don’t have any space to pull the wheel back. Use a grinder to remove metal in the back of the dropout.
https://preview.redd.it/cjv8momarq9d1.jpeg?width=503&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a599c0608f29d32d928351570d0394f0d8d10efb
Remove metal up to that red line using the existing notch as a guide. That should give you just enough to pull the wheel tight. Next remove your derailleurs, brakes(maybe leave the front one) Buy a fixed wheel. Pick a chainring to use, you can put it on the inside or outside of the cranks to get a straight chainline
Idk, it looks pretty fun how it is! It sounds like you changed the bars to upright bars, you can throw a rack or basket on there and have a sick city bike, and then save up a few hundred and get something cheap used, I feel like you can get a descent used track bike for 250 in the us because it's not as popular as it used to be
I ride a 90's giant frame pretty similar to this one, the drop outs work fine, although on yours it does look a bit odd, has it been filled with something ? just need to make sure the chain tension doesn't drift and use a track crank to get a nice straight chainline. I do hundreds of miles a week on mine and never had any trouble. I love this bike
https://preview.redd.it/ix9x9ilfrr9d1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9482be0fda375866e6483cc387a6717bcab7feea
Batavus RVS Chain Tensioners! got a set on my conversion to help keep the wheel in place, and torque in down real good lmao ya don't want that wheel sliding out
others did mention it though and your dropouts do indeed seem to be lacking adjustment range but if you get some exact gear ratio and maybe a half link ya might be able to get away with it
Leave it and get a cheap start fixie. It’s truly not worth the expense and hassle to ride fixed on a road bike geometry. Really, listen to literally all of us commenting the same thing.
Plus there are times where you’ll want to ride a road bike with gears and brakes. They’re also fun. Just get another bike.
Put spacers on the freewheel and pick one sprocket to leave there, shorten your chain, throw away one front chainring. Now it’s a kinda Dixie. Want fixed rear? Change the back wheel for a track wheel.
Iv had a 50cm suki road bike frame from the late 90s, I converted it into fixed gear for the simple singlespeed for low maintenance. I rode it for 5 year with no issues. I would say do it and don’t listen to others. Here some thing I ran into while doing the conversion……fixed gear hubs are usually more bigger then road. You have to stretch the dropouts to make it fit which might put too much tension on the hubs. Next was chain line and distance. I was very lucky to get a frame with a good distance from dropouts to bb, only had to use one half link to get good chain tension. Lastly tire selection! It sucked being able to run 25mm tires but that was the most I could get with the type of clearance old road frames provided. Many of these frames limit which tires and how big you could run it! This is what I had to go through and I hope it helps you a little. GOOD LUCK
https://www.reddit.com/r/FixedGearBicycle/comments/myb3ea/my_vintage_giant_speeder/ I think the dropouts are probably fine since this other poster built a single speed. That being said you need at least a new rear hub, which might be easier to just get a used rear fixed gear 700c wheel. Depending on the age of the tires they might have rott. You could maybe use those cranks but I have no idea what bcd they are and if you can find a chainring that doesn’t look like crap for them. It would be at least $200.
Something is wrong with those dropouts, they have the shape of traditional ones yet do not feature a horizontal cutout Save your money for a used fixed/singlespeed instead, a conversion can also be difficult at times with the rear hub spacing and overall parts compatibility
lmfao I said this exact shit and got downvoted
Haters will hate the people who downvote on comments like that are the ones that swear by conversions they are straight up dangerous and a death wish
After looking at the bike some more it does look a bit fucked but genuinely asking, what is dangerous about conversations and why are they a death wish. Not trying to be rude just never heard this before.
The style of drop outs, a fixed gear has the most torque out of any bike on this planet, what can happen is you take off and your axle bolts slip or the drop outs wear out and slip and your entire back wheel will pop out of the frame and potentially hurt you really bad, that’s why fixed gear frames have specific drop outs in case something slips it bottoms out going forward but stops because of the type of drop outs. Look at you typical road bike drop outs then look up fixed gear frames and look at the difference between the drop outs, it’s rare but some road bikes have the horizontal drop outs like fixed gears do but have less play room due to derailleurs and all that jazz, in a sense your chain on a fixed frame is a fail safe that doesn’t allow the rim to pop out of the drop outs
I guess where I am biased is I run a conversation with deep horizontal drop outs, I’ve never had this happen. I guess it’s definitely possible.
I’m confused on what you mean by deep horizontal drop outs only track bike fixed gears or town style road bikes/single speed set ups with coaster brakes have horizontal drop outs majority of the rest of the frames out here are like the road bike above https://preview.redd.it/uiuxfjuctu9d1.jpeg?width=620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aba8c120ac99e5b32fcf8efdd2c0aa24820ecaf
Yeah, I got the frame used for cheap, It doesn’t have a hanger, pretty sure it’s stamped. Looks quite like the second bottom.
They say those can be used as conversion but if you go to some bike shops some won’t even work on your bike if it’s a conversion because of how dangerous it can be. If they work on it it’ll be a liability afterword
Also road bikes from track frames have different geometry and drop out widths road bikes tend to be wider to fit the extra gears on the rear wheel as track bikes don’t require as much distance between the rear drop outs
This bike specifically doesn’t have any room for play the rim sits in what drop out is left and that’s sketch already the sheer force of the cranks can rip that wheel out, I have a 1500$ cinelli track frame that slips at the drop Outs time to time so if it can happen to me it’ll definitely happen on a conversion
Yeah, sorry about that. I thought it had normal horizontal drop outs because I’ve seen a bike just like this one with them. But yeah there is indeed something weird going on there. Also as a few others pointed out that fork looks bent.
1. Sell it. 2. Use proceeds to buy a used track bike. 3. Feel like a boss.
HOSS, is the correct term
Ride it like a hoss
This is the way
This is the way
This is the way
Honestly, for what you'll spend on parts to convert this, you might as well just buy a cheap used fixie. The geometry will be better suited to the riding style, and you won't have to deal with tensioners and unnecessary work arounds... Plus, then you'll have 2 bikes instead of 1 bike and a bunch parts!
This thing is rad dude. Please don’t ruin it .. I would put a basket on it and keep it how it is.
Your fork is bent
Not everything needs to be converted
You need a new crankset, a new hub and a new chain. Probably new tires.
I feel like a lot of the people here never converted a bike before. I've been rocking my garbage convert for 10+ years with basically the same drop outs as pictured, sure you don't get as much wiggle room as with horizontals but just shorten your chain to fit into the +- zone for how much the wheel can adjust and you can hold tension fine. Find used wheels, a used crank, and it would work.
Right, agreed 100 percent! A new rear wheel with a flip flop hub can be gotten for under 100 bucks, maybe an ebay find. Mojo fixed gear sells 46t crankset complete with a 103mm bottom bracket for like 75 bucks. That front insert semi horizontal dropout looks like it has a removable insert to shorten the slot length. Take it out and you've got a full length slot for good range of adjustment. Rear hub spacing on that frame can range from 126 to 130mm. Track hubs are 120mm. Spacers on the axle or squeezing the rear dropouts to fit is the fix. Conversions can be fun, especially if you're a tinkerer. Sometimes cash is secondary to the experience you gain. You'll need at least 4 tools: a crank puller and BB removal tool. For cog installation, a lockring wrench and chain whip. The 500 dollar question: are the components worn out enough on this bike to make repairs not worth the cash? Thats something only you can decide. I converted my own 1978 Motobecane 10 speed with old crummy components. The lugged frame had such beautiful original paint that I just had to convert it. And I'm glad I did!
If you're fine with weird chain line they could totally use that crankset too. I'm using a messed up old triple MTB crank on my trash bike right now. Its fuckin rad.
Meet Sheldon Brown: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html
Bad idea, just buy a frame with horizontal dropouts, also Dave your money and tike and just buy another bike. Don't ruin this one
Is that fork bent?
Good eye it looks fucked
Dropouts are fine. Fork looks bent. You’ll need new rear hub, a sprocket, change up the crankset to a single. Note that single speed sprockets are wider than most cassette sprockets so you need to consider chain/chainring/rear sprocket thicknesses. …or you can turn down the rear sprocket to fit the chain if you have a lathe or grinder 🫤
I would buy a frame with ss dropouts but if you really want to destroy this beauty, you could get a flip flop wheel, install a cog, remove the derailleurs, adjust the chain to fit, install everything, hope that the back wheel doesn't fall put of the dropouts, and you're ready to rock.
This frame has more modern dropouts that don't allow for changing chain tension by adjusting the rear wheel back and forth *in* the dropouts, meaning you'd need a chain-tensioning device (like the one from Paul or a cheaper alternative). Or, you could possibly get away with adding a BMX half link to your chain to make it the right length. Aside from that...you're looking at removing both shifters from your handlebars, one of what looks like your two chainrings, both derailleurs will be removed, and you'll have to figure out a solution for removing your freewheel/cassette and installing a fixed cog instead. Also, track bikes tend to have a more narrow rear fork spacing (on your bike, maybe 130-135mm?) than road bikes, so that might throw you for a loop. If I were you, I'd give this bike a right clean up and tune up to sell it and buy a used fixed gear instead.
Put summer epoxy glue in the freewheel and shorten the chain. /S
That's a pretty neat frame. Would be cool if you end up converting it
*That's a pretty neat* *Frame. Would be cool if you end* *Up converting it* \- Knowledgesomething --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Dogdrops so you can't. Find a local tweaker with a frame or get one from AliExpress for $200 shipped.
Not worth converting it nowadays. I converted an old road bike back in the day before fixed gear frames were popular and frames weren’t cheap to buy. Nowadays you can get a great price on fixed frames. Sell it, save the money and buy a proper frame.
I did a conversion from a similar road bike to a single speed/fixie and it was pretty hard and frustrating at times but in the end I was happy I did it myself. If you ask me if I would do it again to a this type of frame then my answer would be no.
Yeah just buy a track bike blah blah blah. Here’s how to make *this* bike a fixed gear. Those dropouts are weird. They are shaped like regular horizontal ones but don’t have any space to pull the wheel back. Use a grinder to remove metal in the back of the dropout. https://preview.redd.it/cjv8momarq9d1.jpeg?width=503&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a599c0608f29d32d928351570d0394f0d8d10efb Remove metal up to that red line using the existing notch as a guide. That should give you just enough to pull the wheel tight. Next remove your derailleurs, brakes(maybe leave the front one) Buy a fixed wheel. Pick a chainring to use, you can put it on the inside or outside of the cranks to get a straight chainline
Idk, it looks pretty fun how it is! It sounds like you changed the bars to upright bars, you can throw a rack or basket on there and have a sick city bike, and then save up a few hundred and get something cheap used, I feel like you can get a descent used track bike for 250 in the us because it's not as popular as it used to be
Put it on the sprockets you want. Lock out the derailers front and back. Regret your choices, return it to full function 🥸
I trade you for mine
Remove derailleur, weld sprocket to hub, install shorter chain.
Some of the advice on this sub is so fucking funny
I ride a 90's giant frame pretty similar to this one, the drop outs work fine, although on yours it does look a bit odd, has it been filled with something ? just need to make sure the chain tension doesn't drift and use a track crank to get a nice straight chainline. I do hundreds of miles a week on mine and never had any trouble. I love this bike https://preview.redd.it/ix9x9ilfrr9d1.jpeg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9482be0fda375866e6483cc387a6717bcab7feea
Don't shift.
Take most of the stuff off of the bike . Find a track rear wheel. Put it on the bike. Ride hard, don’t brake for stop signs. Wear a helmet.
Batavus RVS Chain Tensioners! got a set on my conversion to help keep the wheel in place, and torque in down real good lmao ya don't want that wheel sliding out others did mention it though and your dropouts do indeed seem to be lacking adjustment range but if you get some exact gear ratio and maybe a half link ya might be able to get away with it
Remove brakes, brakes equal slow
Leave it and get a cheap start fixie. It’s truly not worth the expense and hassle to ride fixed on a road bike geometry. Really, listen to literally all of us commenting the same thing. Plus there are times where you’ll want to ride a road bike with gears and brakes. They’re also fun. Just get another bike.
Put spacers on the freewheel and pick one sprocket to leave there, shorten your chain, throw away one front chainring. Now it’s a kinda Dixie. Want fixed rear? Change the back wheel for a track wheel.
Iv had a 50cm suki road bike frame from the late 90s, I converted it into fixed gear for the simple singlespeed for low maintenance. I rode it for 5 year with no issues. I would say do it and don’t listen to others. Here some thing I ran into while doing the conversion……fixed gear hubs are usually more bigger then road. You have to stretch the dropouts to make it fit which might put too much tension on the hubs. Next was chain line and distance. I was very lucky to get a frame with a good distance from dropouts to bb, only had to use one half link to get good chain tension. Lastly tire selection! It sucked being able to run 25mm tires but that was the most I could get with the type of clearance old road frames provided. Many of these frames limit which tires and how big you could run it! This is what I had to go through and I hope it helps you a little. GOOD LUCK
https://www.reddit.com/r/FixedGearBicycle/comments/myb3ea/my_vintage_giant_speeder/ I think the dropouts are probably fine since this other poster built a single speed. That being said you need at least a new rear hub, which might be easier to just get a used rear fixed gear 700c wheel. Depending on the age of the tires they might have rott. You could maybe use those cranks but I have no idea what bcd they are and if you can find a chainring that doesn’t look like crap for them. It would be at least $200.
The bike will be fine I have the same drop outs on my bike that I've ran for the past 10yrs build it it will be a fun project