Can I make a fixie out of this?

I found a frame I really like, but I want to make sure it will work to make into a fixed gear. Anyone see any problems using this frame? The seller said it is a 1974 Italvega. I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean anything because I don't know much. I thought this would be a fun project...

 

That looks like a good candidate for a fixie. You'll have to get a compatible 1" fork and the rear dropouts will almost certainly be 126mm spacing which isn't a big problem in a steel frame. Either find an older wheel with 126mm spacing or spread the rear dropouts: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html.

The horizontal dropouts on that frame make chain tensioning a bit easier than bikes with vertical dropouts but not quite as easy as track forks with their long rear facing horizontal dropouts.

The frame probably needs an italian threaded bottom bracket as well. Not a big deal, but they're not as common as they used to be.

I hope the seller isn't asking too much for that frame. It looks like a good starting point for a fixie build, but I sure wouldn't pay a whole lot for a frame sans fork in that condition.

Good luck - let us know how your project goes,
-Dave

 

Thanks for the all the great info. That's exactly what I'm trying to understand. He's asking $90 for it. I thought that was reasonable. Is it?

 

$90 seems a bit steep for a frame that's seen so much wear without its matching fork. I guess it depends partly on how many spare parts you have lying around and what you'll still have to purchase to build the bike up. Add: headset, bb, cranks, cogs, wheels, tires, tubes, seatpost, saddle, bars, stems, levers, brakes, and cables and you could roll that up into a lot of money for a bike that's seen many miles. You can get a Surly Steamroller complete for ~ $650: http://bicyclebananas.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Surly_Steamroller

If you've got most of what you need already and that $90 gets you most of the way there then I might consider it, but I suspect you can do better if you shop around a bit.

BTW, Sheldon's site (we miss him) has some very good pages dedicated to fixie conversions that you should probably check out in addition to the cold setting link above. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

-Dave

 

Once again, thanks for the great info. I read a bunch of the Sheldon Brown pages about a month ago when I started considering doing this. I'll go back and read them again since I have a frame in mind now...

The bike does come with a fork. It's in a different picture that I didn't post. I have a front wheel from my old road bike, saddle, seat post (if it fits), stem, tires and tubes. The rest I'll need to buy. So I figure I'm about 1/3 of the way there since the only stuff i'm missing is also the expensive stuff. I'm hoping to pull this off for under $300 when I'm all done...

 

That's pretty close to a top-of-the-line Italvega. Possibly Columbus SL tubing, Prugnat (?) long-point lugs, fastback seatstay cluster and definitely about a 1974 vintage based on the lack brazed-on on cable guides/front der. tab and shifter/water bottle bosses.

Double-indented chain stays, what look to be Campy 1010A long rear dropouts and very likely close to all chrome plated under that paint.

If it's free of dents/cracks and not severely rusted on the inside it's easily worth $90 IMO.Even if the old girl is a bit tweaked, she can be re-aligned.

That one's worth a careful strip and re-spray.