Just curious who's riding new bikes and who's riding older conversions.

I ride an old Raleigh that's been converted. It's not pretty but I'm not rolling in $$$, so it does what it can, and I do what I can.

For a long time I rode a pink Sekine conversion that was too big for me. Great bike, though. I'm thinking of turning it into a singlespeed for foul weather and light cross-type stuff. As of today I've got an IRO group buy frame in matte black.

Nishiki conversion for wet/windy/longer rides.....

Found the frame at CityBikes for $60. It's in pretty good shape, and is a awesome ride...

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/jan/KyleGrieser.htm

I was riding a converted 1983 Bianchi Allero for just over a year. Than this year my wife bought me a new Bianchi San Jose for X-mas. I built up the old Bianchi Allero for under $200, which was great because I had no extra cash at all. I love smoother ride of the new bike, though and the few extra quirks that come with a new bike. I also greatly enjoy that for a new bike the San Jose is very reasonably priced, in my opinion. I'm not really into the hipster ideology of a cheap looking ride. I'm more just into the simplicity of the fixie ride, along with how much cheaper & easier it is to clean & maintain than a geared bike. I greatly enjoy the direct connection of pedaling & movement that only a fixie can provide. This Bianchi San Jose is the first new bike I've ever owned & so of course I'm absolutely loving it. It's also the first bike I've owned with drop bars.

So I think that the conversions are great for what they are. A cheaper way to rock around town on a durable & trust worthy fixie. Then when the loot is available, an upgrade is always nice.

mine was a specialized conversion not sure the year just knew hat it fit cause finding frames my size is a bitch! (i need a 45cm)

fuckkkiinnnn shooooo----ttaaayyy! ha

i used to ride a centurion conversion which was way to big for me, now im kicking it on a kilo tt, which i like waaaayy better.

jerome, you are sooooo cool. sherioushly.

I have a newer Jamis Sputnik that has been a pretty good bike for me. It has handled real long road rides, being loaded for camping, the velodrome and alleycats. Its not the lightest or the heaviest, not the stiffest but I can make the thing move pretty well so it fits what I need.

My old Peugeot conversion sucks. Had to find a french BB, but I wanted something to wrench on so I went ahead and found a dumb (read: overpriced) BB. The thing is squeaky. I dont care for the geometry as its not that tight but I cant pedal the thing with no hands even with its long wheel base. Though buying those risers made it a lot more comfy to ride, almost like a cruiser now. I have a really low gear and use it only for bike polo and to run to the market down form work. Honestly, its kind of my redheaded step child, I love to hate it.

started out tooling around on a raleigh conversion. upon getting my first NJS frame, i quickly realized that raleigh was a wet noodle. i let it sit in the basement for 8 months or so, finally got around to building it back up... and didn't like how it rided at all after being used to track bikes for awhile.

i'm cruising around on a centurion conversion. it's really comfortable and i really like it, but i want to work another bike. either a track or another conversion. so if anyone has some old frames lying around let me know.

I've got a very purple Gitane mixte converted from a 10 speed to a FG. I've got a Kilo TT sitting in my living room waiting to be built up. My tax refund just came in, who wants to let me borrow their debit/credit card so I can make some online purchases? Don't ask me why I don't have one, I'll just tell you I lived through the Great Depression or something.

bschultz:

Yay, conversions!
1981 Miyata One-Ten w/ stock Pista rear wheel.
So natty that the crankset won't allow for the 52T ring to be removed...
Oh, but how I love it.

I'm rocking a stock Pista on the front, haha. It feels out of place, but I dig. Thanks Brian Patrick. :)

dub:

yung jeezy pdx:

i used to ride a 56cm motobecane conversian, suicide hub, no clips or straps. now its just the pista

Suicide hub with no clips/straps? Do you run a brake? I used to run a similar setup, but mine was kind of jenky. It would turn into a singlespeed with no brakes in no time. Ted Shred. It certainly let me know I was livin'.

i bought it off craigslist and the first thing i did was remove the brake. i was reckless

i wanna meet you. lets ride bikes when your better

ridin through traffic!

cinelli, whew

toomanytarkstarzzz. it looks good the way it is

justin bailey:

So my boss just stopped by my apartment after he gave me the day off and gave me this :(the white one)

fames a little tall, but a day off and a new bike, can not complain.

clean it up or convert it?

Clean it up. Geared bikes are good to have around.

justin bailey:

So my boss just stopped by my apartment after he gave me the day off and gave me this :(the white one)

fames a little tall, but a day off and a new bike, can not complain.

clean it up or convert it?

Is that a TURBO saddle?
Looks bigger than a TURBO, but I need to know.

the saddle reads San Marco.

Any desire to sell the saddle?

As of right now Max, i'm going to hold onto it, but if at any point i'm gonna get rid of it you got dibs. I'll probably just give it a wipe down, some new tires and stuff. Can't spend to much on it cause i'm saving for the trip over. The frame is a little tall and i'm afraid that my stubby legs will not feel comfy on it. Like i said either way day off work and a new bike rules.