> > I wonder if any on the list have converted the rear
> drop-outs from
> > a road
> > frame to track drop-outs, and if so, were there any
> non-anticipated
> > effects
> > that he or she would like to have known before the
> conversion.
> >
> > Last week I received an early 1960's Frejus that had the
> right rear
> > drop-out
> > broken while being shipped to me. I checked Matt
> Assenmacher's site to
> > determine the cost of replacing the drop-outs. And I began
> to play
> > with the
> > idea of converting the broken road drop-outs into track
> ones and
> > use this as
> > my winter commuter to school with a fixed gear.
> >
> > Any thoughts on such a conversion would be appreciated.
>
> I just had this done to a bike, but it hasn't been ridden
> yet. You
> don't really need to go to true rear facing track "dropouts"
> to run a
> fixed gear with plenty of room to adjust for different
> gearing. I
> went with Campy 1010 horizontal dropouts because it's a
> little easier
> to deal with a full fender that way and I would assume that
> you'd
> want a full fender on a winter commute bike. Though if you
> want to
> go rear facing, you you can also use the plastic "break away"
> parts
> that SKS use for the front fender to allow you to pull the
> fender
> back. You might also keep the rear derailleur hanger on the
> dropout
> so that if it's needed to return it to geared use, it will be
> easy to
> do so.
>
> Sheldon Brown, as with so many things, has a good site on
> fixed
> conversions at: http://sheldonbrown.com/
Tom, Baird and Co.
Since Baird mentioned the Campagnolo 1010 dropout business,
I'd like to add one comment. The '73 Witcomb I've been riding
as a fixed gear has those and there is one problem. With 700c
x 28mm tires (which actually measure at 26mm) I can't remove or
install a wheel with a fully inflated tire. Perhaps this won't
be an issue with a 1960s frame, since those tend to have longer
chain stays.
I wouldn't have this problem with track style fork ends but,
as Baird mentioned, those sould make removing the wheel
difficult if I were to use fenders. (Of course, a frame with
so little clearance nearly precludes the use offenders anyway.)
In any event, it's something to consider when making your
decision.
Regards,
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)