Anti-HHSB build

I have too much time on my hands waiting for my frame to be built, got most of my bits in a box under the bed and while doing a rough totting up of the cost so far I gave myself a scare. I should probably have got an OTP to start with: I’ve not ridden fixed before but I do tend to jump in both feet first on most things I do. Anyways, it got me to thinking…….

If there was such a thing as an Anti-HHSB, specced possibly by the grandson of a 1930’s Nazi, what components would it have? I’m thinking function over form and most bangs for your buck but it’s got to last so no crap. Once built up how do you think it would compete against say a Fuji Track?

Once my first bike is up and running I might think about building a utilitarian fixed for chippy runs and the like. Ha! Just came to me…..If I move to Kansas (or somewhere in the UK beginning with K) I could market them as F.U.C.K Bikes.

building cheap bikes is a challenge, and involves 2nd/3rd hand or dumped parts. The most difficult bits to find cheap are probably the wheels (well cheap and rideable).

And yes there is such a thing as an anti-hhsb, most of the bikes that exist in the world fit into that category infact!

great thread starter dude..I'm in the same bracket myself with two great frame conversions waiting for reasonably priced, good fixed parts.. it's a time game I'm finding, there are just a few things I think you have to spend on no matter what - maybe others more experienced will add stuff and I'll also be very interested to know - so far I'm finding good, strong, reliable hubs, cranks, bb the main expense. The rest I do think you can swoop on like a ninja on ebay but boy does it take stealth..most stuff is fetching daft prices at the moment. Just when I've got into it seriously.... :)

Patience is the big big problem.

Also, I find that if you've had fixed wheel bikes for a while, you tend to amass parts (right now I have 2 sets of cranks, a BB still in its box, 2 sets of handlebars, 3 stems, 5 brakes (most of them shit), 3 brake levers, a whole heap of cogs, and er... 1 spoke. As well as 2 built up bikes. When I built up the geoffrey butler as my 'cheap' fixed, I had everything except the frame already.

edit: Oh yeah, and a whole other frame/stem/headset, a 27inch 5-speed rear wheel, 2 tubular 650 front wheels, and another crankset (a campag mirage road double).

Oh and a shimano 600 derailleur, half of a set of campag strada road cranks.... oh dear :)

let me know if you need to lighten the load, asm.. sounds like you might have a few interesteds. But I dig many fixed riders like that little basket of surplus parts, I know I will too, just as long as most of them aren't cos I've made costly buying mistakes..

alex you got a 17t?

it's a slippery slope... or a beautiful journey, depending on your approach. I, like the OP, tend to jump in feet first, and on reflection blow budgets etc. but what you end up with is something you should be really happy with (unless you have to sell it to pay the bills you've racked up!).

To answer the original question: what components depends on the frame and period. At the moment I'm building a 90's italian frame, so for me it's cinelli, campag etc. I've just noticed that ebay has a vintage cycle parts section (how long has that been around?).

If you're building a modern track bike, and you bought decent components, my guess is that it's about 50% more expensive (even if you look for bargains) to put something together that's as good as OTP. If you spend more than that (or luck out), then you'll get something better, and possibly much better as OTP's are often a real compromise. Plus, OTP bikes aren't bespoke. So if you're particularly heavy, or tall, or light, you can build something you'd never be able to get OTP...

Yes, I have a used EAI or a brand spanking new miche, both 1/8.

let me know if you need to lighten the load, asm.. sounds like you might have a few interesteds. But I dig many fixed riders like that little basket of surplus parts, I know I will too, just as long as most of them aren't cos I've made costly buying mistakes..

I definitely need to lighten the load. Some of that stuff has first refusal to my flatmate who is trying to get a bike built, but stuff like the alf webb frame hiding behind my bed REALLY needs to go. Like as soon as humanly possible.

I reckon a anti hip hop slave bike would be a old touring frame, drops mudguards, two brakes, carradice saddle bag, rear rack and a dyno hub, so a fixed audax bike basically. Thing is if you ride a bike that a really audax freak meets you the'll expect you to be able to do the end to end with out sleep.

I definitely need to lighten the load. Some of that stuff has first refusal to my flatmate who is trying to get a bike built, but stuff like the alf webb frame hiding behind my bed REALLY needs to go. Like as soon as humanly possible.

maybe let's have a chat next drinks we are at.. I'm for some components rather than a frame but really rather in need of some..

ok, I will be at the track day tomorrow, for a short spell. I will be out and about for the south drinks bonanza too, but I'm going to the ICA in the evening.