Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Drop bar single speed

Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Drop bar single speed

Old 07-18-21, 05:29 PM
  #1  
Dominae
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Dominae's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Woodbridge VA
Posts: 268

Bikes: Trek Checkpoint; Cannondale Super X

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 22 Posts
Drop bar single speed

A university where I graduated and now work is interested in resurrecting an annual bike race it used to hold which is much like Indiana University’s Little 500. We will need to purchase 40 or 50 single speed drop bar bikes, preferably with coaster brakes. The Little 500 uses Schwinns which are specially made just for the Little 500. I have not been able to find comparable bikes from any other vendor that would be affordable. Do any of you know any any mass produced drop bar single speeds we could purchase? I don’t know what our budget is, but those Schwinns used by IU could not be worth more than $200 which would be in the ball park.
Dominae is offline  
Old 07-18-21, 06:31 PM
  #2  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
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 762 Times in 431 Posts
I don't think you will find anything for under $200 that is rideable, and I've never seen drop bars being combined with a coaster brake. The closest thing I can see offhand are these cheap steel singlespeeds from bikesdirect although they are currently out of stock:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst_steel.htm
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 07-18-21, 06:53 PM
  #3  
Broctoon
Super-duper Genius
 
Broctoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Muskrat Springs, Utah
Posts: 1,713
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 983 Times in 508 Posts
Price around $200, 40 or 50 available, and drop bars + coaster brakes? That’s a tall order indeed.
Broctoon is offline  
Old 07-18-21, 07:45 PM
  #4  
jack pot 
Fxxxxr
 
jack pot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: falfurrias texas
Posts: 993

Bikes: wabi classic (stolen & recovered)

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2668 Post(s)
Liked 1,144 Times in 869 Posts
Originally Posted by Broctoon
Price around $200, 40 or 50 available, and drop bars + coaster brakes? That’s a tall order indeed.
... those are 1970 prices
__________________
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
jack pot is offline  
Likes For jack pot:
Old 07-18-21, 07:52 PM
  #5  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
Found one on FB for $200: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4692651135350/
Rolla is offline  
Old 07-18-21, 08:23 PM
  #6  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
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 762 Times in 431 Posts
Originally Posted by Rolla
Great ! Now all the OP needs to do is find 39 more.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Likes For TejanoTrackie:
Old 07-19-21, 01:58 AM
  #7  
Lazyass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,337
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times in 395 Posts
With the shortages right now I doubt you could find any model of bike in the world that has 40-50 available to purchase.
Lazyass is offline  
Old 07-19-21, 05:33 AM
  #8  
Dominae
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Dominae's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Woodbridge VA
Posts: 268

Bikes: Trek Checkpoint; Cannondale Super X

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 22 Posts
Originally Posted by jack pot
... those are 1970 prices
The bikes used in the Little 500 are essentially Walmart quality disposable bikes. They use them for one year, and then order new ones the next. I don’t think Walmart sells very many single speed bikes that cost more than $200. IU buys 100’s of them every year. However, they have a special deal with Schwinn.
Dominae is offline  
Old 07-20-21, 05:48 PM
  #9  
SkinGriz
Live not by lies.
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306

Bikes: BigBox bikes.

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times in 582 Posts
Originally Posted by Dominae
The bikes used in the Little 500 are essentially Walmart quality disposable bikes. They use them for one year, and then order new ones the next. I don’t think Walmart sells very many single speed bikes that cost more than $200. IU buys 100’s of them every year. However, they have a special deal with Schwinn.
So maybe there’s a market for the IU ones after the race?

Selfishly asking. I’d rock one for 100-150 if it fit me.
SkinGriz is offline  
Likes For SkinGriz:
Old 07-20-21, 05:54 PM
  #10  
SkinGriz
Live not by lies.
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306

Bikes: BigBox bikes.

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times in 582 Posts
Would IU hand me downs be against school spirit?
SkinGriz is offline  
Old 07-22-21, 02:37 PM
  #11  
Dominae
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Dominae's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Woodbridge VA
Posts: 268

Bikes: Trek Checkpoint; Cannondale Super X

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 22 Posts
Originally Posted by SkinGriz
Would IU hand me downs be against school spirit?
No we aren’t too proud to accept IU hand-me-downs If they were offered. Although you have to wonder how many 50 mile races these Schwinns have in them.
Dominae is offline  
Old 07-22-21, 09:05 PM
  #12  
Russ Roth
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 2,762

Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1073 Post(s)
Liked 999 Times in 710 Posts
Are they actual road race geometry or just a generic coaster brake frame that happens to have drop bars tossed on them? that'll make a big difference in what you can actually come up with. If a road geometry then i suspect Schwinn is your only option since no one else makes a coaster brake road bike that I've ever heard of but you should be able to contact them to find out if they'll sell to you as well. If they're just a basic geometry then it should be easy to buy a coaster brake bike for cheap, same with bars and tape and put them together.
Russ Roth is offline  
Old 07-23-21, 06:05 AM
  #13  
Dominae
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Dominae's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Woodbridge VA
Posts: 268

Bikes: Trek Checkpoint; Cannondale Super X

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 22 Posts
Originally Posted by Russ Roth
Are they actual road race geometry or just a generic coaster brake frame that happens to have drop bars tossed on them? that'll make a big difference in what you can actually come up with. If a road geometry then i suspect Schwinn is your only option since no one else makes a coaster brake road bike that I've ever heard of but you should be able to contact them to find out if they'll sell to you as well. If they're just a basic geometry then it should be easy to buy a coaster brake bike for cheap, same with bars and tape and put them together.
I don’t know the answer to that question but assume that because these bikes are custom made by Schwinn that the bikes probably have a “racier” geometry. Several companies make single speed coaster brake bikes with upright handlebars (Pure Bicycles is one such brand) and I had considered purchasing those and installing a drop bar. But, as you said, the geometry might be an issue. One the other hand, is a few degrees here or there in frame geometry really going to be a significant issue if the bikes are used for one 20 mile race per year?
Dominae is offline  
Old 07-23-21, 11:43 PM
  #14  
Rolla
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,269 Times in 1,439 Posts
Originally Posted by Dominae
Several companies make single speed coaster brake bikes with upright handlebars (Pure Bicycles is one such brand) and I had considered purchasing those and installing a drop bar. One the other hand, is a few degrees here or there in frame geometry really going to be a significant issue?
I think that this is the only way you're going to be able to actually build a fleet and no, the geometry won't make any difference. If you really want to make it fun, make the riders tape their feet to the pedals, like in the movie:


Rolla is offline  
Old 07-24-21, 10:32 AM
  #15  
SkinGriz
Live not by lies.
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306

Bikes: BigBox bikes.

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times in 582 Posts
Originally Posted by Dominae
No we aren’t too proud to accept IU hand-me-downs If they were offered. Although you have to wonder how many 50 mile races these Schwinns have in them.
A lot! Just because they’re Ashtabula cranks doesn’t mean the bearings aren’t good quality hardened steel. Fresh grease, readjust as necessary, ride.

And the rims don’t even need to be all that true as they aren’t the braking surface.
SkinGriz is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.