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

Most track hubs with cogs are around 42mm although in reality are rarely bang-on.

Obviously BB and chainset combos designed for the track are therefore (mostly) 42mm.

You can also get spacers of varying sizes for the cog, so you can always fine tune that way.

Wrong link :-(

Those are spacers for running SS on a cassette.

Sorry wrong link, about half way down this page :

http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shoptrack.html

Chaps...keep this simple..cos it is. A centre built track / fixed wheel however spaced and a 110ish BB will run fine.

I'm currently building a fixed-gear bike up from scratch on a fairly tight budget from a Holdsworth frame. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice on the best way to build this thing, for example cheap ways to chase/face the BB shell or how to properly fit a headset.
I realise I could just as easily have googled all this but thought I'd ask the people who know first.

Also has anyone bought from ' http://singlespeedcomponents.co.uk/singlespeedkits.html '
Just wondering about the quality.
Cheers for you help

Lockside, stop posting in the forum help area - it's for questions about the forum itself, not bikes.

Noted. Sorry about that

Currently I have a bike that I bought last summer but now I want to make a new one and have no idea what so ever of what parts i'm looking for. After making up a thread of decided whether to buy the fuji feather or the bianchi pista, based on the replies i got, I decided to try and make one myself. Could anyone give me advice? Maybe post of up their projects and how much it cost them? If anything, any link to some guidelines would be great.

The purpose of this bike is to ride around London roads, it can be either fixed or single speed but must have atleast one brake. A flipflop hub is also prefered as so is a frame that is capable of having two brakes.

Preferences
Sizing - 52cm/54cm would fit me
Definatly a light bike
Drop handle bars are preferred
Thin tires
I've also been looking around the forum and found some security features some of the components have e.g wheels that are released using a different key
Price range £500-£700 or less if possible
In terms of looks, it's gotta look abit modern, as in something like this

Also, could you tell me what to avoid

Thanks

I would avoid starting a current project thread without a current project.

Title says starting a project + There is no where else to put this.

first of all, you know the purpose of the bike? You know the sizing you need? How tall are you, whats your inseam? Are you going to cycle only to London Fields in the summer time, or use the bike all year round for commuting purposes? wanna gears? wanna brakes? instead of "dunno", write down what you have in mind. which bikes look nice in your opinion, so that they can be adjusted to fit your purpose.

first of all, you know the purpose of the bike? You know the sizing you need? How tall are you, whats your inseam? Are you going to cycle only to London Fields in the summer time, or use the bike all year round for commuting purposes? wanna gears? wanna brakes? instead of "dunno", write down what you have in mind. which bikes look nice in your opinion, so that they can be adjusted to fit your purpose.

Thanks, just updated the intro.

@Jonario No offence or nothing but...

..you're gona get burned asking the very very VAGUE and GENERAL questions you're asking. You don't seem to even know much about what you want, you're asking us to build you a cool fixie that looks pretty.

I'm not being harsh, cos i'm in the process of building a bike right now, and i don't know all that much, but i went and read a bunch of stuff BEFORE asking.

First, learn about what you're asking about. go here: google.com http://sheldonbrown.com and here http://www.velosolo.co.uk/faq.html also use the search button on the forum. those places have ALL the info you need to learn.

THEN start a thread and ask specific questions about the bits and parts and things you still aren't clear on.

Asking people to do the work for you is lazy. put in the work and gain some knowledge, then come back and ask questions and we'll help.

Good luck with the project :)

@Jonario No offence or nothing but...

..you're gona get burned asking the very very VAGUE and GENERAL questions you're asking. You don't seem to even know much about what you want, you're asking us to build you a cool fixie that looks pretty.

I'm not being harsh, cos i'm in the process of building a bike right now, and i don't know all that much, but i went and read a bunch of stuff BEFORE asking.

First, learn about what you're asking about. go here: google.com http://sheldonbrown.com and here http://www.velosolo.co.uk/faq.html also use the search button on the forum. those places have ALL the info you need to learn.

THEN start a thread and ask specific questions about the bits and parts and things you still aren't clear on.

Asking people to do the work for you is lazy. put in the work and gain some knowledge, then come back and ask questions and we'll help.

Good luck with the project :)

True, i've just found the thread on building and i've started reading the sheldonbrown links.

Lockside, you asked about singlespeedcomponents.co.uk? I bought a kit from there for my first build and have had no problems although I've only done 500 miles or so. I bought the deluxe kit with the sturmey archer chainset and it all seems to be well made solid stuff. The guy who runs the site was also incredibly helpful answering a lot of the stupid questions I had.

Buying the whole kit together made building the bike a really simple process, and I say that as someone who is generally useless with anything mechanical.

Thanks jm031689. I'm considering buying a wheelset from there but just wanted to make sure

Jonario - I'm pretty new to the game too, and I've just finished putting my own project together - I had all the tools and it was fun, but if I was where you are now, and coukld start over I'd seriously consider buying something off-the-peg or looking on here for a complete bike in the right size.

I'm being thick.
I'm
Struggling to get my saddle on my seatpost. It's a Turbo saddle but I'm not sure about the brand of the seatpost it's just a standard seatpost. I've googled pretty hard and the fastening system at the top from ones I've seen.
One I have has two pieces that slid across each other with arrows on top saying 'closed' and 'open'
I'm describing this so as to get the best amount of help.
Can you guys help me out/point out how much of a moron I am.
Would appreciate it

Probably going to have to post photos to show us what you mean.

Sometimes you have to totally unscrew the bolt on the seatpost and take the top clamp off then mount saddle rails in the clamp, and fiddle like hell until it all goes back together in the right order.

It's all sorted
Second hand seat post meant the threads were knackered so the top clamp couldn't open close.
Still been thick by not checking that first to be honest
Thanks though

you'll pick up what you need to check for in teh future ;)

I'm planning on putting a single speed sprocket (19T, 1/8'') on a phil wood fixed hub. I was wondering if I could apply something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Speed- ... 674wt_1023 ? Or is the quality too poor ? In which case, would this Surly Single Speed Sprocket be better?

Also would I use this technique to put it on? Mikes Bikes: How to Install a Cassette - YouTube

i.e. Grease hub and threads> screw on sprocket> tighten with freewheel remover tool thingy... done! Am I right?

Thanks

hi im building up my first fixed. im having trouble with the wheels...namely ive sourced a 700c (im prsuming narrow like a 23c or similar for the rear but the front wheel i already have is a 622-20 so it takes a much wider tyre, somthing like a 35 or a 38c (it came with a 28x1 3/8 x 1 5/8 but its shagged).
now bearing in mind im trying to build this as cheap as possible the bike only cost a 10er 1974 raleigh the question is this:
should i just live with the mismatch on wheel/tyre sizes front and back and potentially look like a bit of a knob.
or pony up for yet another front wheel from a road bike to fit the same size tyres f/r (i already have a new set of 700x23c tyres waiting.
im kinda skint so id rather not spend any money than is neccesary (im even using the original bb cups albeit with a suitable square taper axle to fit the deore crank i already have with a bodged 46t ring fitted to the inside of the spider)
im using the original gb stem with some flat bars and a shit steel seatpost with a knackered turbo saddle. i had a friend strip and powder coat the frame for free so it really is a cheapie but i really really need my fixie umm....fix? i cant stand commuting on my mountain bike anymore knowing theres a fixie to be ridden.

Keep the mismatch. Celebrate the mismatch. Anyhow, it already sounds like it's a bit of a madmax machine.