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I was chemically castrated a couple of years ago – it was for the best (so my probation officer said) so it might prove difficult ;-)

But it wouldn't stay looking bling for long with the crap that's on the roads here - Black is lower maintenance (i'm hoping)

don't use the open pro cd's if you want to have black spokes. everytime i see it, there is just something off. gery rim, silver eyelets, black spokes... just doesn't fit usually.

That was my plan B! thought it might look OK.

I'm committed to black or something dark now as I bought a pair of black Phils at the weekend.

Great advice - cheers everyone. Definitely gonna do this myself now.

I'm an imposter on this site (I'm from Manc) otherwise I'd gladly take up the Open Toolbox - actualy a trip to the Big Smoke for a weekend could be in order - see the lights and all that.

I'll be fitting a threadless headset so will I guess I'll need to chop the steerer off at the correct height - that bit would give me the fear.

Yeah, it was the transmission dbase that got me thinkin' I could do it myself.

So the plan was to buy a Bob Jackson frame and have it built up by my local bike shop with parts purchased from them. As the weeks have gone on I’ve started to accumulate parts from elsewhere (it gets addictive this malarkey) and if I carry on the way I’m going there’s not going to be much left to get from the shop and the guy who said he’d build it will quite rightly tell me to piss of when I turn up with a box of bits.

After reading countless posts I’m starting to think that I should be building this myself. If you’ve read any of my previous questions (and I thank you for your replies) I’m new to all this and usually just ride the things and when they go wrong take them to the shop for fixing: I’m not stupid or lazy, it’s just that I like to know that it’s being looked after, most probably far better than I can ever do myself.

My question this time is….. once I’ve got all my bits together would I be stupid to attempt to build this myself seeing that the most I have done with my commuter is re-grease the rear bearings when they started to sound gritty? I know I’ll have to buy some tools, read some guides and take my time but my concern is more that I’ll screw up some of the good bits that’s going on to this bike and either make a proper bollock of it or kill myself at the first junction when it all collapses.

I'm posting this reply I received from Velocity in case it's useful to anyone else who's in the same mess as I am, i.e. not knowing my arse from my elbow when it comes to all things fixed......

Two anodized rims it is then.

*Wayne,

Thanks for your interest in Velocity USA. First, if you are running a brake you want a rim with a machined side wall (MSW); they just work better. If you choose to use a break on a non-machined rim (NONmws) an anodized rim works better than a powder coated rim. Our anodized colors are black, bright silver, matte silver, ti grey, bright gold and green ano. If you have a NONmsw rim and you choose to run a break anyway you can cut down on the squeaking and rubbing by using a cork break pad or pads that are made for carbon rims. To clean the rims, we use rubbing alcohol, there are two strengths use the strongest one, it works pretty well and it won’t dull the finish. If you need something stronger try orange clean or goof off or something like that. The powder coat shouldn’t rub off; it’s cooked on so it’s pretty tough. Don’t use abrasive materials to clean the rim, you could scratch it.

I hope that answers all your questions, if not let me know.

Have a good one.

Cheers,

MD
Sales/Marketing
Velocity USA
800.453.6126*

I've not even done fixed yet - brakeless very well might kill me!

I can't justify carbon for getting to work and back (my mrs is more clued up than she used to be!) - if I'm not careful this bike's gonna be worth more than my best bike - actually, it probably is seeing as my best bike is 4 years old.

Gonna bite the bullet; buy the deep v and the open pro and live with it - if it's too 'wrong' i'll swap one of them.

Why don't you just get a machined deep-V on the front?

Because the machined bit is silver and I wanted all black. I emailed Velocity and they said that the non-machined anodized rims are OK for stopping (not as good as machined) and the coating takes a while to wear off. That might be an option but I think the Open Pro, though it's grey - from a distance and with a squint should look OK - hopefully.

Right, after a marathon web session (mouse-click induced RSI to follow no doubt) I've decided on Black non-machined Deep V for the rear, Open Pro CD for the front - hopefully gives me a nice black look. Got my black Phil Wood's today Gotta find myself some lightweight black spokes and I'm all set to go, well, still got months to wait for the frame but accruing a sweet pile of bits.

Cheers for the advice all.

Those Halo's look nice but they're machined. Looking at the different weights of rims - the Fusion is 45g less than the Deep V. Would this be noticeable when accelerating?

Also, is anyone running Deep Vs or Fusions that are anodized and without machined braking surfaces? Can you still stop OK?

My rim colour will decide what hub and spoke colours I go for i.e. if I can get away with black anodized rims I'm going for black hubs and spokes. If not it looks like CXP33s with silver hubs and spokes.

I'm trying to spec a nice set of wheels up (isn't everyone) but don't really want the weight of Deep V's but do want the profile. I'm hoping that these rims aren't Deep Vs - anyone any ideas? I like the all black look and even though I'll be running a front brake I'm hoping I can get away with a non-machined rim (or is this wishful thinking?)

CX-Ray Aero Spokes........ Mmmm, been looking for something similar to my SSCs for my new fixed and these look sweet. Do you think they'd look OK in Open Pros in 28 front and 32 back?

Sure sure. Just wait until you realise the choice of hubs and rims and spokes available... and the permutations of all of them!

Oh, I'm already there - some nights I can't get to sleep 'cos I'm thinkin' about what should go with what. Fun tho'...!

OK, thanks - you're all probably right. This is what happens when instead of getting a cheap runabout to see what's what you go completely overboard and order a custom frame then realise you've got 4 months to kill - thinking every little detail over and over and over.......

No more daft questions 'til after it's built.

Defo 19t - I put tipex on the first tooth to make sure

Hi, would anyone know why this might be….

I’m spec’ing the parts for a new fixed and am trying to work out a good gear, something similar to my geared road bike. Unfortunately the figures I get from my Sigma computer (which has the correct wheel circumference entered) are very different from http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html or Sheldon Brown’s site.

53 x 19, 700 x 23, 175mm cranks = 73.3 gear inches. @ 90rpm = 19.6mph

My Sigma tells me I’m doing 89rpm and 22 mph.

Also, my geared bike is quite light with fairly good wheels (Mavic Kysrium SSCs), if I do choose a similar gear ratio for the fixed will heavier wheels (probably Open Pros) have much of an impact on the gear I’ll be pushing? Are fixed’s, because of the fact you’ve got momentum from the wheels carrying your legs around, slightly easier to push a larger gear or is this wishful thinking? I’ve been doing my daily commute in all weathers at 73.3 and except for a full on 20 mph headwind I’m usually OK.

Getting a close match to my current 73.3 gear inches would be a 46x17 = 71.1.

Many thanks if anyone has any thoughts.

Superprecise a ha, did you add Dogs' Dave Yates or did i miss it?

Yeah, forgot to add at this one - knew I'd seen it somewhere, trawled my history to find it. If I did something like this (I don't mean copy it) say in blue to black I wouldn't know whether to go for wheels that were a match for the blue or the black, or a complete contrast.

40 in May.

I know there's not a lot in common with the ones I posted but I like them all. As I don't have a good eye for colour schemes I don't want to end up buying loads of bits that look wrong when it all goes together. I've got a 4 month wait for the frame but was gonna get the wheels and other bits first so it's ready to go when the frame's dry. It just seems a crime to use just one colour when the chance is there for 2 or more. It's there that I get stuck: the colours that will work together on a frame. I've seen some shockers while doing my lengthy browsing - don't want to end up similar.

I can sort of picture a bronze or silver (or even bare lacquered metal) fading into black. Then I get stuck on the rims.

no, but my commuter racing days are drawing to close. I think if I go fixed I won't have to go out everyday trying to ensure I don't get overtaken.

God it’s harder than I thought……… this choosing malarkey!

I’ve been commuting to work for 12 years and riding for a lot longer than that, always on multi-geared road bikes (except when I was younger than 9). My current commuter is on its last legs and I fancy a change, keep it fun…. Know what I mean??
Anyways, I want to try fixed and after speaking with Craig at Harry Halls in Manchester who obviously knows his stuff, I’ve a pretty good idea of what I want but since visiting Bob Jacksons’ at the weekend I’m stuck on a couple of things that I can’t quite visualize. When I've bought my 'good' road bikes in the past it's always been a case of see what's in the shop at the time, not too hard to choose.
I want this bike to last me a long time, I see this as my ‘last throw of the dice’ to try something different while I’ve still got the legs – I mention this as you might find my choices strange. My reasoning being: get two bikes in one by switching bars and fork back to standard once I’m past it.
The thing I’m really stuck on is the colour. All was OK until I discovered I could have any colour and any number of colours, originally I was just going to go black so the fork would blend in but now I’ve got the choice it feels wrong to not come up with at least a gradual fade. I’ve looked at virtually every picture on FGG and have found a couple I like (hopefully inserted below) but I’m hoping someone might have some good ideas for me with the components below in mind. Thanks if you can help……

Ideas so far……

Bob Jackson Custom Pista – lugged in 631 with 725 stays (getting measured Thursday)
Velocity Deep V Rims in possibly Metallic Blue, Orange or Green
Phil Wood low flange hubs
Chris King headset – to match wheels or frame – don’t know which
Sugino S75 chainset

For now – while I can still pedal
Carbon fork – possibly Easton - possibly not bother??
Easton Delta Force Bars (already purchased – impulse buy)

For when I’m past it
Original Bob Jackson Fork
Track Bars

If I get a custom paint job should I get the forks graduated or stick to one colour or chrome? I’m not really a red type of guy btw but the one I've included looks mint.

Stuff I like the look of seen so far…

http://i13.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/dc/a9/b625_3.JPG
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/permanoid/Sany2.jpg
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008/feb/3/ZackeryStover-1.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee126/gabekeirin/vogue/ts140.jpg
http://fixedgeargallery.com/2005/jan/chow10.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/d0gsballs/CIMG0026.jpg

And I have seen some black frames ( I like black) that fade to other colours but I can't find them now!