Fixie Conversion - Here we go

Here we go - I will be converting the bike in the pictures below into a fixed gear machine. This blog will track the bike's progress, assuming I can keep up with posting when things happen...


Why am I doing this ?

I currently live in Milton Keynes, and work in the city. I get the train from MK to Euston and back again, and need to get from Euston down to St Pauls. Having spent way too many hours standing in delayed, overcrowded and hot tube trains, I took the plunge last year and started cycling from Euston to the City. At first I was using an old mountain bike that I had lying around at home - but that got nicked from the bike racks at Euston when I left it there over a long weekend. My own fault for using a single cable lock I suppose, the new bike will have a big D-Lock and a f**koff big chain as well, so hopefully should be a bit more secure.

I've ridden fixed in the past, and was keen to get back into it again. Funds didn't currently allow the purchase of a new bike of any decent quality, so I am going the route of creating my own.

The Candidate

Shown in the picture on the left, this was bought on ebay for the princley sum of £28.
Good Points

1. Reynolds 531 frame
2. Good quality components - Mavic wheels on Shimano hubs, nice chain ring with seperate bolt on cranks, Shimano 105 group set
   
3. BB, headset and wheel bearing all in good condition
4. Nice leather? San Marco Rolls saddle
   

Bad Points

1. No inner tubes
2. No pedals
3. Tyres a bit tatty and, in one place, held together with Gaffa tape
4. Slight rust on frame
5. No rear wheel skewer

As i bought this sight unseen, overall I'm reasonably happy. This could easily have been a crappy mass market bike with cheap components on it, so all in all I feel I've come out rather well.