Custom fixed gear project - 21 speed GMC Denali road bike
 

This is my first custom break down and rebuild so please give me any suggestions you may have! I bought this blue GMC Denali on Craigslist for $30 since it had been sitting outside for a while and started to get pretty nasty. After purchase I rushed home and grabbed a wire brush and took off the old paint job since it had quite a bit of blemishes. I also shaved all of the brake cable stays down nice and flush with the bike frame since this bad boy is going to be brake-less. The stock wheels also had a lot of corrosion so I found a set of new Fulcrum Racing 6 take offs on Craigslist for $60 (a steal since they sell new for over $250.) the handle bars were also junk so I found a nice set of aluminum bull horn bars on eBay for $10 with grip tape included. Total investment so far is only $100 and it's starting look pretty good. I'm most likely going to powder coat the frame at a local shop for $75 (not sure what color yet) and now I'm now at the point where I'm looking for a good BB, single speed crankset, conversion kit for the rear hub and tires. Any feedback on the build so far and advice on the parts I'm looking for will be much appreciated! (Hopefully the pictures work)

DAY OF PURCHASE
http://i.imgur.com/SiSfSA7.jpg

NOW
http://i.imgur.com/qWCPp2K.jpg

You don't know what you are doing. You have wasted your money. That frame is completely inappropriate for "fixed gear" if that is what you mean. You cannot convert that wheel to fixed. Most importantly build threads suck even when they are done by someone cool. Build threads by incompetents are worthless.

That wheel cannot be converted to fixed. You have vertical dropouts, so unless you use a magic gear ratio, you wont be able to ride it fixed either.

Technically, the wheel could be converted, if you got a fixed hub and relaced the wheel. I think OP took a huge dive into a pond and didn't check to see what was in there first. Curious about how much the frame weighs. Those were heavy bikes if I remember correctly.

OP, I feel bad for ya, man... those GMC bikes are not good, and as the others have stated, can't be converted to fixed gear. You could salvage this as a single speed if you wanted by adding a chain tensioner and picking up a single speed rear wheel (not worth it to sink any money into the stock back wheel). But speaking from my little bit of experience, I'd sell this bike and find something else more appropriate to convert. Good luck, I'd hate to see you sour on biking because of one botched project... we've all got a few of those in our past.

Boom. There it is.

Magic gear ratio, bb rings for spacers, suicide hub plus loctite red

get foot retention and ride at your own risk

Not sure which is more dangerous, this setup, or the GMC Denali bike. :)

I lol'd irl. Damn I miss these forums.

The botched project doesn't sour me on biking, I have $100 in it (and I can sell the wheels for more than that) it's the ******* comments from people when I clearly stated in new at this is whats souring to me. I thought the biking community was a decent crowd, I'm now beginning to question my thinking.

Could someone that isn't a ****** bag point me in he right direction on a good frame for fixed? I will be selling the wheels and getting fixed gear wheels l, I just thought I could make it work by some of the other forums I've read. I genuinely apologize that I'm not an expert in the first week of my new hobby.

This Sheldon Brown page talks about fixed gear conversions. Fixed Gear Conversions A decent 1980s bike is your best shot at this project. Research what the general frame size you will need and then scour Craigslist for a bike or frame. Post what you find here so we can tell you if the frame will work and is worth the effort.

This forum and road cycling forum can be rough at times but no one means any real harm. Stick around, read a lot, grow a thicker skin.

Thanks hairnet - I'll be sure to post pictures before buying another mistake.

Buy first, research second is always the best was to do things.

#kilott ....?

just made black bean and quinoa burgers smothered in sriracha mayo

ive mastered the art of taking healthy food and obliterating it with unhealthyness

@newbie2bikes you might ask in the mechanics forum before abandoning the idea.

That frame weighs about 4 pounds, fork is 3.5 IIRC.

Selling the wheels as a new takeoff from your specialized bike, eh?
Fulcrum Racing 6 Clincher Wheelset 9 10 Speed Shimano SRAM Take Offs New | eBay

So you bought a used wheelset on craigslist and are now trying to pass them as new on ebay for an extra $110. Ugh.

Hoo boy, that would be a wrong assumption. You should read the sticky welcome threads at the top of the subforums.

Do get some thicker skin though. We've all had bonehead moments, trust me. We may not be entirely decent, but most of us know our bikes. There's a lot of knowledge to be had if you stick around.

Here you go. Buy this rear hub and pay someone to lace it to that rim or a new one and you should be on your way to a fixie! Don't forget you'll need a new crankset! :) Good luck!!

ENO ? White Industries

--edit--

sorry not just any of the hubs, make sure you get the Eric's Eccentric ENO model

the front QR skewer (or the whole wheel) is in backwards. the lever should be on the left side of the bike

Now I want to make an inappropriate whack conversion... brb.

Look for a frame with a suitable rear end. It needs horizontal drop outs or track ends so you can adjust chain slack. Look for frames with 120mm spacing. If you buy and aluminum frame it can't be re-spaced. If you find a steel frame that you like, it's rear triangle can safely be narrowed or widened.

just buy one first, make sure you like the hobby, then build:

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It's a great hobby (building up bikes) -- and requires some amount of research first. That GMC wasn't worth the $30, unfortunately, and put you in a corner with options.

no biggie, it's a tough crowd here but you're in the right place. Don't know much about ur wheels but if they were a great deal you may still be in good shape financially.
chalk it up to experience & at least you got some experience stripping the frame and tinkering with something inexpensive. No need to waste money powder coating but either leave it raw, spray paint it, polish up the old parts and put it back together and you may even make a few bucks re-selling it. GMC is not the best bike in the world but for some reason, a lot of people are buying them.

good luck