Fixie HOWTO

A pbwiki sandbox.

Necessary Parts

What to Get

Standard bike parts:

• Roadbike frame
  • The headset and fork should be intact and functioning
• Pedal assembly
  • A bottom bracket of the correct length and thread for your frame
  • Pedals compatable with your bottom bracket
  • Chainring compatable with your pedals/bottom bracket
• Front wheel assembly
• Rear rim matching front rim
• A Brake:
  • Tip: If you do not intend to decend hills or stop quickly, you do not need a brake.
  • A brake lever
  • About two feet of brake cable compatable with your lever
  • About two feet of brake cable housing

Fixie bike parts:

• A track hub
  • Make sure it meets the following criteria:
    • Correct number of spokes for your rim
    • Correct width for your frame
  • If you want to intermittantly use a freewheeling sprocket, you can get a "flip-flop hub" which can be fitted with a fixed gear on one side and a freewheeling gear on the other, and "flip-flopped" between the two.
• Spokes/Spoke Nipples
  • You can determine the spoke length by measuring the hub and the rim and using a spoke length calculator. Or you could take your rim to the bike shop where you buy the track hub and have them sell you spokes of the correct length.
  • Get the correct number for your hub/rim. It wouldn't hurt to get a few extra, just in case.
• Sprocket
  • Fixed gear sprockets come in a variety of tooth counts. Which one you get is dependant on the size of your forward chainring and what gear ratio you want. For hilly areas and city riding, a ratio of just over 2:1 is comfortable. For flat and track riding, a gear ratio around 3:1 is better. If you get your rear sprocket first, almost any size will do.
• Track hub lockring
• Single-speed (BMX-style) chain

Where to Get Them

Old roadbikes are a dime a dozen. Find one lying in a ditch, or buy one for twenty bucks from your local goodwill. It doesn't have to be very pretty: building a fixie from an old ten-speed is like spinning gold from straw.