Help - re my frame options?!!

Bigbananabike

I've stripped my singlespeed (freewheel not fixed) that I train on and had the frame sandblasted. I'm going to respray it & having decals done etc.

I'm going to keep it as a singlespeed. It was a geared bike frame so it has the gear cable guides, derailleur hanger(which I don't use as it has horizontal drop outs) and shifter bosses.

My HELP thing is;
should I cut off the gear fittings before I repaint it?
I would like to for looks only(esp. the shifters bosses - they look so naff sticking out on a singlespeed) and yet there is the thought that I may need them back on the frame again(even though I have 3 geared bikes).
If I did need them would it be easy to have them remade / refitted?

Paul

gclark8

I do SS bikes every day,

If the bike is not gong to see gears again then off come all the lugs. If is a rare frame or size, then they stay on.

All steelwork is done before sandblasting. I have 3 frames in at the moment, 2 clean, 1 with lugs.

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Cheers,
George.

Bigbananabike

If I just removed the shifter bosses are they easily replaced if needs be?

The frame isn't 'special' particularly but it was made here in New Zealand, I've had it since new 13 years ago and I bought it just after my wife died - so it has sentimental value to me.

Paul

gemship

Do whatever suits your fancy. and what's so special about anything any way. I don't mean that in a bad way but think about it. I mean people love to clean things and take pride in maintaining stuff in or as close to pristine condition but with only one life hear on earth for good ness sake. There are so many "special bikes"

kdelong

They are not real difficult to replace. Getting it done is a different story. You would almost have to have them replaced by a frame builder to get them right, and you are talking about refinishing the bike again.

FWIW, I have an old Raleigh Supercourse that I raced in the 1980's for a local bike shop. They had supplied the bike but sold it when I stopped racing as I could not afford to purchase it myself. Several years ago I was able to track the bike down, stored in a barn in Kentucky. It had not been ridden much since it had been purchased and was still in really good shape for all the years of storage. Anyway, I would have paid 20 times the $125.00 that it cost me to get that bike back. It has been lovingly restored to its original splendor and I still occasionally ride it, even though I have four other geared bikes that are more current than it is. It is all about sentimental value, no thought about actual monetary value or practicality.

BTW, what is the big deal about having a fixed gear bike? Wouldn't it be easier to just run down to Wally World and buy a beach cruiser? What advantages, if any, does a fixie have over a geared bike? IMHO, it is a little strange to take a perfectly good geared bike and make it less versatile.

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One life, one chance. Don't waste it!

Bigbananabike

Thanks for the reply.
I had a Team Raleigh that I raced in the 80s I'd love to have again - restored and updated.
Yours sounds great and I'm glad you were able to retrace it again.

I decided to bite the metaphorical bullet and used the cutting and grinding discs on my angle grinder and took off the shifter bosses and the derailleur cable guide but left the derailleur hanger on - just in case it may need a tensioner with another gearing set up(it hasn't needed it yet).
It looks much better.
Tomorrow I'll top coat it, if the decals are ready - fit them and then the next day I'll 2k clearcoat it and get it back to the shop for the BB & forks to be refitted(I don't have those tools).

Re SingleSpeed (actually 1 gear - not singlespeed). My bike isn't a fixie - my knees couldn't cope I don't think.
It has the cassette freewheel with one sprocket and one chainring(two brakes of course).
Why? It makes a good change from riding my gear road bikes.
It looks cool - so simple.
Its fun beating (many actually) fit looking guys on multispeeds(especially as its retro steel, has heavier wheels and usually full length mudguards) or if they pass me say something like "Yeah, its pretty easy to beat someone on a one geared bike!"
Its really good training for my racing. I've spun up to 170rpm on a slight downhill and as low as mid 30s on a hard climb so its helping my leg speed and strenght. I'm noticing the difference this year in races.

Happy ridin' Paul