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

Hi

Bit of noob request....

I've ridden a Charge for years but thinking about building a bike from scratch for my next one. What frames and components do you recommend?

What things should i thinking about when choosing parts?

thanks

Bit of a broad subject this.

What kind of bike do you aim to build? A replacement for the plug? Road bike? Etc...

frame + forks, that will suit your height, width etc is where you start. when you get hold of one post pictures here and if you're not sure ask people for advice. simples.

Is this going to be a new bling bike, a conversion or made up from used ebay/classifieds finds?

Whatever build you're trying to start, plan it, research it, get feedback from people and don't take every word as gospel, as what someone else regards as gold you may regard as tin.

Have a budget in mind, and allow some flex money, you may stand at £400.00, for eg, but will £440.00 give you a better build. Small money for a big change in spec.

Go nuts where you need to, hubs rims, frame. As for bars calipers and levers, you can work that out and trade well. But as the other chaps have mentioned, what do you want to build?

If you're building it yourself, allow some cost for tools if you don't already have them, although taking them apart is the tricky bit (crank pullers, chainwhip, etc). Also, there are certain buts that you might want to leave to the pros e.g. Wheel building, fitting headsets, etc so allow some cash for that.

UTFS + sheldonbrown + parktools.com

thanks, all good advice - especially tools, hadn't considered that too much

i started looking online at shops like tokyo fixed and trying to get an idea of what the difference is between an £300 or £800 frame...still not too sure! Will keep researching and post up my progress in projects

@ tallsam - looking for something similar to the charge. A fixed gear with a track geometry

@ johnny - hoping to save as much as i can with ebay, but will fork out on new stuff if i can't find good 2nd hand

Ok, my 24 hours is up and i have been trawling around, but cannot get all the answers im after.

If i have missed a tread please point me in the right direction.

I am a lover of the single speed thing, i used to ride fixed gear after my dad made himself one, real basic, steel frame, probley a bit big for me at the time, but i now own lovely legs. :)

So here is my dilema, its 25 years on im looking to get fit and ride something i like, i was given a mountain bike by my brother and whipped off the gears the moment i could, so have been riding that and yeah its ok....

I also have various other bikes mostly BMX variations, i'll add some pics at the end.

So i am now looking for something a bit more true to what i remember enjoying, but the world of single speed has become very commercial?

It would be graet to think i could get my hands on a simple track style frame steel would do but if i can get alloy even better, that i can stick some track style 700's on with a flip flop hub and off i go.

I have always build bikes (a legacy from my dad) so my kids and wife have to put up with lots of bits about but always have usable bikes.

So i am seeing alot of similar stuff but the prices are very different and the descriptions all seem similar, i understand componants are the key (i have a shed full)



all look great, the price ranges from £160-£500?
But how close are any of these to a track bike really?
Should i bee looking for something more like these....

I'm just a bit lost, i'm a great ebay lover and cannot help thinking i should just get a 'fixie' that comes with the straight bars and flip/flop as standard second hand and see how i go, but i cant help thinking i will still want something more velodrome?

Let me know your thoughts, my biggest problem i spose is price, 3 kids 2 cars and one income, thats why i build stuff from parts begged borrowed and bootsaled.

Thanks,

Steve

just a few pics for fun, all mine...

does anyone sell this sort of thing in the UK?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAMUS-MURPHY-CUSTOM-DRAWN-4130-STEEL-TRACK-BIKE-FRAME-NEW-FIXED-GEAR-BICYCLE-/350576068216?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=&hash=item519ff64678

loving the sidehack, you should bring it to the Manchester Indoor track!

That last bike with the blue velvet seat is mad! What's the story with that bike?

its what they call a gravity bike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5kVnzPCus4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_CSYeV4QhA

Lets just say mine was entry level, but i tried it at Hog Hill, its alot of fun.

loving the sidehack, you should bring it to the Manchester Indoor track!
you are a bit far away, but would be nice, not sure who built out local track but he was no Bob the builder???

Plenty of folks on here started out with a converted road bike of some description (not a bad place to start and a good way to learn the necessary skills) or a cheap-n-nasty thing like the Create (probably best avoided unless you are terminally poor) or even a second-hand Charge Plug, Fuji Track or whatever takes your fancy. You appear to have the necessary skills to build yourself something if budget is really tight, otherwise just keep checking out the classifieds thread 'till something in your size and price range comes up. Beware London prices though, and hipster tax!

Thanks, i thought i might get loads of answers on here?

I'd be happy to find a steel frame with horisontal dropouts right now, i thought that there would be something like an entry level velodrome bike?

Or is the Fort Track 7005 entry level?

The Kona Paddy wagon is looking good at the right price but i think its more a hybrid?

Am i on the right track.....

Go for a Langster, happy on road or track. Not steel but cheap and plenty tough.

I'm watching a couple actually, good call, know anything about the Kona Paddy wagon?

Go for the early (2007 ish) Langster (original paint was graphite, gothic script) as people say the geo was better.

I'm watching a couple actually, good call, know anything about the Kona Paddy wagon?

Mate of mine had a Paddywagon and didn't have a bad thing to say about it. He only sold it when he emigrated. Not a bad off-the-peg bike, although it wouldn't be my first choice. Langsters, Charge Plugs, Fujis and even Dolan Precursas all seem to be popular first bikes.

My way of thinking is that im not aiming to ride a velodrome but if the chane arose id like to do it on my own bike so it need to be track dimentions to start with.?

Paddywagons are good. Steel, so heavier than a Langster but otherwise pretty similar.

My way of thinking is that im not aiming to ride a velodrome but if the chane arose id like to do it on my own bike so it need to be track dimentions to start with.?

Which track?

Herne Hill banking is really shallow so road geometry is fine and Newport has Pinarellos to hire cheap – which will probably be better sorted than what you'll bring.