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

I cycle daily on the bike above, im currently not commuting so i do around 100 miles a week on the roads and the same on the turbo trainer.

It was my first road bike so i am only really familiar with the feel of a CF frame. Saying that my MTB is aluminium with no suspension...

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).

Where the hell do you live? You know Watford isn't London? :P

Im based in Stanmore (very close to watford).

Route is 18 miles to London Bridge (direct), but i take a slightly longer route to make it upto 20 miles either way.

Hippy doesn't know what a bike is, he's just here for the Geography.

Suspect there's few carbon fixed wheel road bikes as carbon's expensive high performance type material whereas fixed road bikes aren't really high performance.

Carbon road bikes yes, carbon track bikes yes.

One of the reasons I originally built up a fixed bike was because I didn't want to commute on my carbon bike, carbon's incredibly strong but can be quite delicate, a side impact or a deep scratch on he frame and that would be £1500 down the pan, not so with steel or aluminium.

Incidentally my steel 531 fixed bike weighs less than my carbon fibre bike. =D

Im based in Stanmore (very close to watford).
Route is 18 miles to London Bridge (direct), but i take a slightly longer route to make it upto 20 miles either way.

When you're bored count the traffic lights you have to go through to get home.. I'd love to know.

Hippy doesn't know what a bike is, he's just here for the Geography.

I gotta learn North South East and Flour somehow!

I'll pass on counting the lights the edgware road is a nightmare

So getting back to bikes....

Carbon is opted against due to performance, but surely u can build a fixed wheel bike which is capable of matching of at least getting close to a road bike? I can understand it would me a little limited due to the gearing though

With regards to frame weight; what weight do steel frames go down to? I'd be looking for a 60cm frame potentially with carbon forks for a smoother ride

Carbon is opted against due to performance, but surely u can build a fixed wheel bike which is capable of matching of at least getting close to a road bike?..

...I can understand it would me a little limited due to the gearing though

You've got it.

Carbon is opted against due to performance, but surely u can build a fixed wheel bike which is capable of matching of at least getting close to a road bike? I can understand it would me a little limited due to the gearing though

With regards to frame weight; what weight do steel frames go down to? I'd be looking for a 60cm frame potentially with carbon forks for a smoother ride

I'm not sure what you are asking? Performance is limited by the rider not the bike.
My Cervelo SuperProdigy is around 1.3kg for a 56cm steel frame.. a 60cm one will be heavier.

Hillbilly ride a Charge Plug which is known as the heaviest OTP, and he managed to win at Herne Hill.

Well I think realistically then a steel frame would be the way to go then. This would mean I could set a budget of £400 for example and spend the majority on decent drive components rather then blowing it on a fancy carbon frame.

Has anyone got any experience with fuji track bikes as they seem to be excellent value at around £270 for last years model?

Loads of people ride them. Drop the gearing to ~70" and fit a brake. Bob's your aunty.

http://www.biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162

I think a lot of people swap out the Fuji wheelset.. You won't have a problem shifting them brand new on eBay and getting a superior pair built up

Hillbilly ride a Charge Plug which is known as the heaviest OTP, and he managed to win at Herne Hill.

Not as heavy as a Pista!

;-P

would a set of deep velocitys be the way to go then?

RPM, stat!

Depends on how much you want to spend.. Velocity Deep Vs seem to be the rim of choice for a lot of people.. If you want deep section rims in particular GA2G has made a list of the ones you can buy

EDIT: Definitive List of Lists - http://www.londonfgss.com/thread11148.html

If you look there you'll find plenty of info/prices of parts

Search for the relevant threads regarding rims/hubs/spokes/cogs/nipples/wheelbuilds etc etc...

Not as heavy as a Pista!

;-P

well remembered!

would a set of deep velocitys be the way to go then?

if you like the look, go for it (the only advantage of the deep V is that they're quite bombproof).

otherwise for a decent rims, an mavic open pro is the way to go.

http://thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=902

Well I think realistically then a steel frame would be the way to go then. This would mean I could set a budget of £400 for example and spend the majority on decent drive components rather then blowing it on a fancy carbon frame.

Has anyone got any experience with fuji track bikes as they seem to be excellent value at around £270 for last years model?

Or you could always get a Specialized Langster and then swap the wheel for a decent one, nowt that there's anything wrong with the original wheels, they just weight quite a lots.

What you need to do is come to one of the drinks, where no doubt you will be able to get a feel for what kind of bikes are out there and probably be able to swing a leg over a couple, and see what tickles your fancy - you will also be suprised how light a well made steel or alu Track frame is.

Most of us all love some hardcore carbon track porn, but they are not yup to the daily rigours of commuting because they were not designed for ay sort of use outside of the velodrome, unlike Carbon road bikes wich were designed with the varying conditions you face out on the open road in mind.

Hipys link to his blog throws up some suprising, but very informative figures on frame weights.

Personally i would buy a Fuji Track or similar to get starting on, because inevitably as you learn more about whats out there/possible your idea of what you want will change radically, and when you are ready to buy/build what you really want, the Fuji will make a great pub bike