Upgrades/ New Shit in Norwich

Precisely. Although it's a track frame, it's never going to see the boards, will just be my do everything bike. Plus the fork crown is squared off, and has a pilot hole in the back, they just didn't get fully drilled when they were made.

If you are insisting on a brake might be worth considering a fork that gives you a bit more clearance at the down tube. Or run some mega tiny tyre at the front.

We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping I wouldn't get that much flex in the fork anyway as it's not super light tubing. I use my legs to slow down the majority of the time, and only ever jam on my front brake in dire need, so if I'm slamming them on I've probably got more to worry about than my tyre rubbing the frame, and the emeergency stop might be quite handy, even if it is over the top of the bars!

That said, I'm slightly concerned my caliper may not fit anyway, but that's a bridge to cross when I come to it. Might have to hold on to the Mizunos...

A caliper should fit, similar clearance to my old track frame. Got a silver Veloce one if you want to stay on theme

Yeah, I just held the matching rear caliper in position, and it looks like it should be fine. Will go with my black Cane Creek for now, but if it looks really out of place I'll take you up on that.

Taking form...

So good!

Carrera gone, here be the new'n. Love a good bargain!

Nice! Is that silver bar tape, or just untaped at the mo? Also, assuming the seatpost is 27.2, let me know if you want my Easton EA50 for a cheap upgrade from that System X one, as it'll be redundant once Tom takes my Dolan.

Loving the VW

Nice! Is that silver bar tape, or just untaped at the mo? Also, assuming the seatpost is 27.2, let me know if you want my Easton EA50 for a cheap upgrade from that System X one, as it'll be redundant once Tom takes my Dolan.

Just untaped for now, quite like them bare but I guess they'll have to be done eventually. Hmmm that's a tempting offer, what would you be after for it?

Loving the VW

Thanks man, that's where the rest of my money goes :(

Hmmm that's a tempting offer, what would you be after for it?

You can get them new for just over 20, so it'd be 10 or under as mine has a few insertion marks/visible scratches. Not pushing you or anything, just letting you know it's there if you want it.

You can get them new for just over 20, so it'd be 10 or under as mine has a few insertion marks/visible scratches. Not pushing you or anything, just letting you know it's there if you want it.

Not to worry, I'll keep it in mind mate. Got the bike setup today just in time for the sun. Took some matt black to the frame to ditch a few of the dolan logo's, now running some carbon specialized forks as I forgot the alpinas aren't drilled and had to revert back to my old wheels so no more 'fast' tubs for me..

Still looks cool though Laurence. I see you've made the switch to spds?

^ why are there no pictures yet?!?!

Filing has taken longer than expected, so didn't get a chance to tape the bars. Plus need to get the levers in the right position first, so will have to go on an untaped ride to make sure beforehand. Tomorrow evening though, latest.

Few hitches along the way, but got there in the end. Will get some better pictures soon, but got out before it was too dark this eve to please the masses/Rikki :)

Looks awesome! Slack chain?

Ish. Runs really quiet though, so not that bothered.

Awesome, can't wait to see it in the flesh!

I don't see the need for a chain so tight it's noisey ?
Bit of slack runs smooth and is nice a quiet.
Riding a bike that sounds like a chainsaw would piss me off

^ i second that!

Looks bloody gorgeous mate.

Yeah exactly. The combination of slight slack and the fact that it's a 3/32 chainring means it's the smoothest set up I've had over the three fixed bikes, which is nice considering the time, money and effort that's gone into it! Just need to get used to riding with hoods again now - feels so counter intuitive at the moment.

is it even possible to be a fixeh skiddah with hoods? Sounds quite difficult.

I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that I'm no skiddah. I own too much lycra, and one too many brakes. It's essentially just a road bike now, albeit fixed for the foreseeable future.

Just looking at the clearances in that frame I think brakeless would be the way to go.
Not a lot of flex from the forks and it's going to go quite wrong if the tyre hits the down tube.

Good news as far as this is concerned. Had to grab a fistful/lock up my legs behind a sudden braking Transit on the ride home from work today - as much of an emergency stop as I'd hope I'd ever deal with - and everything was fine, no tyre/frame interference even though there was certainly some 'give'. Seems like my bodging has paid off!