Well try.
I ride SS and have had a go on the track. I know a few people who ride fixed and I really want one.
Not sure about what other than not costing much.. been told a 531 frame bla bla and build up. I'll need help at some stages building but will try alone mostly.

Not much on ebay really.. what's up with people not suggesting aluminium frames?

also I will NOT be looking for anything like this, he's having a larf yes?
http://tinyurl.com/5z7rmr

4rum questions bad

nothing rong wif aluminium

A frame like the one in the link could easily go for £100. Vintage, probably 531, nice lugs. Having a laugh in what respect?

I don't know, VanUden.. like I said no experience but it does seem rather tatty and a helluva lodda money for it.
I'm guessing it's fairly heavy and in need of a re-spray anyway.. crickey it's not going to be easy to make one on the cheap.

There seems to be quite a bit of demand for frames with geometry and dropouts useful for fixed gear.. or it's a trendy thing now and people with old road bikes are cashing in. So many ebay geared bikes have a little comment such as "ideal for fixie/singlespeed conversion"

Course it is still easy to find a decent frame, but you won't be able to pluck them off the tree as easily as you used too. I sold two frames last week, for a sum total of £100. Both steel, both fine for conversion. Fortunately I think one will still keep its gears on.

@2wheelsgood - if it is 531 tubing then it'll be quite light in weight, lots of people keep the paint as is on a bike like that so it's 'authentic'. Equally many would repaint it but probably back to original colours - this if done well by a pro could easily set you back 150 notes. The demand is largely down to fashion. It'll be interesting to see how many fixed-wheel or ss bikes will be on the road a year from now. It's all good though. You might be best off checking out Loot or your local paper for a cheap, old, steel, racing frame/bike. Must be worth a punt if prices on fleabay and the like are still high.

Next year? Try about October when the sun goes and the wind picks up!

(says a bandwagon jumper)

Ta VanUden, very useful that. Is Loot a London thing? I've not heard of it.

how does a 531 frame compare to a 7005 aluminium? Not that I've ever had my current Dawes down to bare frame but I think it's fairly light.. it's all about the stiffness and geometry right?

http://www.loot.com/advert/1980s-road-bike/20481937
Raleigh Team Banana £70 in five seconds!

Either that or look in the back pages of your local paper, or pop down your local skip / tip place and be polite (with some ££ in your hand) and take one of theirs, or check out one of the bike recycling workshops (there's a couple on ebay - environba or something, but its not that exact word).

Alu will be (a bit) harsher than an old steel one.

EDIT: that leicester recycling place as an example: http://bikes4all.org.uk/component/op...,12/Itemid,39/

Thanks. these seem like much better places to find a bargain frame. I reckon I'll want to spend money on new (unbuckled) wheels and spanking new hubs. oh and all the other moving parts.. prob not bets to get them 2nd hand hey.
I don't know how my current bike actually does what I tell it to as I think it has paper mache for bearings in most places!

This is good as I am looking at buying a Dolan Pre Cursa. Thoughts anyone?

Currently: "I'm so glad I bought those hammer-on jeans buttons, so now I can gather in the waists of all my 32" trousers that I need to buy to accomodate my arse, but are a bit gapey above the hip".

Currently: "Man, it's been many years since I could fit into a pair of 32" jeans ;( "

As allready said, papers, boot sales, local tip etc, unfortunately frames of that age are all gonna be tatty paint wise unless you get one recently painted, i wouldn't be too picky when it comes down to the paint or you will be waiting a long time for one and possibly pass up a good frame.......rust is the one to look for.

32"