Back to the Square One

Going around in circles. My first fixed gear bike was a road bike conversion and my latest project is, yeah you guessed it, a road bike conversion. Bit more sophisticated this time, though, as a person with some serious skills helped me a bit here.

So I got me an old and pretty beat-up Rossin road frame. I wanted it cleaned off of all the gear-related parts, I wanted Campy-style track ends like in my Rossin Pista but I also want full long fenders front & back to keep my ass dry. Let's see how this will turn out.

Merckx Makeover

Chainthug's most recent project finished. I'm sure John Prolly will spend a minute or two looking at the photos and thinking about what's going on here...

My Old Raleigh

I don't usually bother posting pics of road conversions but this one here is bit special. The Raleigh USA Racing 'Grand Prix' frame in the photo was actually my first fixed gear bike couple of years ago and it resurfaced recently on our local discussion board, built up by the third owner after me. I have to say that the build is really nice and tastefully classic. Funnily the frame was in reality good 4cm too large for me but it never bothered me when I had it. Also props for the well-chosen backdrop of the photos... ;)

Features & Benefits

Spotted at Fixed Gear Athens.

Dropouts

Putting those weldin' & brazin' skills to good use...

Apparently Olli's been recently honing his mad welding and brazing skills even further on producing some proper conversions. Looking good!

Fausto Rode a Conversion?

I'm not the biggest fan of road bike conversions, real track bikes and all that, but what the hell? See the pic (click to make it bigger), Fausto Coppi, The King of Kings, rode a Biachi road bike conversion on the the boards... ?!

From G.S.Guccilife.

My Hipster Machine Fixie Tarck Bike

Yo! Check this out. It's the latest incarnation of my old XB3 Soviet fixie, in a new totally cool tarck bike mode. With a poor-man's 650c Aerospoke in the front and all. 

This bike will be only ridden to get me from my HQ in one gentrifying former working class inner-city district of Helsinki to a bar, coffee house or a club in another even trendier and already pretty much gentrified former working class inner-city district of Helsinki. 

Required accessories: as big as possible Chrome Messenger bag, a mini D-lock tucked on belt, one pant leg rolled up, expensive sneakers and a 70s retro cycling cap. H8ers need not apply. 

I'm still looking for that red toptube pad, though. An old school 1980s BMX one would be preferred, let me know if have one and are willing to part with it, ok?

UPDATE!

The bike, the trispoke wheel and all the parts have been sold ages ago, ok?

If You See This Bike in Helsinki - It's Stolen

This fixed gear conversion was stolen last night in Helsinki, at the corner of Freda and Erikinkatu sometime between 01-02 am. 

It's an old Peugeot road frame painted plan black, British Hubs - track hubs, Mavic rims,  Nokian Skinwall 28 Roadie tyres, Nitto stem, Shimano 600 crankset, Specialites TA chainwheel, Campagnolo seatpost etc. 

Let's help the bikes owner out, if you see the bike, kill the rider in the head, ok?

This also marks the beginning of the cycling season in Helsinki in a not-so-nice-way as it is the first fixed gear or single speed bike reported stolen on local cycling forums this spring. I don't know what was the deal here but always remember to to lock your bike onto something when locking up, do not just lock the bike up, so no free locking, ok?