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The plan

The details

The set-up

Carbon fork with rack mounts is generally not a good idea as the mounts aren’t designed to take weight but we’ve been working on one with reinforcement and decent load carrying capabilities

Ah awesome! Do you have a side profile pic? What chainline, chainring and chainstay length does it have out of interest? Did they use a yoke?

Yes @cgg please do!

That looks cool! What is it? Custom build? Retrofit 650b?

Word from the painter is that it'll be ready early next week. I've asked him to document the painting process but not to show me anything until I see the finished article.

Fat tyre fixed gear, commuter, winter, pub bike, all around monster trucker for Neukölln cobbles and Brandenburg sand pits.

Since converting my Custom Orlowski Workhorse to larger 650b tyres I've enjoyed having a do-all bike that's a bit more comfortable and a bit more versatile however it's not perfect...no space for mudguards up front (didn't want to downsize the tyres to create space as the BB is already quite low for fixed), no dynamo > tail light cable routing.

When venturing off the roads and into the forests around Berlin you soon hit sand and the Orlowski with 38s sinks in pretty quickly. Big balloon tyres are the only way to get through and so a must for the new bike.

The new FTF will be an updated version of the Orlowski with all the little extras and tweaks that bike was missing.

The plan is:

• Fixed gear
  
• Carbon fork with rack, guard, light mounts and dynamo cable routing
  
• 700c (x 55 for summertime sand-pit smashing) x44 (the majority of the time)
  
• Mudguards
  
• Front and rear dyno lights
  
  
  

With the turn of the seasons motivation to be riding outdoors has diminished and motivation to work on projects has increased. Plus I gave my track bike away in summer so really needed to get this finished. I pulled it off the shelf and dusted it off and realized really how little work was remaining so found of few hours over the week to get it done.

First up brazing on then cleaning up the seat clamp and stainless dropout faces.

These before pics also show the sculpting work I did on the dropouts and stay junction.

And after cleanup and reaming the seattube, slotting

And the last small wee job was brazing in the integrated headset cups

Finished!

Aber light it is not

Build mock up:

And from here it goes to the painters...he's been given a long leash but the rough brief is loud, bright and no tone-on-tone graphics...excited to see what he delivers!

Just got a finished build pic sent through

And the verdict from Mr. Hewitt “S’not bad that” which I’ll take as high praise from a Lancashireman

Since building this up it’s been well used as my track and crit bike.

I was riding the track in Berlin on it all winter but got the itch for a new project so started building a new track frame.

My girlfriends brother approached me a little while ago with a “fixie issue” “all my friends have fixies, can you help me out?” And I’m like “I got you”

I need my track components for the new build so ordered a bunch of new parts for this and built up a sweet fixie. Happy birthday Patrick!

Took it for a test ride and oh my! Suddenly reluctant to pass it on but he’ll appreciate it

Long gone my man

Just had word and photographic evidence that it’s touched down in England

Paint is a mad sparkly purple at the rear and blue/purple flip and the front.

As a lovely bit of symmetry she’s taking the frame to Paul Hewitt today to talk parts, get him to order bits in and build it up.

A friend snapped some pics of the paint process

I sent her a picture of the unpainted frame on her birthday and told her the story but have left the paint job as a surprise for when she pulls it out of the box.

She happy!

In transit

He is indeed

I just told the painter that he should use the original as a frame of reference and that the purple should be a good one...beyond that he can do whatever he wants. I have no doubt it’ll be top work

Yeah the guys both really put a lot of thought into the proportions and stance of their bikes

Well spotted!

I’m on my hols and the bike is with the painter. I’ve asked for no spoilers but asked a mate to take a photo of the frame before if went in

It’s track bike shaped but not yet finished. I’ve just been doing bits here and there when I’m in the workshop early doors.

Will do!

@Thrasher There will be no campag as yet, most likely 6800 and in house finishing kit

And the metalwork is done

DT cable stop brazing, technique from the wise Dario Pegoretti

Wasn’t originally planning on brazing on a seatclamp but it’s a nice little touch and one less thing to source for assembly

Nothing like taking an angle grinder to a finished frame to get the nerves jangling!

Final finishing touch

Power file, dremel, carbide burs