How to Make A Fixie Bike

Also known as a fixed gear, a fixie bike is a bicycle with a specific back wheel that doesn't allow it to spin without moving the cranks. Since he cannot coast, the rider must work harder to pedal. This is ideal for those interested in strength building and conditioning. Other advantages include the fixed-gear bike's light weight and simplicity. In addition to to these advantages, fixie bikes often don't have a lot of components, which gives them clean lines, and are usually customized colorfully, which gives them a stylish and trendy appeal.

Things You'll Need

  • Bike
  • Tools
  • Fixed Gear Cog
  • Freewheel Cog
  • Lock Ring
  • Lock Ring Spanner
  • Paint
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Instructions

  1. Making A Fixed-Gear Bike

    • 1

      Purchase a mountain bike or road bike (if you don't already have one). When making a fixie bike it is not necessary to start with an expensive bike. A cheap used bike that you find at a yard sale or thrift store will do just fine.

      When shopping for a bike to convert into a fixie, try to find one that is light weight. A standard light-frame 10-speed bike will work nicely.

    • 2

      Strip the bicycle of all unnecessary parts. You will need to remove the bike's front and back derailleurs, shifters, rear brakes, and cables.

      Keep the bike components you remove for spare parts or sell them.

    • 3

      Convert your bike's back wheel by connecting a 3/32" freewheel cog to the rim and securing it with a lock ring. Place the chain around the cog and rotate the wheel counter clockwise until the cog is on tight. Tighten the lock ring with a lock ring spanner.

      If you would like to avoid the hassle of converting your back wheel, you can purchase a freewheel with cog already on it at a bike shop or online.

    • 4

      Mount the wheel onto the rear drop out, make sure the chain is tight, and tighten the bolts. It is important not to over tighten, as this can damage the bicycle's parts.

    • 5

      Customize the appearance of your newly made fixie bike. Many who ride fixie bikes like to personalize them with custom paint jobs, stickers, and colored handlebar tape. To get your bike ready to be painted, degrease the frame with a bike degreaser and sand it down with 80-grit sandpaper. Apply a coat of primer and let it dry for 24 hours, then sand it down again. Apply the main color coat of your choosing.

      Before painting, remove any parts that may come in contact with the paint.

    • 6

      Allow 24 hours for the paint to dry and then take your fixie for a test ride. During your test ride pay attention to things such as the front brake sensitivity and looseness of any parts. Adjust or tweak any characteristics of your fixie bike that may be an issue.