84 Lotus Sprint
#1
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
84 Lotus Sprint
This is my first post in FG/SS, normally I post in classic and vintage. This bike crosses over between both. It's a 1984 Lotus Sprint, sold originally as a casual fixed gear made for the streets. It has a plain gauge 4130 frame and fairly pedestrian parts, including a flip flop rear hub. It came drilled for brakes from the factory. I think it's pretty cool, and it's my size. I am going to strip it down and rebuild it completely. I am looking forward to riding fixed for the first time.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
Likes For mkeller234:
#2
Old and rusty
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: In the swamps of South Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1983 Lotus, 1989 Haro Escape, Quax muni, KHS?, Nishiki Olympic 12
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 66 Post(s)
Liked 111 Times
in
64 Posts
Welcome and enjoy.
give it a few miles before you give up, I was a little apprehensive at first, but once I got over the weirdness of riding fixed I find it much more fun.
keep your brakes, at least to start. My first fixed gear build did not have brakes and that steepened the learning curve, but probably made me entertaining to watch. Once I put a front brake on, I got a lot more brave as far as putting on the speed, or riding where there were obstacles or lots of maneuvering necessary to keep me out of the canals, or off the trees.
give it a few miles before you give up, I was a little apprehensive at first, but once I got over the weirdness of riding fixed I find it much more fun.
keep your brakes, at least to start. My first fixed gear build did not have brakes and that steepened the learning curve, but probably made me entertaining to watch. Once I put a front brake on, I got a lot more brave as far as putting on the speed, or riding where there were obstacles or lots of maneuvering necessary to keep me out of the canals, or off the trees.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
Welcome to the club! I own several fixed-gear bikes but one of my favorites is still my converted Miyata 312. It is just perfect for me in every way. Do I wish it had track fork ends? Yes. Does it really matter? No.
Likes For TugaDude:
#4
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
Nice bike, I love Miyatas. What is the advantage of track ends? I get the need for horizontal movement to tension the chain. Classic road horizontal dropouts provide that. What is the other difference?
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
#6
Veteran Racer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757
Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times
in
431 Posts
Actually, (semi) horizontal dropouts are better for road use, because they are angled the same as the rear brake, so you don’t have to re-adjust the brake pads everytime you move the rear wheel in the dropout. It also makes it easier to remove the rear wheel, especially if you have a rear fender. The advantage of track ends is that they are longer than road horizontal dropouts, allowing a wider range of gear changes on the track without having to add or remove links from the chain.
Likes For TejanoTrackie:
#7
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
Actually, (semi) horizontal dropouts are better for road use, because they are angled the same as the rear brake, so you don’t have to re-adjust the brake pads everytime you move the rear wheel in the dropout. It also makes it easier to remove the rear wheel, especially if you have a rear fender. The advantage of track ends is that they are longer than road horizontal dropouts, allowing a wider range of gear changes on the track without having to add or remove links from the chain.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
Actually, (semi) horizontal dropouts are better for road use, because they are angled the same as the rear brake, so you don’t have to re-adjust the brake pads everytime you move the rear wheel in the dropout. It also makes it easier to remove the rear wheel, especially if you have a rear fender. The advantage of track ends is that they are longer than road horizontal dropouts, allowing a wider range of gear changes on the track without having to add or remove links from the chain.
#10
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
I started the cleanup today. I stripped the bike down to a bare frame. Now to slowly clean and reassemble.
Last edited by mkeller234; 12-28-20 at 10:49 AM.
Likes For mkeller234:
#11
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Whitestone,Queens/Bayonne N.J.
Posts: 344
Bikes: Aurelia*Bianchi*Cannondale*Colnago*Dahon*Giant*Haro*Lynsky*Monkey Faction*Origin8*Panasonic*Paramont*Peugeot*Ross*Schwinn*SE*Specialized*Trek
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times
in
18 Posts
Enjoy your build! Nothing like fresh grease and a tight ride.
#13
^that guy^
Nice bike.. do you plan on keeping the drop bar on it or going for something upright? Something like the VO Milan would look good
#14
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
a) it’s a cheap bar
b) it had the right “cool” look.
I’m not so certain that I’ll enjoy them. On top of being deep, they are really narrow and the tops aren’t as functional as road bars. I’ll keep them for now and use them as is since I’m not even sure how often or long I’ll ride fixed. If I find myself wanting to take longer rides, I’ll probably change the bars and gearing.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
#15
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
I will rebuild it as is and make functional swaps as I go. I have a handful of bars I could swap out. I like traditional road bars and use the drops often enough. I would really miss drops in a headwind.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
Likes For mkeller234:
#16
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,522
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4355 Post(s)
Liked 3,994 Times
in
2,665 Posts
Good to see some of the C&V folks coming over to the Single Speed and Fixed Gear side of things. You will have fun!
Likes For veganbikes:
#17
Rustbelt Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,104
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
Ok, I’ve got it all back together for now. I did this very cheap, because I expect to make changes. If I enjoy it enough, I will probably play with gearing and the cockpit. For those reasons, I kept the old chain and brake cables.
I found some old continental tires that seem to still have some life in them. I put some MKS platforms pedals on, just need to install some clips and straps before I ride.
I found some old continental tires that seem to still have some life in them. I put some MKS platforms pedals on, just need to install some clips and straps before I ride.
Likes For mkeller234:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
Ok, I’ve got it all back together for now. I did this very cheap, because I expect to make changes. If I enjoy it enough, I will probably play with gearing and the cockpit. For those reasons, I kept the old chain and brake cables.
I found some old continental tires that seem to still have some life in them. I put some MKS platforms pedals on, just need to install some clips and straps before I ride.
I found some old continental tires that seem to still have some life in them. I put some MKS platforms pedals on, just need to install some clips and straps before I ride.
Likes For TugaDude:
Likes For Dws77: