First fixed bike build thread - Help build my first singlespeed or fixed bike

nice one if thats what mecian said then thats what ill do .

what would you recomend i bye given that i dont mind spending that little extra.

If it was a mbt or a BMX I would say ahead, but it's a road / track bike, so I say quill. I don't understant what is hard about removing a quill stem, I know some people are not mechanicaly midned but I have never had trouble even on very old bikes that have been out in the rain for ages.

a nitto stem - they are always good. You could get a Nitto Jag (they have a stronger downward angle) if you want that classic track look

cheers guys thats kind of made my mind up, i just kind of wonder about flexability.

Bicycle Fibre im in edinburgh scotland fixie scene is non existant.

you want to chat to Antony the guy that runs citycycling he's a fixie enthusiast up in Scotland. He's just in the process of building up a peacemaker.

honestly quills stem have been abandoned by pros for a reason.

Stef honestly quills stem have been abandoned by pros for a reason.

+1

Stef honestly quills stem have been abandoned by pros for a reason.

So have lugged steel frames.

Doesn't mean they're not lovely.

I'm not a pro, btw.

Threadless headsets FTW. Less weight, less mechanical grief, look nicer, and there's more choice of parts.

I'd disagree about 1/8" chain, though, and go for 3/32" for similar reasons: you can get decent 3/32 chain really cheaply, and you'll only need one set of tools if you also have geared bikes.

ok i'll give you that but a quill stem is basically just a lshaped metal stick that goes into your forks. With an a-headstem you compress the stem frame and forks together at the same time, and it also hold the handlebars more firmly than a quill stem.
And noticed to my own pleasure that with an a-head stem you can change brs at your own leasure, without having to strip off bars, brake levers, cables etc etc.

Final score:
Quill stem: vintage looking
A-head: light, strong, practical

mr_tom Threadless headsets FTW. Less weight, less mechanical grief, look nicer, and there's more choice of parts.

I'd disagree about 1/8" chain, though, and go for 3/32" for similar reasons: you can get decent 3/32 chain really cheaply, and you'll only need one set of tools if you also have geared bikes.

I also use 3/32, but 1/8 seems to be the choice of many for some reason.

mr_tom ...look nicer..

That is highly personal, I think quil stems look much much nicer on a road / track bike.

Stef
And noticed to my own pleasure that with an a-head stem you can change brs at your own leasure, without having to strip off bars, brake levers, cables etc etc.
l

That not due to the fact that it is a ahead stem just that it is an open face stem. This is avalible in both quil and ahead.

but is standard on a-head and very rare on quill...

1/8th is probably more popular because it's what is used on the track and therefore "proper" size chain. I think it's a bit peculiar to be honest.

Personally I'm a 3/32th guy... Wider selection of chains, parts. More people use it, therefore cheaper. Cheaper tools, as well.

am i right in thinking that no one buildes frames with one inch stem tube ,if they all come 1 /1-8 then i could swop if i so wished ?

im sorry if these are dumb ass questions .

One inch is just the older size, most modern bikes come with one and one eight.

Your frame is custom and lugged. Custum means it will be what ever you asked for. I would guess that mercian would do 1" as standard, you can get 1" ahead as well. You will have to ask them what they are building to make sure.

For me personaly I think on an mercian lugged frame an adhead would look a bit out of style. That is why I whould say quill.

i think your totally right brick, i think my decision is made .plus im going lugless what do you think ?

im going with one colour and lugs might look strange .if wre going to colours i would go lugged ?

my new frame's lugged steel with ahead - i like the classic/modern combo.....

this is proving to be a tuff decision ,and being that i am quite an impatient guy annoying too.

i dont like most modern things ,my hearts in the past .i was born in the wrong era.

velocity boy My name is as my username.

Perfect example of lugged frame with a head looking good...