Next bike?

if i were in your position i would definitely build something up myself. it sounds like you know what's going on and you have some ideas about what you're after.

Don't be intimidated by tooling a bike together, there is simply nothing complicated about it, especially a fixiedoodah. If you were race-tuning a pro downhill bike it'd be a different matter, but a fixed wheel is old, basic technology. There are a couple of compatibility issues and a few specific tools required, but understanding of these would be helpful anyway in the long run. It's a piece of piss, really, and not at all time-consuming either.

As far as 'performance' fixed wheels go, I'd speak to Dancing James on here. He built up a really nice Serotta with great quality, lightweight parts. Although a titanium frame might be out of your budget range (and mine), it'd otherwise be exactly the kind of bike I'd look to built for regular fixed commuting. It's also jaw-droppingly lust.

It's a piece of piss, really, and not at all time-consuming either.

Agreed sticking together a SS/Fixed is a piece of piss, If I can stick one together anyone can.

hmm, you know you're not supposed to use glue... right?!

urm....yeah..I knew that...GAFFA TAPE FTW!

Hmmmn, I've an image of my bike comically exploding into pieces on the first pedal stroke if I put it together myself, but I guess I'll give sheldon a read anyhow.

If you need any tips/tools/help putting one together, I'd be happy to lend a hand. Have put a couple of fixies together in my time (including my Mercian that I currently commute on) and a couple road bikes, so know what I'm doing :)

Cheers tiny, appreciate that, and you're mercian is a bit of an inspiration too.
My biggest paranoia about fixed gear in general is pedal strike, so I'd prob need some pointers from the start choosing the right frame in terms of bb height etc.

btw I'll hit up some graphics for dublinfix in the next week or so, just going to press with 2mags at the moment, so last few weeks have been crazy.

I will be getting some photos you could use soon, as soon as Kroppa remembers to get them.

I really ought to get off my ass and come down with a camera myself. I'm intimidated by my lack of tricks though!

how is this relevant or interesting to the thread?

I posted it in current project thread after realising this wasnt the best place to get advice.
(I'm a newbie and didnt realise this was the dublin thread - sorry)

Dont be intimidated, we are all at different levels, we wont judge, even if you cant do any at all we will have a good chat:D

I posted it in current project thread after realising this wasnt the best place to get advice.
(I'm a newbie and didnt realise this was the dublin thread - sorry)

No worries, figured it was a mistake.

Dont be intimidated, we are all at different levels, we wont judge, even if you cant do any at all we will have a good chat:D

I'll try look in next week or something then.

whats the crime like in dublin?
(its a blatant derail, but it was mentioned above, by someone I'm assuming is in the island of Eire)
Man I hope its good news on the 3rd!

then Dublin, here I come, yeah! (plus I'll totally have to get a lock up/ garage type thing so maybe we could turn it into some sort of co op for fixie kids)

Haha nice, we can start slow fridays;)

Crime, not too bad once the bike isnt stupidly locked up, plus just ride brakeless and park it on the top of a big hill.

But seriously scangers arent interested in fixed gears(yet!), I would give one a go and my bike and tell me "BUD, yer biike is brooken" its gas.

scangers

Is that an Irish chav?

Exactly, well a Dublin version anyway...

Couldnt have said it better, thanks Erik.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDOoEIfADfs&feature=related"]YouTube
- Broadcast Yourself.[/ame]

You'll have to sign into YouTube to see this one but it is worth it.

Hetchins bikes are freaken GORGEOUS! Check them out!

haha my boss has a hetchins he promised to bring it in on wednesday. look out on the porn thread for it

Make apportment with framebuilder, book plane ticket (if you're going to the like of Merican), get fitted, choose lug, paintjob, track geo, road or mixture, etc.

then hopefully you'll have your dream bike for life (Vanilla may be nice, but it's a lots of money for a bike.

Althought I has no idea whether a very expensive Vanilla bike ride better than a custom build bike from a decent framebuilder.

whats the crime like in dublin?
(its a blatant derail, but it was mentioned above, by someone I'm assuming is in the island of Eire)

Ah, it's not too bad. As long as you follow the usual basic rules (lock your bike properly and do it somewhere reasonably public), you should be fine. As an earlier poster said, fixies don't really figure all that much on the Dublin thief's radar - which is not to say it doesn't happen - I'd be very careful with your geekhouse, but generally speaking you'd be more likely to have an mtb or road bike nicked.

That said, (based on my amazing field research) we've finally reached the point where messengers on fixed gears are outnumbered by commuters with one trouser leg rolled up, so maybe the wind is about to change...

Welcome to Dublin, eyebrows.

Ta Ed, maybe I'll delve a bit deeper into the bob jacksons too, you find them good to deal with?

Funny photo

Aside from the frame, have you given any though to the rest of it? Cos depending on the frame you get, it could deserve nice components. For example, if you go down the mercian route, a black sugino messenger crankset may not be so nice, but something like this would be perfect

I'd also recommend getting wheels custom built -I got miche hubs/ open pro rims built from parker international, and they came in very reasonably priced, and are a great wheelset.

Quill stems are a must on lugged steel frames imo.

God damnit, now I want to do another build!