Lightweight Fixed Gear on a Budget

I see, that makes sense. Heavy is the opposite to how I'd like the project to go but, going lighter than a pc would probably push me over budget.

That would be an option! Not something I've really considered. I wouldn't really know where to start with that but I'll have a look around for sure.

Wow, a great list. Thank you! Good taste also, lots of things I had in mind there.

I've seen a lot of people using lighter tyres and tubes in these weight saving builds. Must be a good sign but I've always wondered whether durability is compromised?

Good insights and a lot to think about, thanks.

Must have been a beauty to go through that effort.

what size? might be interested in that undrilled fork if it has a long steerer :)

Latex tubes are much better than butyl ones, and much lighter. No worries about durability there.

Light tyres are (as a general rule) more prone to puncturing but I wouldn't worry too much on a hill climb bike

Of course durability is compromised.

I'd only use latex tubes for racing. Constantly having to inflate tyres is not my idea of correct living procedure.

The lightest butyl are lighter than the lightest latex but yeah, latex > butyl.

Those 200g clinchers I suggested will not be very puncture resistant at all - but I don't think this is a HC bike?

I use 'em all the time! I find I puncture less frequently and I can definitely, for sure feel the difference in rolling resistance.

If this ain't for hillclimbs then what's the point of making it light?

There was no mention of hill climbs in the OP that I recall. There is no point.

Rather you than me. They're expensive, fiddly, annoy me having to reinflate them all the time and I don't give a damn about Crr unless I'm racing.

Size of fork? I'm not sure, they're at home while I'm at uni. I don't think the steerer will be that long, I cut them down to slam the stem on my 735!

Really bad picture but as you can see, it's pretty short

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@MechaMorgan @umop3pisdn

The build was never meant as a hc build, just a project to see how light I could get a reasonably cheap fixed.

Even though I want it to be light, I don't want to be fixing punctures every time I go out. When it comes to durability I'd rather add a few grams if it meant not puncturing.

I have a set of gatorskin tyres, would these and latex tubes be enough to stay <7 while being fairly hardy?

It was ugly as sin. I loved it though, but so did they.

If you insist on running light tyres and tubes then definitely latex is better than lightweight butyl. In terms of tyres, Gators are designed to be durable not so light and it depends on what size you want to run. You can run 20s which are super light but they're shit. Obviously you'll add grams as the size increases but the ride will be better, grip better, etc. Everything is a compromise.

i meant frame size (if you end up buying a precursa, as i'd be interested in an undrilled alipna fork with a failry long steerer)

I'm not insisting on anything really, just wanting to hear opinions of those more in the know than me. Maybe when I come to building it I'll have a play around with what suits me and my riding.

Lighter tyres/more durable tubes - or - Durable tyres/lighter tubes

I think the gators I have at the moment are 25s or 23s, which are probably the widths I'd be happiest using.

If the final build is a little over 7kg but durable then I'll be happy.

I'd be looking for a 54cm, I think the grey looks great. Not sure how that would work. I'd buy and post to you? The Alpina forks are for sale on the Dolan site

I've got some Diamante 20s around here I think if you need to shave grams :)

I'm curious what my Condor weighs now.

Latex inner tubes are more durable than butyl: being more pliable, they're more likely to stretch around anything piercing the tyre.

I picked up a thorn that was a good couple of mm through the tyre and I only stopped to find out what the thunk-thunk-thunk noise was.

Which is why lightweight butyl tubes is such a daft idea: making them lighter makes them even less puncture proof, which is hardly what you want on your daily bike (which is the only instance butyl makes sense, due to not having to pump them up every couple of days).

I'm curious what my Condor weighs now.

Before or after a big shit?

So long as I don't have a shit in between weighing me and weighing me holding the bike I think it will be ok. It's living inside again nowadays. I got sick of riding down the street and then flicking 20 spiders off myself that had moved in while it rusts outside.

8.7kg (the Condor, not the shit)

55cm Pista, cheap P-X wheels, Durano Plus rear, faded to fuck old Vittoria race tyre front, 600 cranks, flat pedals, way too long seatpost on account of the cracked frame, T1 TT saddle, Pro LT stem, cheap bars with old levers, DA caliper, cheap chain.

This!