Single speed on a budget

[COLEKO]

I know a lot you out there like me are sitting on a old vintage bike, Parts, Frame in the garage. What sparked my interest in doing a budget build was that I wanted a backup bike and I also needed to keep it on a budget of around 200 dollars for parts. Im sure there are cheaper ways of doing certain things but this is the way I did it. There are going to be some parts that you just don't have. But that's where the fun starts in searching for these parts. The Recent STR swap meet was a great help to find a few small things. There was plenty of good deals.

The bike that ill be working with is a 1996 Univega Rover 306. The bike was bought new by my dad and only used a few times. Then it just sat in the garage covered till I dusted it of this year. The only things that are staying for the build are the frame, Fork, Wheels, Brakes, Everything else will be replaced.



With Dino's help I found all the parts. Everything on this table came in at $224.00. Not bad



Im still debating on the handlebars ill be using so thats the last piece of the puzzle. When everything is finished I will post the update.

Feel free to use this thread to post your budget single speed bikes and share ideas, Money saving tips, Pictures. I know there are a few of you out there with cool cruiser builds.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by COLEKO

I know a lot you out there like me are sitting on a old vintage bike, Parts, Frame in the garage. What sparked my interest in doing a budget build was that I wanted a backup bike and I also needed to keep it on a budget of around 200 dollars for parts. Im sure there are cheaper ways of doing certain things but this is the way I did it. There are going to be some parts that you just don't have. But that's where the fun starts in searching for these parts. The Recent STR swap meet was a great help to find a few small things. There was plenty of good deals.

The bike that ill be working with is a 1996 Univega Rover 306. The bike was bought new by my dad and only used a few times. Then it just sat in the garage covered till I dusted it of this year. The only things that are staying for the build are the frame, Fork, Wheels, Brakes, Everything else will be replaced.



With Dino's help I found all the parts. Everything on this table came in at $224.00. Not bad



Im still debating on the handlebars ill be using so thats the last piece of the puzzle. When everything is finished I will post the update.

Feel free to use this thread to post your budget single speed bikes and share ideas, Money saving tips, Pictures. I know there are a few of you out there with cool cruiser builds.

like a fun project.

Enjoy!

[tkblazer]

i would have picked up some clipless pedals because climbing on flats on a ss bike suck

[el_d00der1n0]

How do those threadless converters work out?

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

i would have picked up some clipless pedals because climbing on flats on a ss bike suck

Truer words have not been spoken

[station]

Holy crap this looks like a fun project! I can't wait to see the finished pics!

[Pho'dUp]

Get a wide handlebar. I like the Azonic Doublewalls because they're about 28" wide (or more) and not too $$. Lots of Sweep too. The new On-One Fleagle bars look good too if you need a low rise, wide bar, lots of sweep. The wide bar will help you with leverage on the climbs.

Maybe get some singlespeed chainring bolts ($5) and drop the other 2 chaing rings.

Don't gear too high. Start with 32T:20T or 32T:19T if you're doing a lot of climbing. There's guys around here running 2:1 ratio, but they're beasts! Oh, if you have a few cogs lying around, you can play with the ratios and you maybe hit the magic combo so you can ditch the tensioner. Or use a half link if you're using a BMX chain.
For you, if your rear wheel has a steel cassette body, you can use $5 BMX cogs in the rear. No problemo.

Should be a fun project! Keep us updated.

[mtnbikej]

Did you make sure the rear hub has a freehub body on it, or does it take a thread-on cassette? If it has a freehub body then you are set. With bikes that old, you never know.

Originally Posted by COLEKO

I know a lot you out there like me are sitting on a old vintage bike, Parts, Frame in the garage. What sparked my interest in doing a budget build was that I wanted a backup bike and I also needed to keep it on a budget of around 200 dollars for parts. Im sure there are cheaper ways of doing certain things but this is the way I did it. There are going to be some parts that you just don't have. But that's where the fun starts in searching for these parts. The Recent STR swap meet was a great help to find a few small things. There was plenty of good deals.

The bike that ill be working with is a 1996 Univega Rover 306. The bike was bought new by my dad and only used a few times. Then it just sat in the garage covered till I dusted it of this year. The only things that are staying for the build are the frame, Fork, Wheels, Brakes, Everything else will be replaced.



With Dino's help I found all the parts. Everything on this table came in at $224.00. Not bad



Im still debating on the handlebars ill be using so thats the last piece of the puzzle. When everything is finished I will post the update.

Feel free to use this thread to post your budget single speed bikes and share ideas, Money saving tips, Pictures. I know there are a few of you out there with cool cruiser builds.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Did you make sure the rear hub has a freehub body on it, or does it take a thread-on cassette? If it has a freehub body then you are set. With bikes that old, you never know.

point

[northshore]

Wait a minute....low budget porn EEEWWWWWW.....

Like Coleko and some other STR folks I have parts laying around from other bikes so I wanted to build a SS on the cheap. Turns out FooFighter returned the frame he bought at Adrenaline Bikes yesterday. I ended up buying the very same frame that was returned and shorter crank bolts. Neil hooked everything up for $90 out the door. I will also add that both Neil and Dave love to bag on FooFighter so that is a huge plus in my book for them to abuse the "I Hate Foo" button The very same frame can be seen on this thread:
Marin HT Frame

or in the pic I snapped with a crappy camera phone the minute I walked out of the shop. I wonder if I can integrate my golf umbrella and auto lock on that bike (which was later moved cause I don't want scratches on the frame!)

So I'm swapping over my seat post, seat, handle bar, stem, headset, cranks, BB, pedals, wheels, and tires. I just need a fork and some disc brakes. I can't use the old ones since they only have mounts for rim brakes. Bummer. Any suggestions on parts or the build is welcome!

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by northshore

Wait a minute....low budget porn EEEWWWWWW.....

Like Coleko and some other STR folks I have parts laying around from other bikes so I wanted to build a SS on the cheap. Turns out FooFighter returned the frame he bought at Adrenaline Bikes yesterday. I ended up buying the very same frame that was returned and shorter crank bolts. Neil hooked everything up for $90 out the door. I will also add that both Neil and Dave love to bag on FooFighter so that is a huge plus in my book for them to abuse the "I Hate Foo" button The very same frame can be seen on this thread:
Marin HT Frame

or in the pic I snapped with a crappy camera phone the minute I walked out of the shop. I wonder if I can integrate my golf umbrella and auto lock on that bike (which was later moved cause I don't want scratches on the frame!)

So I'm swapping over my seat post, seat, handle bar, stem, headset, cranks, BB, pedals, wheels, and tires. I just need a fork and some disc brakes. I can't use the old ones since they only have mounts for rim brakes. Bummer. Any suggestions on parts or the build is welcome!

let's hear the Fo story first

Wifey give him the beat down We all love a little dirt

Or did he go the other way......STEEL and big hoops?

[northshore]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

let's hear the Fo story first

Wifey give him the beat down We all love a little dirt

Or did go go the other way......STEEL and big hoops?

I don't remember the exact words but they asked if Foo smokes cause he sucks wind going up hills.....and something about him being pimpy cause he wanted color matching frames, parts, grips, bolts, etc. I thought it was rather funny.

[northshore]

Sorry Coleko...didn't see this thread or I would of posted my Marin stuff over here.....

[COLEKO]

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

How do those threadless converters work out?

You know this will be the first for me to use one but a fellow STR member uses one on his 78 schwinn. It was hard to find the right Quill stem I wanted so with this option I have lots to choose from.

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Did you make sure the rear hub has a freehub body on it, or does it take a thread-on cassette? If it has a freehub body then you are set. With bikes that old, you never know.

I need to check on that. Is there a easy way to look at it and tell?

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by northshore

I don't remember the exact words but they asked if Foo smokes cause he sucks wind going up hills.....and something about him being pimpy cause he wanted color matching frames, parts, grips, bolts, etc. I thought it was rather funny.

he is bailing on the whole SS thang

[houseofmusic]

Foo wanted to get a SS frame so he doesn't have to deal with chain tensioner.

All this after he made fun of me cause my niners one9 is SS only and im stuck with it?

God I need I hate Foo button

[COLEKO]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

i would have picked up some clipless pedals because climbing on flats on a ss bike suck

I love my flats but I hear what your saying. Ill give these a try first..Either way there not going to waste. I can always put them on my other bike.

[northshore]

Originally Posted by houseofmusic

Foo wanted to get a SS frame so he doesn't have to deal with chain tensioner.

All this after he made fun of me cause my niners one9 is SS only and im stuck with it?