Lightweight Fixed Gear on a Budget

I'm looking to build a sub 7kg fixed gear on a budget of around £500 ($656), think it could be possible?

Now, before anyone tells me that I should look to lose some weight myself or get stronger; this build is purely for fun! (I assure you I'm lightweight as is). A plan for a future winter project.

I'm trying hard to find a frame, preferably aluminium, with pretty narrow looking tubing. Everything I've found so far is either the wrong shape or way out of budget, I'm in love with the look of the Kagero and the Cinelli Gazzetta. If anyone knows of frames a similar shape and lower price point I'd really appreciate a link. I'd probably strip the frame to claim some g's back so colour isn't top priority.

I'm also stuck a bit on wheels. I've seen on other threads on the site that hand building sets seems the way to go for a balance of cheap and light and stiff. If not hand built, I've been looking at Miche Pistards, bad move?

I'll probably get a lot of the finishing items from china, lightweight and cheap are the main goals of this project after all. Bars would be bullhorns, pedals most likely Shimano SPDs for easy transfer from my road bike to the fixed. I have a 91g carbon saddle lying around which I'd stick on, and a new set of Continental gatorskins (25mm). I also have a Leader i805tr fork from a previous bike, so these parts don't have to be accounted for in the price.

I might sound like a complete newby, I realise, but building a fixed bike based on weight is not something that I've had a whole lot of experience with. I built up a Leader 735 a few years ago but ran out of money when it came to components so it ended up being a 11.5kg beast (aesthetic appeal got the better of me on this one). A hell of a lot different to the 7.3kg roadie I ride a lot more frequently.

I'd really appreciate any advice, I know a lot of you guys on this thread can be helpful beyond belief. I will answer any questions you might have too!

Thanks for reading

Good reading: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/261557/

Giant TCR frames 1998 -2003, usually come with the giant carbon fork, ahead from 2000 onwards models. Anywhere between £80 - £130, Good base for a light bike

Giant Omnium

Dolan Pre-Cursa can be had cheap second-hand.

WW build here.

And this thread lists some frame weights.

It maybe possible with eBay far eastern parts but the budget will be tight. You going to need a free frame I think

Mielec would be worth a look

I'm having @ChainBreaker flash backs

The memories.

Yes! This is a good read. I took a look through a few weeks ago. Seems like a vigorelli would be an ideal start but a bit out of price range for me.

I've seen the thread. How did it end up? Did it come to be?

Yeah these have some really good info. In that list of frames are the Leader 735 and 725, I have one of each of these frames but they're a tad too small which is not ideal. But the sale price will definitely be an addition to the originally budget!

It did. I spent a fortune. It got stolen. Sad.

Such good memories

That sucks. I started reading your thread last week but never got to the end. Anything in the works?

this. pc ticks all the boxes, cheap, narrow tubing, can be had as frame only, beg to think quite light if compared to leaders etc.

It does tick all the boxes. Just not completely sold on the tapered downtube!

Actually after looking over some more pre cursas this morning I am finding them increasingly tasty in the grey.

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Pre Cursa is fucktone heavy as it's strictly track designed bike, no? I remember having PC fixie, brakeless, crabon SP, crabon forks, flite Ti and rest of the parts being just random secondhand semi-decent trash and it all weight quite much more than my friend's roadie.

EDIT: I just remember now, budget for whole project was much under 300quid, so maybe it's possible to make it lighter.

Sadly no. Lot of New Old stock from various places that can never really be replaced.

I might be starting a winter commuter but nothing like that one.

Frame alone is 1.75kg for a 54cm. How do you mean strictly track designed? The alpina forks you can get with it are not all drilled for a front brake but I have some drilled forks already. Not sure of the weight of these but there are affordable alternatives from chinese eBay that would bring the frameset to just over 2kgs.

Is a frameset that weight unrealistic for a <7 fixed?

Bastards, can't imagine how a custom bike like that slips under the radar.

Do you have any pictures of the final build? The images on the thread aren't showing for me!

It's just the weight of a bike doesn't really matter much on track, therefore track bikes are made heavy but stiff. Heavy is the opposite direction this project was supposed to go, nah?

EDIT: If focused on the weight you can always try to go for a road alloy/carbon frame and have little bit fun with halflinks and fitting right cogs, chainrings. That would be the easiest gain on weight not being spendy at all.

Second hand Precursa frame (1750g)
Chinese carbon fork (400g)
Kalloy stem & alu bullhorns (400g)
carbon saddle (100g)
Cheap cut down seatpost (250g)
bar end lever and PX forged brake (250g)
cheap road front wheel (800g)
24h Novatec track to road disc rim with Sapim Lasers & alu nips (900g)
2 x Vittoria Diamante Pro with latex tubes (540g)
cheap external BB road cranks with 39t ring (700g)
8spd chain with alu sprocket (270g)
Look Keos (250g)

That's a 'cheap' build that'll be about 6.8kg. Dunno if it'll be <£500 though.

Tyres, stem, saddle, external BB road cranks with 3/32 drivetrain with alu sprocket are all very efficient £/g savings.

They stole the whole bike rack for. Heavy duty bastard too.

Sadly not on hand. This was years ago.