The project begins...

Like this one? http://geckobob.net/malvern_star/

I scored that for $10 from a recycling place in Canberra.

Are you going to put 700c wheels onto it or keep the steel 27" rims?
Requires a bit of filing on the front end to fit in a larger axle that
you get with 700c stuff...

-- gecko

[email hidden said:

"]Like this one? http://geckobob.net/malvern_star/

I scored that for $10 from a recycling place in Canberra.

Are you going to put 700c wheels onto it or keep the steel 27" rims?
Requires a bit of filing on the front end to fit in a larger axle that
you get with 700c stuff...

-- gecko

Pretty much, although mine has all the bits and seems pretty clean. This is to be as cheap a build as possible for now, so I'll go with the steel rims to start with. I had to look medium closely to find any rust peeking through the chrome, so they should be ok. I may strip them back to steel and paint them.

OK, here's some pics for those who are interested. I had today off, so I took to it with a few spanners and a hacksaw, removing the kickstand and rear brakes and cutting and flipping the bars to produce faux bullhorns. I think I've found a ratio that suits after having ridden it from the girlfriend's place in Footscray to home in Oakleigh. It's a rather sweet ride too, I have to say. I really like the bullhorns thing. Pics are here. The bar tape was ok on both sides when I got it, but I'd already started stripping it off before I thought to take pics. Weird placement on the brake levers though. I'm going to have to replace the front brakes I think; they're not that great. I suspect they have the wrong brake lever...too little mechanical advantage. Also, the amount of flex in the caliper is a bit silly; I want something a lot more rigid.

Resound said:

Pretty much, although mine has all the bits and seems pretty clean. This is to be as cheap a build as possible for now, so I'll go with the steel rims to start with. I had to look medium closely to find any rust peeking through the chrome, so they should be ok. I may strip them back to steel and paint them.

yer gonna have a devil of a job strippig them back if your talking chrome!

anyone got suggestions re spotting/fighting-rusty-developments?

F "interested... just bcos" D

Resound said:

OK, here's some pics for those who are interested.
here.

This isn't fixed yet is it? Or do I have the wrong gallery open?
How short is that headtube! Are you on the short side Resound?
I think I'm going to split up Vegemite for sale. I was going to build
another fixie anyway but it'll have to wait.

Keep us update dude! Me likes me bikes! 😄

hippy

hippy said:

This isn't fixed yet is it? Or do I have the wrong gallery open?
How short is that headtube! Are you on the short side Resound?
I think I'm going to split up Vegemite for sale. I was going to build
another fixie anyway but it'll have to wait.

Keep us update dude! Me likes me bikes! 😄

hippy

Nope, not fixed yet. I've only had it a couple of days and so far I've sunk less than an hour's work into it. And yes, I'm a shortarse (5'6"😉 and the bike fits me rather well. The headtube on my girlfriend's bike (the one in the shed in the background) is even shorter...the top tube and down tube nearly touch on hers! I put about 60km on it today, stuffed old tyres not withstanding (can see the cords in places) and I like it a lot. I'll start thinking about tyres tomorrow and if I can dig up a ruler I'll take a look at the dropout spacing so I can think about hubs.

Pain in [censored]...nobody seems to make decent brake calipers that fit the older lugged steel frames. Different centre bolt and drop from the looks of it. Someone tell me that I just haven't looked hard enough and that I can easily buy them from *insert place name here*. Please? Oh, and a decent non-STI lever that isn't a Dia-Compe. I have nothing against them, but I'd like something that looks a bit more old-skool for this bike.

"Resound" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Pain in [censored]...nobody seems to make decent brake calipers that fit the
older lugged steel frames. Different centre bolt and drop from the
looks of it. Someone tell me that I just haven't looked hard enough and
that I can easily buy them from *insert place name here*. Please? Oh,
and a decent non-STI lever that isn't a Dia-Compe. I have nothing
against them, but I'd like something that looks a bit more old-skool
for this bike.

Are you using 700C wheels on a 27" frame?
If not, then normal old calipers should be fine.
For these, there's ebay, BicycleRecycle (melb)
and possibly hippy's velocipede emporium..

You can get non-STI shimano and campag levers..
you mustn't be looking hard enough :-)
Try the above and anywhere else that stocks used
bikes. Garage sales are good for this stuff. Buy a
few old but good bike from the trading post for
parts salvage.

hippy

hippy said:

"Resound" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Pain in [censored]...nobody seems to make decent brake calipers that fit the
older lugged steel frames. Different centre bolt and drop from the
looks of it. Someone tell me that I just haven't looked hard enough and
that I can easily buy them from *insert place name here*. Please? Oh,
and a decent non-STI lever that isn't a Dia-Compe. I have nothing
against them, but I'd like something that looks a bit more old-skool
for this bike.

Are you using 700C wheels on a 27" frame?
If not, then normal old calipers should be fine.
For these, there's ebay, BicycleRecycle (melb)
and possibly hippy's velocipede emporium..

You can get non-STI shimano and campag levers..
you mustn't be looking hard enough :-)
Try the above and anywhere else that stocks used
bikes. Garage sales are good for this stuff. Buy a
few old but good bike from the trading post for
parts salvage.

hippy

The brake lever was easy enough. I've got an old Shimano lever on there now. I was hoping to get a new caliper, but no dice. I've got a lot of slop out of the old one though, and I've been ogling some Campy stuff on ebay. Now I just need to score myself a Shimano freewheel tool. I know where to get one, just got to go pick it up.