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Lolo
I just picked up a Trek Checkpoint ALR5 for dirt cheap on eBay. The plan is to use this for doing deliveries in Oslo over winter. The idea was to find a frame capable of wide tyres, disc brakes and fixed gear for optimal grip and stopping power. Apparently it gets quite cold, wet, snowy and icy there - actually snowed there today! It's an added benefit that this frame could also be used for gear-assisted adventures too (boring).
Obviously, I didn't bother researching actual compatible wheels or hubs or anything like that... that was going to all find a way to work itself out after the fact. However, upon commencing research it appears a 142x12 thru axle hub with disc brake and fixed gear capabilities is a hard thing to come by. Who would've thunk it!?
Paul seem to manufacture the exact thing I require but the price tag is pretty hefty (£145). This bike is going to probably get pretty abused and roughed up in crappy weather and I only went along with this frame because the eBay auction went by surprisingly uneventfully. I've also never had a bike which did not have a threaded BB shell so this is new territory for me. I will need to look into cranks too, I guess! Let's not even get started on what rims or brakes to go for... Unintentionally, this may turn out to be the nicest bike I've ever put together due to limitations thanks to my strange specifications.
From the Paul website it seems that other people have built up rear disc brake fixed bikes as they surely aren't making this product just for a laugh. Does anyone have any examples? Is there another hub manufacturer out there that would also work? I also have decide between 700c and 650b. Apparently this frame can fit 49x700 but will I be wanting more? I think I need to look into studded tyre options and sizes those come in. Any recommendations welcome!
Photo 1: The frame I just won
Photo 2: Paul fixed / disc hub
Photo 3: A Trek Checkpoint set-up for single-speed (inspo)