Trash Bin Single-Speed Bike Build - Trek Rat Bike 

Loved it man. Reminded me of 30 years ago when daughter wanted a new pink bike for Christmas. We were broke, wife had cancer, I found a bike in the trash and restored it including a pink/white fade paint job. She loved it and rode it for years then her little sister did. It was a good memory to relive today. Thank you!

This build reminds me how I got to love cycling. I was studying In Denmark as an international student, and have never ridden bikes before. The place I was staying was really boring and there wasn't much to do at all. With a classmate of mine, we started noticing that there are a lot of old, crappy, rusty and broken bikes all over the place (because it was cheaper for the locals to buy a new bike rather than fix old ones). As an idea, we collected some of the 'trash' with an idea to build a frankenbike; neither of us had any skills, knowledge or tools to do anything, so we were 'bodging' everything with a cheap multitool, hammer and a pair of pliers. After first bike, second, third and fourth appeared. We've started bikepacking and travelling, with the same 'garbage bikes' and they felt amazing. Long story short, that discovery turned out into a full blown hobby and then into passion. Because of that, now I live in the mountains, riding and coaching mountain biking, and ever since, the bike is my best friend. Love yer bikes, folks!!!

Old Treks are incredible frames, go anywhere, do anything.Thanks

Another sweet build. Every time I see a new build from you it makes my day!! Keep them coming!! Happy father's day to you.

So inspiring. I have a 1980's Raleigh Lizard hanging up in my basement which has been in the family from new. Decision made! I'm going to give it a new release of life. Thank you so much for your tube's.

I just pulled my mid-90's Trek 820 Mountain Track out of the garage after 1/2 a decade, cleaned it, degreased the drivetrain, lubed it, aired up the 1/4 century old tires and hit the road with her. She was shifting like buttah. And the finish? Outstanding paint job on her still. So, I'm going update the cockpit (stem, bar, grips, post, saddle), add a pair of SPD's, new brake pads, tubes & Gravelkings, true the wheels and keep the flawlessly performing grip-shifters on there along with the drivetrain. I haven't ridden a modern Trek that rides as nice as an old steel non-suspension Trek. I have a 7.0kg carbon road bike, a state of the art aluminum road bike, but the Trek is the one that puts the biggest smile on my face when I pedal it and that's in its current state. I'm going to buy a new Roscoe 7 in a few weeks, but I'm keepin' the 820.

its hard to describe the feeling i get when watching these restorations, its a combination of nostalgia and pure passion for cycling, always excited to see what's next!

I also do this to my father-in-law's old bike. Old bike is sick!

Fantastic video, i watched this on a sunday morning , drinking a coffee , reminded me of those simpler days as a kid , jumping on a bike & riding off into the sunshine for a day long adventure , bag full of sweets & can of coke........good times thanks dude

My neighbor just left a USA steel Trek 800 Mountain Track by his garbage cans and I snatched it up. It's in really good shape and I doubt it has 500 miles on it, original tires look new. Going to give it the Old Shovel love and pass it on to a friend's son.

My beach cruiser is an old Raleigh road bike (Pretty metallic light green) set up as a single speed using the original crankset minus the small ring, original 27" wheels, and a polished flat bar. It was a fixie conversion, but I don't care to always pedal. All the decals are gone except for the one proclaiming a team win at the 1977 Tour de France. Love that bike!

I know this is an older video, but I wanted to drop a comment here. I can't help thinking of when I saw this, it really rekindled my love for resto projects (I'm a bit of a 90's MTB guy). I can't thank you enough, as of today I have built so many projects that I have helped get people into cycling, have a really cool rides for myself and my kids. You probably hear it all the time but thanks!

Hmm, shouldn't that chain need to be on the other side of the tensioner? Looks a bit weird to me. Dunno! In any case - as always, love your work!

I find my old bmx on our storage room, thats my bike when i was in high school. It brings back a lot of memories of my younger days. I forgot how happy i was when im riding that bike with my friends. Im planning to restore it and give it to my kid. Thanks man

Our local bike shop builds a lot of bikes like this, and sometimes they put in the Shimano 3 speed internal rear hub, which is pretty cheap, they say it’s quite reliable, and makes it a lot more useable.

I love your attitude and approach to your builds. The simplicity and attention to detail without lots of background noise are very refreshing. Keep up the good work and great builds!

Another great video, happy fathers day from the UK 🇬🇧👍

This type of video is about a hundred times more exciting than 'Specialized have just released the same bike again, claiming to be 130% more aero and only half the weight'. Awesome build, this is raw beauty and raw passion for enjoying bikes and riding.

This might be your coolest build yet. I have a Surly Lowside SS in my quiver and I absolutely love it.

This is so awesome! I have a trek 800 converted into a a single speed commuter/tourer and I'm so happy to see someone rebuilding an old trek bike!

Love to see you giving an old bike a new life! Appreciated that👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Love building what you have, not what you want.loving the restorations and resurrections. Keep em coming.

You're videos are so calming and inspirational, it's such a pleasure to watch this channel grow

I got my eyes on an old Raleigh lugged frame to do the very same thing! I ended up with a 1984 Rockhopper and followed your plan. Now its my 'go to' bike everyday. The trick was a 38/22 gear ration to make it work on the hills in my town.

It reminds me of my childhood bike as I was born in 70s. Thanks!

Just rode my rat singlespeed free wheel fixie to the bank spend $30 for a novatec wheel of facebook $10 cable and lever , comfort seat i found, new chain kmc $8 and i found the frame dumped !. And the bike is so awesome .love the videos keep em coming !

I love the colors, the geometry of the frame and the way you re used that cassette. Thats why I love 90's and vintages bikes.

This is great, this bike still has a soul and you found it...I love it!

I love the way you bring new life to old bikes, thank you for your videos!

Great build, but I take exception to your calling a vintage Trek 'trashy'. Neglected and unloved, yes, but never trashy. Thanks for giving a great bike a new lease on life. 🙂

I have watched so many of your videos, and every single time, when the inspirational music starts and you get philosophical about a bike, I just think about Tweak's dad in South Park describing coffee.

The green tires absolutely make this bike sweet. ANOTHER brilliant and inspiring build.

Back in my wilder days a buddy and I built custom Harleys. Now I reclaim, repair, and redistribute bicycles to kids of all ages who need a bike. Its far more satisfying than ant Hawg we ever built. But I gotta tell you. That Trek is freaking beautiful! I love it. I mean I really love it. The whole story behind it and everything.

I love that you appreciate every bicycle. There is no such thing as a bad bike. Keep up the great videos

Loved your commentary as you rebuilt this bike! I'm riding my original 1987 Diamondback Ascent EX on light park trails and loving it. No front fork, just old school...

Love single speed builds easy, clean and fun. It’s really the only bikes I build. I climb 5 hills daily on my single speed 48/18

Love these films, Just what’s needed to switch off from the day. I think I’ve watched all of your bike restorations. I’d love to see you restore a Klein from the 90s!

I started mountain biking last year on a bike just like that, 26", single speed and no suspension. It is so raw, so much just you, just so challenging it is addictive. I love it. I like what you did with the tensioner, adding to the number of teeth engaged rather than reducing, that is genius 🤘💪🖖

Gotta say, I love your channel. Super chill and well done.

Good job. 👍 Basic. Purposeful. And fun. 🤗

I love not having to worry about a fresh bike. There’s a certain freedom with a rat bike, in that regard. Nicely done!

something about old bikes given a new life eh? we are a special breed for sure :)

Nice bike you got there! There is something special about single speed bikes! I have a Haro F2 BMX from 2009 and I was 14 at the time my mom bought me the bike when there was a hype about BMX's in my town. Although I've never learned some freestyle tricks on it, just bunny hop and reverse handlebar riding (flatland trick), I just love to ride it often. I pulled out the seat high like in the 80's, greased all the bearings, yesterday I removed the detangler because the cables were getting stuck and I had poor braking, so I just did a direct cable mod to the rear and only brake on the bike and braking is now as it should be. The bike is a BLAST FROM THE PAST! I enjoy it much more for cruising around the town than my 29er MTB, although a MTB shouldn't be for city cruising, seems the MTB is a wrong type of bike that I bought myself 2 years ago. So the BMX just rocks even after 11 years and it makes my 25yo butt smile like a little kid.

I love the restorations you do oldshovel. Old doesn't mean obsolete

Love this era of Treks. My first 'real' mountain bike (if you'd call it that) was a Trek Mountain Track 820 with 2 color fade back when all the Geo Metros were also metallic teal.

Hey Sir I just want to share that I picked up a project bike, your videos have inspired me to restore a bike and I’m really exited and anxious to dig into it, thanks!

Glad to see another post! Nice bike. I personally enjoy making excellent bikes out of parts I have in bins. I'm not a fixie kind of guy, but this does work nicely! Thanks Sir!

Those narrow bars with no shifters look so clean! Nice build!

Awesome build! I love the original paint and the parts you used!

I love when people resurrect old bikes and make them something special and individualize them so there are no others like it. Great looking bike.

Oh happy Father’s Day!!! My son loves BMX bikes!! :)

I really like that when you build a bike it becomes a work of art and not just a repeat of factory blandness

Awesome! I’ve just built myself a single speed on pretty much the same formula and inspiration as you have here - and it’s a blast to ride! Keep the builds coming! We Love what you do. 👍🏼

Another sweet build. The deep sea blue ish colour rocks

Love your videos, especially the detail and calmness in them 👍 Thank you 😊

This video was inspiring. Thank you- I love giving old bikes new life as well

The bike looks really cool, you did a good job convincing me to build that singelspeed I been thinking about for a long time now, thanks man you got a new subscriber.

Turned out beautiful! What a great suggestion by your son!

I own a trek 4300 series mountain bike that I am taking for a long ride today it 11 years old this November! This is a beautiful bicycle.

You did a great job! What a great video! I think, you and your Son are blessed to have each other! Happy riding! ♱ 🇺🇸 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🚴‍♀️ ❤️

Holy smokes! I built almost exactly this concept on an very similar Gazelle cantilever brake frame. A real rat bike, I turned the handlebars upside down with inner tubes as tape, slapped on some deep section single speed wheels from a trashbin and rode it a bunch! I ended up giving it a flat bar and several sets of wheels. First two offroad wheels, and added 7speed shifting, trashed the front, replaced with a super light race wheel, the trashed the rear and swapped to full racewheel set. Eventually I got second hand cyclocross wheels and slapped on some cheap gravel style rubber. Upgraded to SRAM x9 9speed shifting from the aforementioned trash, and tektro cantilever brakes. It's dark green with a silver seat tube, and all black hardware. It's my daily citycrosser :)

That is a really cool beater, if I may call it that. I have a sweet, heavy fat tire cruiser, with a 3 speed hub, but watching your videos is inspiring me to want to build a beater.

oh look what i found another fine bike restoration channel lovely!!!

Your the man!! I ride my bike one speed, one brake, one love

Love watching your builds! This one turned out great like always!

What a great build! I like how you made it look so easy.

Very awesome build on a single speed bike

this is the reason why i live this channel so much! Thanks old shovel! Greets from Germany :)

I LOVE my Mountain Track XC rat bike. I've got the full LX as well, but with some parts swap carbon XX cranks that match the champagne frame almost too perfectly. The period correct Hite Rite dropper is hilariously good fun. It's been everywhere with me and it always gets a chuckle from the old school mtb guys, and plenty of sideways compliments from the shop techs. I just passed it on to a friend where it will happily spend the rest of its days shredding around my hometown. Just don't tell anyone how bombproof those old Treks are!

Loved the build! In 2016, I converted my dad's first mtn bike (1995 DiamondBack Ascent - blue/white fade) into a commuter/townie bike. Full fenders, rigid fork, Sellle Italia Turbo saddle, 780mm bars and a threadless headset conversion. I definitely agree that reimagining an old "ratty" bike into a new style brings it life again. Your conversion to single speed got me tempted, but I'm not sure I can part with the old 3x7 drivetrain! I think my next set of tires may be the gravel kings. They look badass!

Great video! I’ve been meaning to convert one of my (many) old mountain bikes to single speed. Love the simplicity of it. Cheers!

Outstanding! My first bike, spider bike (?). Banana seat, butterfly handlebars, balloon 'motor'. Later, mod it into a 'chopper' only for a while. I lust for the Surly Lowside, or a facsimile thereof, as Curly might say. If you wish upon a star...

Love it ,,never knew the difference when we were kids single speed was where it was at,,great job and Happy Father's day to you.

This reminds me of my late teens, when my MTB was stolen. My cycling friends donated some bike parts and I built my first bike with what I had. It wasn't as pretty as this but it was fun to ride!

Inspirational as always, well presented and edited video. Tyres set this frame looks a sweet ride for bobbing around. All the best keep up the great work

I appreciate that you like to restore bikes. I enjoy doing that as well. I will have to share a picture of the 80's Bianchi hybrid bike that I'm putting back together. It's a lugged steel frame and I'm keeping the 80's graphics on it. I'm always impressed with your builds. Keep it up!

trek 930 was my first real mtb got it brand new and put thousands of miles on it, even broke the chainstay on the non drive side trek did replace the frame. kinda wish i still had it but i do have a KHS Montana comp sitting waiting to be brought back to life. thanks for the inspiration/motivation

This bike looks awesome. My dad has one in green and I think these tyres would suit it like it suits yours! Love this build it has more character and life than the new bikes people buy!

The bike deserved you and your son. I'm an old thing and my old school bike gives me wings.

Totally did this with an old trek 700 I found , put on threadless headset adaptor and cx tyres and wide bars . Great fun !

Watched this about hundred times now 👍

It's incredible your creativity.

Sweet Rat SS. I use these tyres on my Gravel Bike that I also use on the road. 35mm tyres are very stable and fast enough for the road. My current Rat SS is a LeMond Beunos Aries Carbon/CrMo Frame Road Bike with the same Freehub spacer kit. I have 10 Speed Chain with the Alfine CT-S500 Tensioner. Almost ready to take the first spin.

Grear storytelling skills! And Great build as usual. Thanks for sharing.

Great message at the end. I love my vintage bikes 👍

Those Gravel Kings look so rad on that bike!

Amazing work ! I can't stop watching your restoration videos. With love, from Romania

This is simply awesome! Thanks for your positive vibes :)

Sweet! Loved the way it turned out!

Cool build! Awesome narrative and good music! I had to watch it 3 times hahaha.

Reminds me of my old Diamondback Traverse in college. That was a tank!

Love it, I just bought a Panasonic Mountain Cat and I'm thinking of converting it to single speed. Thanks for this video.

Decades ago, I found an old road frame set in a pile of garbage out at someone's curb. I believe the original rims were 27 inches. I decided to make a fixed gear bike out of it using 20 in. wheels. I bought a pair of wheels at my local bike shop, taught myself how to re-dish the rear wheel so that I could use a single cog on the back. I built it with flat bars and used it to chase my (then) small children, around the neighborhood. It's been hanging in the garage for years now...I should get it down and try to ride it again.

Awesome, great idea to give old bike new life; I like the green tires go well with frame

Just love this build 👍🏼

Lovely finish another brilliant job

I was planning to buy a new single speed bike, but after seeing this vid, I was convinced that my old bike can easily be converted into a single speed! Thanks man!

Did the similar thing to an Orbea Orca, compact 50t and 16tooth rear off of the old cassette(the chain is on the underside of my tensioner). I LOVE it. Have been riding it more and more. And it’s a 14.6lb build w/o the shifters and transmission!

Perfect for commuting, looks rad

One of my favourite till date Single speed rocks .