Post-divorce regret: time to build a new wife

About 2 years ago I split up (with) my beloved Peloton. I still miss that bike. The last fixed gear I ever owned, and it was so rad. Why... why did I sell you?!

I'm moving to a flatter city soon. An opportunity arises. How can I not...?

A few parts rolled in today. And so it begins.

• Miche Pistard wheelset
  
• Conti GP 4 Seasons
  
• Selle Italia SLR XP
  
• Nitto B260AA
  
• Strong Vs in funky 'white camo'
  
  

The rest is a mystery. ;)

Question: I want to get this bike down to the track on occasion (my local club runs track days every Wednesday). I'd like to fit some classic road drops - are these going to be allowed on a track, or am I limited to track drops only (which I don't want to ride on the street)?

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Couple more bits just dropped...

• MKS chain tugs
  
• Izumi standard track chain (silver)
  
• Velodrome Shop Elite track sprocket
  

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You'll be fine to run road drops, deep track drops are only really used for sprint stuff anyway. Which city are you heading to?

Brill. In that case, any suggestions for 26mm road drops with a nice big flat ramp up top? I'm thinking Nitto Noodles.

I'm off to Liverpool.

I don't remember Noodles having a flat top. Although the tops are swept back slightly and the ends flared, so very comfy all the same.

Perhaps you are thinking of the "legendary" Dura Ace AX bars (also made by Nitto) upon which the Noodles are based: they do have a flattened top.

I had Noodles, have AX and prefer the latter: both nice bars though.

I don't have a front shot of these, but it looks like they have decent flats before the bend into the tops, then a reasonably level ramp, then the drops. This is the sort of thing I mean.

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I think we may be talking about different things: the tops of the AX are actually flattened, ie not round, which is nice to rest your hands on.

From memory, I may be wrong, the Noodles are round.

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Ah yeah, I don't mean flattened, just level. I'm talking about the ramps, too - not sure why I said 'ramps up top'...

Essentially I want something without too deep a drop, with ramps flat enough to use without brake hoods, and with useable tops rather than radically curved track drops which have no tops to speak of. Oh, and 26mm clamp size (25.4 might work too - depends on my stem choice).

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/214488/

25.4mm to 26.0mm shims are readily available too.

Yeah, read through that. The Piegas look good, if they're the non-ergo ones...

Conti 4 Seasons on the rear? You must have money to burn.

Picked them up cheap. Never ridden them before so interested to see what they're like. I'll probably end up with Durano Plus long-term. Might also try Thickslicks but not sure if I like the logo or not...

I've been running tubs on the road for the last year so any clinchers seem really cheap in comparison!

Will but 4 seasons off you so you can get skidz4lyf tyres

I might throw a GatorHardshell on the back (it'll at least match the silly red sidewall). I'm wary of putting Gators all round because I remember them being prone to letting go in the wet...

You can have one of the 4 Seasons if you like...

Liverpool is Boss la, went to Uni there and still head over now and again.I warn you though, coming out of the city centre and up to the georgian quarter is not "flat"

Yeah I've walked that bit - it's a hill, but compared to Cornwall, it might as well be the Netherlands!

Nitto B115?

I looked at these and forgot all about them. Yeah, they'd be perfect I reckon.

Just waiting on the mystery frame now. Will build it up with risers and get commuting on it, then look at building a drops cockpit too.

Here we go...

Chainring is a Miche Pista - I'm going to replace it with something NJS, but I'm not sure if I go for a Zen again for maximum HHSB points, or go with a more classic DA or S75 ring (which I think I prefer aesthetically).

Ratio is 52:19 - feels ok at the moment, but my knees aren't the best and I haven't ridden fixed for a couple of years so I want to get used to it again. I might go down to 48T when I replace the chainring.

Rear tyre will be a GatorHardshell at some point. I also have some NJS pedals on the way (MKS Royal Nuevo with MKS clips and some kind of NJS double strap) - not sure if I'll run them or stick with clipless yet.

Finally the sparkle is fucking awesome. The paintjob is almost mint, too - just a couple of minor chips on the chainstays, and no dents at all that I can see. Thanks to @Dandy for a pretty gorgeous frame.

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very tasteful.

Thanks. Even the grips? ;)

Did my first (3km) fixed commute for years today - the bike rides super smoothly. Love it.

Waiting on the NJS pedals. Still trying to decide what size chainring to get - 48:19 or 49:19?

Better driveside pic...

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48/19 ratio of the gods (though i did enjoy 49/18 too)

TBH anywhere between 65 and 72 inches is gonna be fine.

Real nice!