Budget commuter with Byercycles frameset

Hi LFGSS,

I'm just getting going building my first single speed bike, a budget commuter with all new parts on a Byercycles steel frameset:

http://www.byercycles.co.uk/Bikes/014-Byercycles.single.gear.frames.html

I've ordered the frame and I'm getting everything else together in the mean time. First thing to arrive is the cheapo crankset £27 from ebay:

Spec here:

http://pro-wheel.com/prowheel/node/348

More to come as the rest of the parts arrive.

Next up are the wheels and frame.

£65 from Graham Weigh, Mach1 Omega rims with unbranded flip flop hub:

£199 Byercycles 21" frameset, ~3.4kg if my bathroom scales are correct:

Doesn't show up in the photo but the paint is metallic, welds are nice and neat.

My build is starting to come together now, I struggled a bit with headset installation using the DIY threaded rod/nuts/washers/PVC pipe method but I'm happy with the final result.

Deda tape - £8
Cane Creek S2 - £17
NOS Shimano 333 freewheel 16T - £23
Tektro RL340 levers - £15
Shimano M520 SPDs - £22

Vittoria Rubino 700x25 - £22

Tektro R359 brakes - £28
Raleigh 400mm seatpost - £10
RSP 80mm stem - £7
Deda big piega bars - £13
Tange 103mm cartridge bottom bracket - £20
Clarks brake cable kit - £7

So far so good:

Budget builds are fun. As most of us are permanently brassic, doing stuff for less is a must. Your bike is looking sleek. I have the same flip/flop on my commuter. Nice job.

good stuff, good old Byers, funny couple.
used to ride and stop there for chat whilst in Beds.,
right near where Vicky grew up that.

Any reason why you didn't go bigger than 25c tyres?

Hi what are the Omega wheel set like as i am doing a simliar budget build and have seen them on ebay?

@Chad - Thanks, no problems so far with the cheapie hubs?

@jmf - I went to collect the frame, nice little shop

@V&N - My current bike has 27x1 1/4 tyres so I felt like trying something different. The frame and wheels can take up to 700x28 so if I find the ride too harsh I can always change over

@3v - I haven't ridden them yet but they're really nicely trued and they look good in the flesh. No play in the bearings and the hubs look well made. Weight is ~2.2kg

I decided to service the freewheel as it seems Shimano decided to use treacle rather than grease, the back wheel wouldn't even spin without turning the cranks. Around midnight after the work drinks night out -

Much smoother now and nice to see how well it's made from the inside.

All done!

In full commuter mode:

After a week riding it to work I was finding the bars too low so I put a riser stem on, which meant I had to re-cut the brake cables. While unwrapping I managed to rip the bar tape too so that had to be replaced, very annoying. I got some FWE gel cork bar tape which is much better quality than the Deda perforated tape which I ripped.

I might still change the bottom bracket as I had to put 3.5mm of spacers on the drive side to get the chain line right. That would be a 110mm BB by my calculation.

I'm really happy with the bike, it's buttery smooth and silent and I'm surprised that my ability to pull away from the lights and top speed have hardly been affected compared to my old geared bike.

If you need that many spacers, and that much rise, you probably could've done with a bigger frame, no?

You're probably right, I chose the frame size on the top tube length as I wanted to have a shorter reach than my last bike. I'm 6'3 with relatively short upper body so it's difficult to find the right compromise between seat tube length and top tube. Better start saving for that bespoke frame...