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Hi Andy - Ben here - you built the back wheel for my sixties Gillott conversion a few weeks back - rides sweet, thanks!

I took these pix two weeks ago today, and Punch isn't exactly overrun with customers, so if someone here wanted one of these frames it would probably still be there... maybe your man in Tokyo could get it and ship it over, with a little mark-up? I'm sure those prices would come down too...

Spotted - in Clerkenwell yesterday - a bike with gears. I thought they'd been banned there. Nearly fell off my fixie.

dogsballs can i ask why you didn't ask us if we wanted bikes b4 you went over?!? thats just teasing.

Because I had to go to Mexico next, via Canada, and didn't much like the idea of lugging your Keirin frame, bars, stem, crank and natty little jockey suit all the way around the world with me! Only things I bought were some white leather MKS toestraps for my Gillott, and some cool T-shirts from Carnival 'cos I was running out of clothes.

Seriously, I'll be back in Japan before long, with a generous baggage allowance and coming home the quick way, and wouldn't mind taking a few orders...

Not exactly 'right now', but still...

Actually, I think I've just found the colours of my new bike.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE"]YouTube
- Stevie Wonder - Superstition live on Sesame Street[/ame]

Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street. As cool as it gets.

Fucken jet lag.

Some whole bikes too, like this sweet Watanabe

Doesn't someone here speak Japanese?

This converted track bike was a grand...

But worth it for the back brake alone (though why d'you need it?)

Plus fixies like this are all the go in Mexico City, where I went after Tokyo. Maybe a bit cheaper too.

That's it. No more, I promise.

Okay. No price on this Samson, all Dura-Ace kit and 853 tubing...

Sweet BB too...

Or how about a gold-plated 3rensho? (Or is it just sprayed? Not for sale...)

Nice rack!

Here are a few more of the 45-55k yen frames....

Didn't know whether to put these in the Japan thread, or the bike porn thread, and didn't want to kill either, so here's a new one. Was in Tokyo last month and went to Punch and Carnival, thanks to Build's awesome directions WITH MAPS, which allowed me to find them despite Tokyo's insane address system.

This is the first thing I saw when I arrived at Punch (a tiny, dingy little place over two storeys and down a dark alley...)

Not exactly short of NJS bars either...

This Keirin kit reminded me of that Harry Enfield camp jockeys sketch...

Most of the frames were 45,000 to 55,000 yen (about £190 to £230 - no £45 frames!) These were a bit more...

This is Carnival in Shibuya - Punch feels very old-school Keirin, but this place is more street...

Got a few more if want them, don't want to bore you!

I'm in Tokyo now, and I might be at your party, Yorgo. Bumped into Euan on the plane from Heathrow - he'll tell you who I am!

Yeah, def planning to get a nice white saddle on there - that one's from Charge. Looks nice, but agree it's not quite right on this bike.

And I did buy a Wrongster to chip about on while I was sorting this one out, but not the Wrongster London, just a standard '08. I know you'll all crucify me for this, but I really like how it rides. Makes me go all feral and sweaty.

In fact, I like it so much I might ride it to Heathrow for an early flight tomorrow, as my shitty hybrid car is telling me it has developed a malfunction, which I suspect it will take more than a boxwrench to sort out.

Just thought the thousands of you who offered advice a couple of weeks back might like to see how it turned out. Built it up today, and am loving it. It's a 1965, Ron Cooper-built Gillott in 531, simple lugwork, original paint and decals, lots of original Campag gear (but a bit less now) and plenty of scratches, but I like a bit of patina. Massive thanks to Andy from Fixed Gear London for the help, for building the rear wheel same day and for selling me the right bits at Cavendish...

And to think I was considering buying a Langster London before I found this forum. Seriously, thanks.

This is how it started...

Here it is nekkid...

And here it is fixed...

That IS good, thanks. But I'm thinking I'll give the 'one-dollar used porn places' a miss.

Good thread, very useful. I'm going there a week today, and staying for the weekend after I'm done working. Any other places worth visiting but not covered yet?

Can't bring too much back as I'm going straight to Mexico City after. Is there a big fixie scene there? Forty degree heat, chronic pollution - sounds perfect!

I was stopped by police on the Mall on Thursday for jug-eared king-wannabe Prince Charles to be whisked out of Clarence House in two Jaguars. Two minutes later I was nearly taken off my bike by the equally jug-eared former Home Secretary Charles Clarke as he ran into the road on Parliament Sq, presumably rushing to make the division bell in the House of Commons (or shag someone else's wife...) I don't believe either rides fixed, so do they count for this thread?

I also bumped into someone from this forum at Ripley on Sunday - I was carrying my Gillott frame, and he said he'd given me some advice on it - nice to meet you, but who are you?

There is now a green '08 Langster in the garage. It won't be green for long.

scott not scot agreed.....if you like it,buy it....it's your world fatbloke....we're just visitors!!!

No, this is definitely YOUR world dude, but I like it, and I'm learning. Went to Brick Lane Bikes and Cavendish today, and drooled on their bits.

Amazing how much you learn from this forum. When I joined - all of a week ago - I thought it would be a really good idea to buy a Langster London from FW Evans. I have seen the error of my ways. They fucked up ordering the bike in, so I have my money back, and have a different plan instead. Seeing as you were all so incredibly helpful about what to do with my 1965 Gillott (thanks all), I thought I'd get your advice again.

Basically, after reading stuff on here and looking at some of the websites I want to do a really nice steel frame custom-built fixie - know what kit I want, what paint, etc. However, I am hugely impatient and can't wait the month or so it will take to build to start riding fixed. So I'm going to get an off-the-shelf fixie too, which I'll ride for a while, then trick out with a nice paint job, set of Velocities, etc.

Question is, which ready-made bike do I pick? I know standard Langsters get a bad press on here, but I rode an '08 today and liked it - so much lighter than the steel LeMond Fillmore and Fuji Track, much better finishing kit than the Giant Bowery, and at £360 for an '07 from Brixton Cycles it's way cheaper than the LeMond or the Pompino or the Genesis Flyer. Thought the ride was okay, and once I've built the other bike it'll be nice to have one alu and one classic steel-framed fixie...

I'm really still learning about all this - anyone reckon I'm making a colossal mistake picking a Langster?

eeehhhh oh wow! really?

It would be kept outside overnight (in grounds of Charing cross hospital) - that ok with you?

Sorry about my slow reply, I've been so busy with freshers' week at uni. Totally knackered too.

Yeah, that's fine. If it's nicked, it's nicked - no worries. Just want to see it get used. It's pretty big too - might be a 23-inch frame, can't remember. I can measure it tomorrow to save you a wasted trip on the shitty District Line!

I haven't ridden it in ages but I think it's good to go - if it needs some work I've got most of a workshop in the garage. It IS heavy though, if you're used to decent bikes - the frame is just boggo mild steel. But if you can't get on with it, you can always bring it back.

I'm working from home tomorrow if you want to come get it, otherwise early-ish Sat am.

I have a geared bike you could just have, or convert to fixed if you can get a cheap rear wheel - not hard on here! It's nothing special, and deffo not light - Prophete mild steel road frame, steel wheels (27s, I think),10sp (I think) cut down MTB bars with thumbshifters, BMX brake levers and really nice leather-on-neoprene grips. I built it years ago and am oddly attached to it, but if you promised to give it back rather than chuck it away when you're done with it, you could just take it away. I'm in Putney, SW London.

Do an Ebay search for 'reynolds 531' - there are a few larger-sized frames on there right now, unlikely to cost much. I remember riding 501 and 531 frames back in the day and could really tell the difference

I've bought the Wrongster, but haven't taken delivery yet...

Awesome set of suggestions. You lot seem to know what you're talking about - rare on t'internet. Will email Mark and visit Barry - maybe get him to build me the wheels...will look into the Colourtech people for the paint - great bunch of links too - thanks to all. Like the idea of getting a fixed hub to match the exiting front...

Haven't checked the serial number/year as I'm spending the weekend with the girlfriend's Mum - it's only the thought of getting stuck into this next week that's keeping me going...

Wondering if it's significant that it's badged Gillott rather than AS Gillott?

Fatbloke

I picked up this Gillott years ago - it was in pretty terrible condition and has been languishing in the garage ever since, waiting for me to restore it. But since discovering fixed-gear riding (yesterday - seriously!) I now know what I need to do with it!

I don't know much about Gillott, other than they were made near me somewhere in south London. This one has some of its original Campag stuff left (seatpost, headset, fr mech and chainset), Mavic rims with Racelite hubs, Simplex rear mech and Mafac centre pull brakes. Some kit has obviously been replaced - Shim 600 downtube levers, 105 brake levers, etc. Frame is 531 with horizontal dropouts and adjusters, no braze-ons for guards or racks.

I'd love to know a bit more about the make, or this particular bike. Also, reassure me that I'm not destroying some valuable museum piece before I turn it into a fixie! And any recommendations for getting the paintwork touched up by an expert, rather than going for a full respray?

Click on the pix to upsize them. Thanks in advance for any help...

Check username. Unlikely to be faster.

Best shop for fixed bits please?

Thanks for the encouraging words, but I think I might wait until I've done the Gillott before I attend any rides. Particularly as the only other person I know (and could bring along) with a fixie has a beautiful 14lb titanium creation he built himself. You'll all love his bike and laugh at my mass-produced crap, and he'll be unbearable on the way home...

I'll keep the Langster, but want to do the Gillott conversion too because it's just languishing in the garage and not getting used. Been looking for a thread on here for the best shops/online sources for fixed conversions but can't find one - am I being stupid? Wanna give me some pointers?