1st Project - Stage 1 the frame

[Wigsie]

I want to start a build project and have been looking at a couple of frames on fleabay...

This one seems pretty good value but what is ambrosio like?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120429549076

I would like to build a fixed/SS for my first project but am aware I need the rear hooky bit (that is the technical term right?) facing the right way so I can get the chain tight... would this frame be suitable?

 

[Joe24]

No. Thats got verticle drop outs, which makes it harder to pull the hub back to get chain tension.(dont some arse come in and say, yes you can. Your right, but its not so easy/cheap to do)
What you need is horizontal drop outs/track ends.
You get forwards facing horizontal drop outs, which face forward but run pretty horizontal, with a slight slope up.
Track ends run horizontal, and face backwards.
The other thing you need is the back spacing to be 120mm. Most fixed hubs are this, so its easier to get a wheel for a frame spaced at 120mm. If it is steel though, you can just bend it in(which i have done on my mess about fixed) but is abit of a bodge.
You can get wider hubs then 120mm, my original fixed has 130mmm spacing, and i had a hub with 120mm, but with a long axle(had to look around) so i could put on two 5mm spacers on the axle.
If you check out Sheldon Browns page, he has pictures of loads of drop outs, and which ones are suitable.
Hope this helps.
Oh, here is the page i ment. Scroll down and you will see the drop outs your looking for

 

[accountantpete]

Try http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARLTON-VINTA...66:2|39:1|72:1688|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

Carlton were cheap bikes but did the job.

 

[Radius]

No. That's got vertical drop outs, which makes it harder to pull the hub back to get chain tension. (don't some arse come in and say, yes you can. You're right, but it's not so easy/cheap to do)
What you need is horizontal drop outs/track ends.
You get forwards facing horizontal drop outs, which face forward but run pretty horizontal, with a slight slope upwards.
Track ends run horizontal, and face backwards.

Yes, and good terminology, grammar amended

The other thing you need is the back spacing to be 120mm. Most fixed hubs are this, so its easier to get a wheel for a frame spaced at 120mm. If it is steel though, you can just bend it in (which i have done on my mess about fixed) but is abit of a bodge.
You can get wider hubs then 120mm, my original fixed has 130mmm spacing, and i had a hub with 120mm, but with a long axle (had to look around) so i could put on two 5mm spacers on the axle.

Yes, and I've done both of those things. Originally bent the seatstays 'til I got the spacers. Much easier to have spacers, saves tonnes of time when tightening / loosening nuts to put rear wheel on / take rear wheel off.

If you check out Sheldon Brown's page, he has pictures of loads of drop outs, and which ones are suitable.
Hope this helps.
Oh, here is the page I meant. Scroll down and you will see the drop outs you're looking for

 

[Wigsie]

Cheers guys, I saw that Carlton earlier so will be watching that.

You feeling ok Joe? very helpfull and no abuse

Or are you saving it up for later?

 

[Landslide]

If it makes you feel any better Wigsie, I could call you a cheddaring hoopwongle, and tell you to go and turnip yourself.

 

[Wigsie]

cheers,

But its just not the same as a Joe24 rant.

 

[Joe24]

Most car drivers are complete daffodils.
Oh, and you got me on a subject i like.

Radius, you can **** off with your grammer.

I could easily go into a rant now about one of the shittiest days ive ever had, and how shoot i feel at the moment, but i wont.

 

[Joe24]

Oh, and the problem with spacers, is that some axles arent long enough.
The system ex hub's axle i found, didnt take spacers, and leave enough space to have the bolts on tight enough.
The SJSC ones i got, did.
Just to let you know.

 

[Bigtwin]

Or you can do it all on the cheap - vertical drop outs with a tensioner - buy one or make one from an old derail - and any old spacing, and use a SS kit on the existing wheel. Give you SS not fixed, though some people go the whole way any bodge the freewheel to fixed.

 

[Joe24]

Or you can do it all on the cheap - vertical drop outs with a tensioner - buy one or make one from an old derail - and any old spacing, and use a SS kit on the existing wheel. Give you SS not fixed, though some people go the whole way any bodge the freewheel to fixed.

No. Thats just stupid. Dont do it.
Read my comment of, you can do it with verticle droputs, but its more expensive/difficult.
You cant use a tensioner with fixed, it is not a good idea at all. The tensioner cant take the forces.
SS is crap, dont bother with it. If your going to do that, just put gears on it and sit it in one gear. It is that pointless.
If you want to use verticle dropouts, you either need a special hub(like the ENO hub) that has a special axle, or you need to find the magic gear. Which will take alot of experimenting and wont be as easy.
Single speed really is pointless(unless you need to ride singlespeed, which most people dont)

 

[Bigtwin]

No. Thats just stupid.
Single speed really is pointless(unless you need to ride singlespeed, which most people dont)

With respect - what a load of complete horse doo doo.

If you have a tight budget, it might be just the thing.

And there are plenty of people who use SS as a low-maint commute tool, who don't want the arse-ache of not being able to free-wheel down hill, and to turn their pedals at a standstill, such as at lights etc, and don't like pedal strike on corners.

Similarly, there are people who like to ride SS MTBs for fun. I do both, and it's very far from pointless. Not to mention 1/2 the people who ride fixed have a flip-flop SS/fixed anyway.

 

[Joe24]

With respect - what a load of complete horse doo doo.

If you have a tight budget, it might be just the thing.

And there are plenty of people who use SS as a low-maint commute tool, who don't want the arse-ache of not being able to free-wheel down hill, and to turn their pedals at a standstill, such as at lights etc, and don't like pedal strike on corners.

Similarly, there are people who like to ride SS MTBs for fun. I do both, and it's very far from pointless. Not to mention 1/2 the people who ride fixed have a flip-flop SS/fixed anyway.

With respect, you talks shoot.
SS on MTB is good. Having fixed on MTB isnt the best.
SS doesnt give you much benefits does it? Well, not any mroe then just riding a normal geared bike in one gear.
Less maintenece? How? Ride an 8 speed, that has a 3/32 chain.
Pedal strike on courners, you really are talking shoot now. Ive done alot of fixed riding, and never got it so far. And my TT bike is fixed, with pedals very low to the ground, and ive taken so courners very fast on that and lent it over far, and not had pedal strike.
You can still turn your pedals at a standstill. Hold the front brake, pull up and the pedals will go around when the back wheel comes off the floor. Its all very simple you know. Or just stop with your pedals in the correct place. Its all very simple.
On a tight budget, its simple to build up a fixed. Ive done it a few times now.
Alot of people ride with flip/flop hubs because thats what pretty much all the OTP bikes come with, and most hubs you get are flip/flop hubs.
Go look, you will see most cheap hubs come as flip/flop, or people go for them, 'just in case they dont like fixd'
I have a flip/flop hub on the track bike im borrowing. Its got two fixed sprockets on. Am i in the, double fixed, or the flip flop zone?
Your post really is just stupid.

 

[Bigtwin]

What a tosser.

 

[Joe24]

Oh yeh, ****, try and correct me.
How am i wrong.

Do you ride fixed, or SS?