I picked up this De Bernardi frame the other day. It's Columbus SL and never been built up. I was originally looking for a cheap used steel frame to make into a fixed/SS, but this frame seems too nice for that. So now I'm leaning toward building it retro with downtube shifters. It would cost me about the same either way because I've already got a wheelset for a retro build, but would need to buy some fixe/SS wheels if I went that route. I've never ridden a fixe before and not sure if I would like it, plus it's very hilly where I live, but I'm intrigued by their simplicity and looks. However, I would probably ride a retro bike much more because of the gearing, and I miss my old downtube bike.

You're comparing apples to oranges my friend. If you already have a road bike you like, go fixie with this one. Every bike enthusiast should try a fixed gear sometime, not everyone loves it, but most do if they give it a fair shot. You're right that a really great road frame might be "wasted" on a fixed gear- in my experience, the handling differences between good quality frames (assuming they fit you properly) really only show themselves noticeably at faster speeds than what you encounter on a fixed gear ridden on the road. But, those retro steel racing frames are perfect for fixed gear riding, the features that make them less desireable for modern racing (less stiff, a little heavier) are either non-issues or attributes for fixed gear training joyriding and commuting. And horizontal road dropouts are actually more convenient for bikes with road dimensions than track dropouts designed for velodrome bikes (that cool factor aside, are really pretty uncomfortable for riding for any length of time outside a velodrome). Like your dilemma, I had my first ever race frame/fork in storage for years wondering what to do with it- a gorgeous 4.0 lb (56cm) mid-70s Favorit, hearth-brazed behind the iron curtain in Czechoslovakia. I raced on it for 5 years, it fit perfectly, felt fast and powerful. But I've also acquired another slightly retro late 80s Columbus EL frame, from another Czech custom builder that I built up with modern 9speed parts and I love the long road rides with the guys in the hills with that one, don't need another steel "retro". So I finally got off the fence and set up the old Favorit with a fixed gear, at no significant expense as I had all the old parts- mix of campy, gipiemme, suntour, cinelli stuff that I could afford back then bought mostly secondhand. For your build since you also have the old parts you just need a new track cog and chain really- I really don't see the necessity of buying a track hub or rear wheel to ride on the road. I use my old campy road hub with a front brake and have never had a cog loosen on me with a little loctite and elbow grease in more than 8 years of riding on several fixed conversion bikes, including nearly 100 miles/week commuting year-round in city traffic. If you're not doing skids or depending completely on your legs to stop, you don't need a reverse thread rear hub, it's really not an issue outside a velodrome. I won't go as far as removing the cable guides and derailleur hanger as someday I (or someone else) may want to build it up as it was with gears, retro or otherwise. No point in closing the door, as it is a very sweet old racing frame. Anyway, use the parts you have and build it up as a fixie first without spending hardly any money. That old(ish) converted De Bernardini will be head and shoulders nicer than a new off the shelf fixed gear like the Spec. Langsters and Bianchi San Jose models trying to capture the "new" fad. I think you'll really like it fixed, even in the hills- it will make you a better, stronger rider, and change your perception of riding from "faster is better" to "more fun is better". If the downhills are a problem with one-hand brake fatigue (I use a fixie with 2 brakes for centuries and the like), just set up both brakes- no track hub necessary. If you like it, later go splurge and get some bling track parts if you want to. If you dont like it as a fixed gear, well, unfix it. My old Favorit feels amazing as a fixed gear, brings back lots of memories of what a perfectly constructed (for me) frame feels like and gets a lot more miles than it would built up with gears, as I have other road bikes for racing and training when I want gears. Which is less and less often these days-

Why not both? Retro sometime, do a little wrenching back to fixed. I have one bike that earlier this year it was a totally stripped down SS/fix. Today it is a fully fendered geared commuter. Still have all the parts for either. Since you said DT shifters, no swap out of brake levers required, just drivetrain parts. Very easy stuff, don't even need to swap out the BB. Just (maybe crankset), remove the F&R deraileurs and cables, rear wheel and chain, put the single stuff on and you are ready.

Good points. I hadn't thought of it that way -- that I could do both. So basically I would need an extra crank, rear wheel set up with a fixe/SS hub, and different chains. When I want to run SS, just remove the front derailleur, and change cranks, chain and rear wheel. The handlebar, brakes, stem, saddle, etc. could all stay the same.

I'm planning to use Ultegra components on the bike. Would an Ultegra bottom bracket be compatible with a SS crank such as Sugino or IRO?

If you go with a 110mm bolt pattern double crank like a Sugino, it will only involve swapping out rings and not the whole crank to go from single gear to geared. If you have to have say a 39/53 double, you might need that second crank. Most doubles use a larger mm bolt pattern where as a compact double 110 can do both single and geared DT with one set of crank arms.

Good points. I hadn't thought of it that way -- that I could do both. So basically I would need an extra crank, rear wheel set up with a fixe/SS hub, and different chains. When I want to run SS, just remove the front derailleur, and change cranks, chain and rear wheel. The handlebar, brakes, stem, saddle, etc. could all stay the same.

I'm planning to use Ultegra components on the bike. Would an Ultegra bottom bracket be compatible with a SS crank such as Sugino or IRO?


no extra crank needed, just get a non-ramped chainring and short/single-ring bolts

it has a cycles d'oro sticker on it
i bought my first decent bike there 20 some years ago
with my paper route savings
cool shop

Yes the frame came from Cycles de Oro, one of the best cycle shops in the country, I am told. What's ironic is that I found out about the frame through eBay, not realizing it was at CdO, which is fairly close to where I live. I had been following the auction on eBay, but it ended while I was out of town over Christmas. It didn't get any bids high enough to meet the minimum, so I sent the seller an email asking if he planned to repost the auction. He emailed me back, asking me to just make him an offer. I offered him a fair amount over the highest previous bid, but still much less than the buy-it-now price, and he accepted. So I got a great price on the frame, and CdO even threw in a head set.