Is my frame suitable for building a fixie?

Should probably also mention that the frame uses lugs.

Jacobe Hazzard said:

It is a steel Miele road frame with cable guides and mountings for caliper brakes. The fork
dropouts are stamped Columbus, so I assume the frame is made with columbus tubing as well. It has
horizontal rear dropouts, and a shimano triple crankset. Sorry this is all I know, I could take
photos if that would help.

No need. It sounds like it would work well.

Quoted message said:

I am also thinking about getting it powder coated as the finish has seen better days, and would
really appreciate knowing about potential problems before I sink a lot of money into it,

I would ride it some first. You won't have to sink much money into it to make it into a ridable
fixed gear. If you like it as that, _then_ get it powder coated. That will cost you about $100 --
more or less.

Quoted message said:

of thing. Is there anything else I should check, or any measurements I should make to be certain
the frame is OK?

Do you know what size bike you need? Do you have a road bike that fits well already? If so, how
close is this to the geometry of that bike? If not, you need to figure out your size. Some websites
will give you a close-enough idea (considering the price you paid....).
--

David L. Johnson

__o | Some people used to claim that, if enough monkeys sat in front _`\(,_ | of enough
typewriters and typed long enough, eventually one of (_)/ (_) | them would reproduce the
collected works of Shakespeare. The internet has proven this not to be the case.

David L. Johnson said:

Jacobe Hazzard said:

It is a steel Miele road frame with cable guides and mountings for caliper brakes. The fork
dropouts are stamped Columbus, so I assume the frame is made with columbus tubing as well. It has
horizontal rear dropouts, and a shimano triple crankset. Sorry this is all I know, I could take
photos if that would help.

No need. It sounds like it would work well.

Quoted message said:

I am also thinking about getting it powder coated as the finish has seen better days, and would
really appreciate knowing about potential problems before I sink a lot of money into it,

I would ride it some first. You won't have to sink much money into it to make it into a ridable
fixed gear. If you like it as that, _then_ get it powder coated. That will cost you about $100 --
more or less.

Quoted message said:

of thing. Is there anything else I should check, or any measurements I should make to be certain
the frame is OK?

Do you know what size bike you need? Do you have a road bike that fits well already? If so, how
close is this to the geometry of that bike? If not, you need to figure out your size. Some
websites will give you a close-enough idea (considering the price you paid....).

This sounds like good advice, I just know that if I build it up into a working bike I will never
bring myself to take it apart and wait to get the frame painted :-)

I did the website thing, and the frame geometry seems right. My current bike doesn't fit me, so I
can't really compare (the frame is much too small and despite my having put in a new, longer
seatpost and adjusting the stem I don't have enough reach. However, the saddle height is right where
I like it, and agrees 100% with the fit I did on the websites.) The miele frame is bigger, and
matches the frame sizing that was recommended.

I was more concerned about the condition of the frame. I don't know anything about frame wear, or
the life of this particular frame. If it looks scraped but undamaged, does that mean it probably is?
How can I tell if it's subtley bent, or does that even matter with a steel frame? Wouldn't wanna
ride it if it's not safe.

adam

Jacobe Hazzard said:

I want to build up a bike with a fixed/free flip flop hub and road/hybrid tires for urban
transport. I have been given a frame and fork that seem to have the right geometry, and the price
was right(!), now I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions as to wether the frame is suitable.

It is a steel Miele road frame with cable guides and mountings for caliper brakes. The fork
dropouts are stamped Columbus, so I assume the frame is made with columbus tubing as well. It has
horizontal rear dropouts, and a shimano triple crankset. Sorry this is all I know, I could take
photos if that would help.

I am also thinking about getting it powder coated as the finish has seen better days, and would
really appreciate knowing about potential problems before I sink a lot of money into it, I have no
experience doing this sort of thing. Is there anything else I should check, or any measurements I
should make to be certain the frame is OK?

Horizontal dropouts are the biggest requirement (and even that's not insurmountable). It will be
fine, but you may need a different length BB to get the chainline straight.

Jacobe Hazzard said:

David L. Johnson said:

Jacobe Hazzard said:

It is a steel Miele road frame with cable guides and mountings for caliper brakes. The fork
dropouts are stamped Columbus, so I assume the frame is made with columbus tubing as well. It has
horizontal rear dropouts, and a shimano triple crankset. Sorry this is all I know, I could take
photos if that would help.

No need. It sounds like it would work well.

Quoted message said:

I am also thinking about getting it powder coated as the finish has seen better days, and would
really appreciate knowing about potential problems before I sink a lot of money into it,

I would ride it some first. You won't have to sink much money into it to make it into a ridable
fixed gear. If you like it as that, _then_ get it powder coated. That will cost you about $100 --
more or less.

Quoted message said:

of thing. Is there anything else I should check, or any measurements I should make to be certain
the frame is OK?

Do you know what size bike you need? Do you have a road bike that fits well already? If so, how
close is this to the geometry of that bike? If not, you need to figure out your size. Some
websites will give you a close-enough idea (considering the price you paid....).

This sounds like good advice, I just know that if I build it up into a working bike I will never
bring myself to take it apart and wait to get the frame painted :-)

I did the website thing, and the frame geometry seems right. My current bike doesn't fit me, so I
can't really compare (the frame is much too small and despite my having put in a new, longer
seatpost and adjusting the stem I don't have enough reach. However, the saddle height is right
where I like it, and agrees 100% with the fit I did on the websites.) The miele frame is bigger,
and matches the frame sizing that was recommended.

I was more concerned about the condition of the frame. I don't know anything about frame wear, or
the life of this particular frame. If it looks scraped but undamaged, does that mean it probably
is? How can I tell if it's subtley bent, or does that even matter with a steel frame?

Wrap a piece of cotton thread round the headtube and the rear dropouts. Measure the distance from
the thread to the seat tube on both sides. If it's the same, the frame is straight.

For the forks, place them face down on a sheet of glass and ensure the tips and the crown touch the
glass in four places simultaneously.

If the frame or forks are not straight they can be cold set.

jacobe-<< I want to build up a bike with a fixed/free flip flop hub and road/hybrid tires for urban
transport. >><BR><BR> << now I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions as to wether the frame is
suitable. >><BR><BR> << It is a steel Miele road frame with cable guides and mountings for caliper
brakes. The fork dropouts are stamped Columbus, so I assume the frame is made with columbus tubing
as well. It has horizontal rear dropouts, >><BR><BR>

Yep, easy. Get the rear wheel, put the ring on the middle of the triple crank with track(shorter)
chainring bolts, remove the small ring of the triple, one brake or two-take the ders off-go ride-

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"