Claud Butler fixed advice

[Reksio]

Hello

I'd like to try fixed gear bike and I found this one.
I was wondering if it is worth buying. It looks to me as some custom job. Frame looks kinda old.
Anyway seller asks 290 AUD
Do you think its worth it? Unfortunatle I can't go and check it because it's in another city so it would be a bit of lottery ;D
But fixed gear bike are not very popular where I live and quite hard to find anything.

[NomadicNest]

If the fixed gear bike is special made with an older frame, and if it’s in good shape and rides nice, then maybe it's a good buy. For 290 AUD, this price seems fair, mostly if not many fixed gear bikes are around where you live.

[P!N20]

First thing to establish is if it is the right size for you. It looks to be in the 56-58 range (length of seat tube, centre to centre) So as a guide you should be around 1.8-1.9m tall.

Hard to tell from the photos, but the frame looks to have stamped dropouts, which would indicate a lower end frame. Nothing wrong with that, just might be on the heavier side and not quite as strong.

I doubt the frame is a Claud Butler and the wheels were probably just sold by them.

Where are you located that no fixed gear bikes are available?

All in all, maybe not a bargain but probably not too bad and looks ready to go.

[bychosis]

Hard to tell from the photos, but the frame looks to have stamped dropouts, which would indicate a lower end frame. Nothing wrong with that, just might be on the heavier side and not quite as strong.

Good pickup. It's looks to be a regular road frame that's had a rebuild as a fixie rather than a dedicated fixed gear build from the factory.

Id hazard that unless you are travelling to the other city for another reason it might be better to build something from a decent old roadie.

I built a fixie in a few stages. Learned a bit on the way too.

[AUbicycles]

Looks ok. Chain is too slack and it is already all the way back in the drops so may need to remove some links.

Bars are also a matter of preference. I don’t personally like this setup, but that also depends on your riding style. For city riding I prefer brakes like on a flat bar (or mtb) and this could be swapped though you would then adjust (shorten) the brake cables.

Front badge removed, maybe to hide the brand. But for a cheap.. seems ok.