Something's not quite right

A few updates on the bike (new BB, chain & sproket plus new wheels) and it's riding like a dream. However...we all know that is only about 1% of fixie ownership and to my mind, aesthetically it's not doing it for me.

I think it could be the oversize stem/anatomic bars/hoods. Plus the old/modern thing is difficult to get right.

Any thoughts? (Apart from the obligatory pisstaking?)

Click for image (seeing as that didn't work)

...

i can be done :-)

Do you actually use the drops, or do you just ride on the hoods/flats? Maybe chuck on a different handlebar setup.

And are you riding fixed? I always think that the classic brake set-up (i.e. one on each side) looks a bit odd on a fixie.

ditch the brown bar tape and cork ends, to start, get some nice black tape. the colour combo is ok, but too much aqua-blue. i'd have a play with some strategically placed black vinyl.

deda do a really nice non-anatomic drop in either shallow or deep drop, i have the shallow ones, really nice bars. they are about £40-£50. if you are that bothered about aesthetics then cane creek do dummy hoods but they are a bit expensive, just punching the lever out works for me.

or skip go, strip frame and send to armourtec and get the most brain splitting flouro pink paint!!

@ Hutch: Yes I use the hoods. A lot. And yes it is fixed (rear brake lever is a dummy).

@ Mr Smith: yes I was looking for pictures of your bike yesterday but don't let it go to your head!

@ DB: LOL! Next you'll be advising risers ;o)

Saddle and bartape in matching colours would be my aesthetic contribution.

Mouse @ DB: LOL! Next you'll be advising risers ;o)

hey, my first post was serious!

I know, I was responding to your second post :-p

its the bars tape and hoods, theyre too weighty and take up so much of the look, not sure what i would suggest as a replacement

its definately road-esque. i was going to say risers... but now i won't. but i would if you asked. ;)

maybe just some cut down straights? nice and narrow. mmm!

What I'd really say is silver seatpost, wheels, cranks, headset and stem. But that isn't very helpful. I think the black stuff weighs down a light coloured bike.

hmmmmmm, risers or bullhorns, it does look front heavy (even though the frame is full of lead) ;O)

... so the frame and crank are ok yeah? ha!

i'd get the frame resprayed pearl white, nitto stem and bars, maybe some leather handlebar hide to complement the saddle, get a set of phils and lace them up to cxp30 rims [radial on the front if you fancy it] and slap on some white industry cranks.

that should do it...

Momentum What I'd really say is silver seatpost, wheels, cranks, headset and stem. But that isn't very helpful. I think the black stuff weighs down a light coloured bike.
i disagree, black looks good.

but seriously mouse, this has to be the way forward ;) :p

aerospoke is what you need

You're right. As is Dogs & MrSmith I think. May have to try and get used to track bars with a cross lever. Different tape and some non anatomical drops would help plus a more slender stem. I know the drops / hoods thing has been done to death in another thread, plus someone's got some Deda track bars for sale on here.

What about machined wheels? Was thinking about powdercoating the rear since I don't run a brake, but now it's built up I'm not sure it's worth the bother. Was also contemplating white rims instead of black.

whack it on ebay?

start all over?

.... sheesh, we're a hard crowd! my two cents is still for some risers... bull horns might be good too.

Edit. Dogs is definitely NOT right.

@ Wayne: seen that and it looks shit ;-P