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

get yourself a wire brush for those tight spots and a bit of paint stripper

You've really put some effort into that.
Once you've primed it, use a small amount of filler to smooth out some of the pitting, lightly sand again, then another coat of primer.

+1

Can't wait to see how this works out - what a great find - good luck with the rest of the project.

I didn't have the guts to leave my frame as bare steel but that one is just begging for it.

I just bought my first track bike, second-hand. I don't really know anything much about bikes, should I get it looked at/serviced? I haven't got a lot of money, what's the cheapest way to educate myself about maintenance etc?

At the end of an hour long ride today, when I was going fast, the chain slipped and stopped the back wheel. Nearly threw me off, luckily there was no trafic behind me. What might cause that? And is there anything I can do about it?

One last thing - I'm riding every day along the regents canal and it's pretty bumpy. Obviously this bike is designed for a track - are these bumps going to muck it up?

also I heard that bumping around on bikes can reduce your sperm count - what's to be done about that?

Cheers!

DC

I love this webbed bb!

It's very pretty, my Holdsworth and Claude Butler have got a very similar thing going on as will your Mercian when it's built.
Think most steel frames, conversion or not, look pretty damn good naked.

I just bought my first track bike, second-hand. I don't really know anything much about bikes, should I get it looked at/serviced? I haven't got a lot of money, what's the cheapest way to educate myself about maintenance etc?

At the end of an hour long ride today, when I was going fast, the chain slipped and stopped the back wheel. Nearly threw me off, luckily there was no trafic behind me. What might cause that? And is there anything I can do about it? Chain tension/line worn chain/chainring/rear sprocket.

One last thing - I'm riding every day along the regents canal and it's pretty bumpy. Obviously this bike is designed for a track - are these bumps going to muck it up? Probably not depends on how bumpy.

also I heard that bumping around on bikes can reduce your sperm count - what's to be done about that?
Shag around, less chance of leaving little you's alover the place.

Specialized Body geometry saddle are alleged to help.

Cheers!

DC

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Thanks mate, So that chain is something I need to look at. I'll take it into Brick Lane Bikes on the weekend see if they can diagnose. Is that a decent shop?

D

Not sure I'm not in London check out http://www.londonfgss.com/thread5018.html
Have fun and good luck. Give the DIY thing a go, you never know till you try and it's really not that difficult. All down to having the right tools. I think there are workshops you can use around london that have tools etc, Use the search it really does work.

Thanks mate, So that chain is something I need to look at. I'll take it into Brick Lane Bikes on the weekend see if they can diagnose. Is that a decent shop?

If you go to BLB at the weekend, go early - like, when they open. You'll get great service if they are not busy. Otherwise Cavendish Cycles on Cavendish St near the Post Office Tower is your best bet.

Shameless Self Plug....

www.thehubcycles.co.uk

ta ;)

dane thats very similiar to my pete luxton, but he only ever bult 12, i guess people used to use the same lugs in the 70's alot.

I just bought my first track bike, second-hand. I don't really know anything much about bikes, should I get it looked at/serviced? I haven't got a lot of money, what's the cheapest way to educate myself about maintenance etc?

At the end of an hour long ride today, when I was going fast, the chain slipped and stopped the back wheel. Nearly threw me off, luckily there was no trafic behind me. What might cause that? And is there anything I can do about it?

One last thing - I'm riding every day along the regents canal and it's pretty bumpy. Obviously this bike is designed for a track - are these bumps going to muck it up?

also I heard that bumping around on bikes can reduce your sperm count - what's to be done about that?

Cheers!

DC

Sounds like a slack chain or a dodgy chainline. As for the sperm count; drink more whiskey, puts hair on yer chest and monk in yer baws.

off on a tangent here, but is it ill advisable to build up a fixed wheel bike around a mountainbike frame, (05 DMR Trailstar),Ive ridden mountainbikes all my life and would like to stick to what i know, geometry wise, plus i think it would make for quite an interesting build

If you have horizontal drop outs like you get on road frames from the 70/80s then it shouldn't be a problem, plenty of people have done it. Check out Sheldon Brown for tips and tricks and check out these guys.

yeah its horizontal dropouts, o thats a start, any other problems you can think of? Its got a bmx bb. Ive found some nos hanabishi cranks on ebay with a 44t cog, will this works? what should i run at the back?

Well it all depends on what you want to use it for. If your doing technical downhill stuff with it, you may have problem with pedal strike, other than that I'm not sure. On the back you can get something like this, the spacing will be good for you rear drop outs. You'll prob have to play with the chain line to get it straight. You can get more info about those hubs from these guys. Don't really know about the cranks, i take it that the bb and cranks are square taper? There shouldn't be a problem as long as they are both iso or jis (standards). Good luck with it mate!

cheers

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8680

BB converter

ok so ive primed the bike now, white i need to sand down and give it another coat or so but i ran outa paint the other day, im after gettin a nice clean simple and cheap as chips headset , so any offers please pm me or message here, and if it can be free that would be amazing as i am skint all the time =). i will be posting pictures up maybe tomorrow of what the frame looks like now.

Hi All,

I have spent a good few hours over the past few days looking into 'Fixed Wheel' bikes and 'Track' bikes.

I currently ride a Trigon Road Bike; Carbon Fibre Frame/Forks, Carbon Wheels (alloys used for commuting), Dura Ace Groupset (Gears and Brakes).

I am very happy with this bike and am looking to assemble a similar bike, but this time it being a 'Fixed Wheel' bike.

I am keeping this bike and will NOT be converting the above to a fixed wheel bike. I would like to 'assemble' my new bike myself to get a better understanding for when things enevertibly go wrong. I have a fair amount of knowledge learnt from my road bike, from previous repairs.

I have found a few bikes for inspiration, which are more 'Track' based bikes. See below;

I do have a few questions regards components, which i am currently unfamiliar with;

1. Steel vs Carbon/Alu Frames
   I have noticed there are very few carbon road 'Fixed Wheel' bikes on the forum. Is this to do with the difference in frame cost (i.e. £100 for a good steel frame and £500+ for a carbon one) and difference in performance between the two?

2. Chains, Cranks, etc.
   Is there a review website where there is a comparison between different components?

I am going to test ride some Fuji Track bikes next weekend and pop into BLB to get some more idea about parts.

thanks

Will you be riding on the road or track?

Initially on the road.

I will be commuting 40 miles daily from NW London to London Bridge. I am also thinking of cycling London to Paris on the fixed and possible LE to JOG if I am confident on the fixed (otherwise ill take the road bike).

Saying all this, i am interested in track riding, but it would most used on roads.

I like steel frames (lugged with light-tubing even better). But i've never ridden a carbon bike, and you may find them heavy and soft in comparison. You should get a ride on a quality steel, and a quality alu bike. Carbon track bikes are pretty high-end. Modern high-end track bikes are very specialist bits of kit so aren't exactly relevent for the road.

Do you commute on ^that^ bad-boy at the moment?

There are a couple of people on this forum that ride carbon road bikes. They're more likely to be able to tell you what to excpect.