Day 8:: Bottom Bracket

With the proper tools, I was finally able to remove the crank arms and the entire bottom bracket. I had to purchase a crank puller in order to get the crank arms off. This was quite a project getting them removed because the bike was so old. 

The bottom bracket came apart quite easily. I took only the chain side off so that I could pull it out one side and then completely overhaul the bearings. I couldn't get a good picture of the inside but it was pretty nasty in there! On to priming the frame...

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Day 7:: Swamp Thing

So, I went over to Recycled Cycles here in Fort Collins and I was going to spend $65 on a new fixed rear wheel. I found that I would need to replace the entire hub on the old wheel from the $5 garage sale bike so I figured I may as well purchase a new one that is more safe to ride. I'm so glad I met the guy I did. 

I walked into the bike shop and met one of their bike mechanics straight away. I explained to him the project I was working on and that I needed a new rear wheel. He looked at me like the lightbulb had just come on and said, "I have just the thing for you." We walked over to another set of wheels hanging over the used bike area and he showed me a few fixed wheel sets that were used. He said, "how about this one - I call it swamp thing!"

As you can see in the picture, "swamp thing" looks like it had literally been pulled from a swamp. However, I saw it's potential - the wheel was fairly true and the spokes just a little loose with some corrosion that could be removed later with some Simple Green.

The best part of this whole encounter was that instead of paying $65 dollars for a new rear wheel, I got this used one for $8 bucks. Sweet! Now I still have money for other unexpected refurbishing.

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Day 6:: Test Prime

Today I did some test spraying with a really good quality Rust-o-leum primer. The forks look great. I can't wait to start on the real paint - onyx grey! Gotta' get some tools first and get the crankset dismantled.

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Day 5:: New Front Rubber

I picked up some $12.99 rubber for my front wheel today at Performance. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find tires for these 27 inch wheels but I tracked them down.

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Day 4:: Ready To Paint

Last night I spent another 2 hours sanding the rest of the frame. This morning I spent about an hour cleaning the frame and wheels as well as removed the front forks. Once I get a hold of the right tools, I'll take the bottom bracket and cranks off so that I can finish sanding down there. For the most part, I am ready for some primer and a few thin coats of paint. I'm going for a euro style look. Any suggestions on colors?

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Day 3:: More Sanding

This evening, I did some more sanding and spent about an hour and a half. I was able to use my elbow grease and remove almost all of the paint on the rear triangle as well as the vertical crossbar. This baby is really starting to sparkle! If it weren't for rust, I would brush in some detailed artwork on the chrome and call it quits. However, my ride would be ruined and rusty after the first day in wet conditions. 

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So what is the big deal about a fixed gear bike?

For me, a fixed gear bike takes me back to my roots. Growing up in Colorado, my friends and I would always ride our single-speed bikes around the neighborhood. We felt one with the road and had a freedom all our own.  

This is what Zack Rosen of Mission Bicycles said in his San Fran interview with Bay Area Innovators. He states, "The best way to understand is to try riding one. It's a very different experience from riding a "hybrid" bike typically recommended for city biking. The geometry of the bicycle frame and the direct drive connection you have with the road makes it a much more enjoyable experience."

I want to get back to building a bike from the ground up. Taking something old and making it new. Recycling frames and parts and making the world a better place. The advantages of a fixie are endless, but I'm excited about the simplicity, low maintenance, better performance and better physical conditioning that it will give me. Who knows, maybe I will even be able to ride backwards a time or two.

Want to join me and create your own fixie?

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Day 2:: Sanding

I spent about 3 hours today removing most of the components, cable housings and cables along with some initial sanding. I was able to remove all of the paint on the top and bottom cross bars all the way down to the original steel frame. I found that I was able to sand away all the detailed areas around the bar fittings with a sanding sponge. 

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Day 1:: The Find

Today is when it all started...I found this old 80's Ross road bike for $5 at a local garage sale. It looked like it had been through a war and apparently had been sitting in a garage for the last 20 years. I knew the minute I saw it that this would be my first single-speed, fixed gear bike build. What is that crap all over it?

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