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    Fixed Gear Bicycle

    Frame questions


    I have a really good deal on this frame, size fits and all, but don’t really know about some things:

    • Full carbon second hand is risky?
    • Is this frame fixie convertible?
    • Can I change the BB or will have to stay with the one in this?
    • Will it fit back wheel spacing for fixie?

    by ElevenGhostsAround

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    View 8 Comments

    8 Comments

    1. AFellowStooge on

      This is a Tri-Bike, stay away you can find something better designed to be fixed with that budget…

    5. Nabokovonabike on

      There’s nothing inherently risky about carbon bikes if they are well-made and haven’t been in serious crashes. Go over it carefully with a flashlight and take a few test rides.

      Yes, you can turn this frame into a fixed gear, but it will take some adjustments.

      Can’t really speak to your bottom bracket without seeing the chain ring set up, etc.

      The spacing is almost certainly road spacing, which is a bit wider than fixed gear. You will either need a fixed gear wheel with spacers and a slightly wider axle, or a fixed gear wheel that is specifically designed for road spacing. Do some research online, visit sheldonbrown.com, and take a trip to your local Bike Shop.

      I have turned a Cervelo time trial bike into fixed gear, all it took was getting some spacers for my rear wheel. I am almost 2000 miles in on it, and it’s been a brilliant bike.

    6. MortalWombat1234 on

      -Personally, I’ve always considered used carbon to be suspect.
      -I think most bikes could be converted to fixed with enough time, commitment, and know-how, but in most cases I don’t think it’s worth it.
      -The BB on this bike should be 68mm, just like most track (fixed) bikes. Where you run into compatibility issues is choice of crank/chainring/size of chain.
      -The spacing on the rear end of this bike is probably 130mm, whereas a typical track/fixed bike will be 120mm. Again, not impossible to convert into a fixed gear bicycle, but definitely not as easy and straightforward as a dedicated track/fixed/single speed frame.

    7. markosverdhi on

      You can theoretically convert this bike without a special rear hub (eccentric hub), since it has horizontal dropouts. You will have to respace your rear wheel, which is pretty simple. I used a bunch of random home depot spacers and washers on my specialized hardrock build and it works just fine. The question is whether or not you should. The bottom bracket clearance (i.e distance between BB and floor) will be probably lower than a track bike’s, and thus you might deal with pedalstrike if you dont get slightly shorter cranks to make up for it. If you get shorter cranks, you might have an issue with bike fit, and the bike might feel awkward to ride for you depending on your sizing needs. These things can turn an otherwise simple conversion into something that feels out of place and unsatisfying to ride.

      If you do want to wrench on a bike and love this frame, that’s great. You dont necessarily have to go fixed for this guy. You can also go singlespeed and get similar benefits without dealing with pedalstrike. Alternatively, consider getting the frame and building it up with more modern components like microshift stuff, maybe some fun bars on it, and go the r/xbiking route instead.

      Again, not saying you cant go fixed or that you shouldnt. All I’m saying is that there are some “catches” to going fixed that might not make it the best option

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