In my continuing search for a new bike, I am back looking at the $100 Thruster Fixie. I want to swap the single speed rear for a 7 or 8 speed.
Plausible idea, or should I keep looking?
In my continuing search for a new bike, I am back looking at the $100 Thruster Fixie. I want to swap the single speed rear for a 7 or 8 speed.
Plausible idea, or should I keep looking?
If you want a geared bike, I'd just buy one in the first place. The issue with cheap bikes usually isn't the components, it's the frame. You should be able to pick up a similar quality 27 speed for less than the price of the fixie, rear casette, and derailleur/cable/shifter.
Not plausible. No idea on the Wally World bike, but many track/fixie bikes, have 120mm rear spacing. Geared bikes have 130mm or 135mm spacing (road or mountain, respectively). You can spread a steel frame a few mils, but that's simply too much. And along the issue of spacing, you'll need a new rear wheel, as the single/fixed wheel will not accommodate a multispeed gear cluster.
No way of mounting the derailleur, as there's no hanger and it's not a cost efficient process. Also, (and this is somewhat workable), no frame mounted stops and bosses for cable routing.
It might be possible, but I don't really think it's desirable. You'll need to measure the rear dropouts; if it's a dedicated fixie frame, it may be 120OLD, which won't work for a multi-speed bike. Then there's the problem of a lack of braze-ons for cable routing; again, you can work around it with bolt-on pieces, but that's more money, time and effort. Then you need to buy all the stuff you need to add speeds, which is probably not just the cassette, derailleur, cable and shifter mentioned above, but also a new rear hub (or rear wheel, if you're not up to relacing the existing one) to handle a cassette.
I wouldn't recommend it. Scrounge CL for a decent multi-speed bike and repair/upgrade as necessary.
No go, thanks anyway.
I may get it and just run it as is. But If I do I will measure the rear, as while it is single speed, it has one gear on each side, one fixed, one freewheel, so it might be on the wide side.
Other wise I'm looking for another one like my DB Kalamar, 700mm wheel, no suspension, 7 speed, linear pull brakes, and quick release on everything. Sadly, DB has dropped it.
not all fixies are 120mm but most tend to be... if it's a steel frame you CAN widen it but why when there are so many other options (and not starting with something you've already got) http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
I'm turning my surly 1x1 SS into a geared bike... it's a little easier if you don't want to gear the front (I am) but in short you'll need
something to attached the rear derailleur and that depends on what sort of dropout type the bike has... for trackends you'd want something like this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=249
a shifter (cheapest would be a friction shifter)
I've got friends up at the LBS and get a sweet price plus has a bunch of old stuff just laying around and even then it's a bit of a PITA
best way to go is find an old roadie that a hipster hasn't managed to get... add new rubber, cables, and pads and enjoy
New idea, most efficient/road friendly tire in 26x2.
I'm hoping to have ECM chime in at some point.
neon4891 wrote: New idea, most efficient/road friendly tire in 26x2. I'm hoping to have ECM chime in at some point.
http://bontrager.com/model/07795
Most all manufacturers will have something like that, but the Bontrager tires aren't bad for the money. We sell a ton of 'em.
Whatever you end up with, you want something with no defined knobs. Some siping (like that H2) adds some versatility and all weather/light gravel traction over something that's fully smooth.
neon4891 wrote: New idea, most efficient/road friendly tire in 26x2. I'm hoping to have ECM chime in at some point.
http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=2400
This is the only tire of this sort that I have personal experience with, but I have found them quite versatile. Up at 60-65psi they roll well on pavement, and dropped down to 30-35 or so they are better than you'd expect on everything but mud. They are somewhat heavy, but they are cheap and wear well.
neon4891 wrote: New idea, most efficient/road friendly tire in 26x2. I'm hoping to have ECM chime in at some point.
Finds some cheapie slicks/semi-slicks and inflate 'em to 60lbs. The bike will be completely transformed on pavement.
Will an internally geared hub fit?
They make derailleur hangers for horizontal drop outs - try a google search
Now I'm down to living with the $100 Fixie, or fixing a 94 Roadmaster MTB.
Just ride it fixed. If you hate it, pawn it off on some unsuspecting hipster. Or buy a s/s freewheel.
for awesome 26er road tires you can't find much better value then the kenda kross... i've run em on 2 29ers (700c version) but my LBS shop sells TONS of em for 26ers... see em semi frequently on old MTB that are now retired to road duty... $9 and they still can do decent out on the greenways http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Kross-Plus-Black-Steel/dp/B001C6DE5O
for geared hubs...
sure... but if you want more then 2 or 3 gears you'll pay the price
2spd kick shift 120mm http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=42813&category=2713
3spd 120mm http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=24352&category=2713
8spd 120mm http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=24353&category=2713
3spd fixie 120mm http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=36978&category=2713
fifty wrote: They make derailleur hangers for horizontal drop outs - try a google search
I posted a link to one earlier... problem is more finding a geared hub for the right size hub width)
another possible road tire to look at is the Schwalbe Table Top, the Tioga FS100, possibly the Intense Micro-Knobby (think like the texture of a knurled metal wrench handle and you've got about the right idea about the tread of the Micro-Knobby, except the tire isn't as aggressive), and I believe that trials manufacturer Try-All made a 26x2.35" slick, although that could get a bit sketchy on anything except dry, relatively un-dirty pavement
I just put these on my Trek.. if it's not raining tomarrow, I will see how they feel Continetal Race King
Update. Bit the bullet and went with the Thruster fixie. I have yet to measure the the rear spacing. The one speed work well enough that I can live with it. Work so far has been reversing the wheels so it runs on the freewheel sprocket and not the fixed, removing all brand stickers and badges, and adjusting the tire pressure and seat height.
At $100 and one long ride, I have more miles per $ on this thing than my last bike($300, up and down the street a few times, and then maybe 1/2 mile before it went down the waterfalls).
The single speed runs QUIET. The frame is the perfect height, but it could use an extra inch of length. No quick releases but all I need to carry is a 15mm wrench and a hex key. Brakes are weak, but I can pull the wheels with out touching the pads. And best of all, It is so simple, that the Walmart bike assemblers couldn't berkeley it up.
the brakes on a wal-mart bike are always going to suck from the store... a little adjustment can help a lot even on the crap that came on em... honestly if the frame was even close to fixing i'd consider getting one... strip it and spray paint the frame to hide the shame of owning it lol...
and yes SS is quiet... if only I was in shape enough to tolerate it :(
In reply to donalson:
The black frame is fine with stickers removed, it is the red/yellow wheels, tires, fork, and handle bar that look ugly.
Any tips for adjusting/improving side pull brakes? I haven't had a bike with these in over 10 years.
As far is being in shape, I'm only in good enough shape to ride it on flat pavement.
rohloff would be nice... but i'd go budget version with the nuvinci n360 hub ;-)
for the crappy brakes... while they are the old super cheap crappy version of road side pulls i'd suppose the setup would be the same as better version... http://youtu.be/eAHrHDTsu5U
if that doesn't do it you could buy some better ones for about $20 a side new http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=51061&category=671
motomoron wrote: Be the first guy with a.. Rohloff hub On a Walmart bike.
If I win the lotto, hell yeah. Maybe in a year or 2 if I feel it is worth upgrading I may spring for a lower end geared hub, like a $200 Shimano.
donalson wrote: rohloff would be nice... but i'd go budget version with the nuvinci n360 hub ;-) for the crappy brakes... while they are the old super cheap crappy version of road side pulls i'd suppose the setup would be the same as better version... http://youtu.be/eAHrHDTsu5U if that doesn't do it you could buy some better ones for about $20 a side new http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=51061&category=671
Thanks for the links. I will try adjusting them first, I just need to keep the fronts spaced far enough to pop the wheel on and off, as it lives in the back seat of my car with the front wheel pulled. Otherwise, those new calipers look nice, and they do have a QR, and if I also go with a double barrel lever...
Possible upcoming upgrades include a new seat, new grips and maybe a new bar. Also looking at downplaying the paint scheme. Replace what I can then paint/tape over the rest?
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