Find me a fixie frame (or complete bike)

biondino

Actually I'd be really grateful if those who know better than me would have a look at that bike (there's a dozen or so pics, starting with the one in the link) and letting me know if it looks like it might be a suitable candidate.

Still can't stop thinking about Wayne's machine, though...

Fixedweasel

Fixed/SS < £500
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread2287.html
Fixed/SS > £500
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9085.html

Fixedweasel

Ooops just noticed that the above has been posted multiple times

< wonders off and crawls back under stone>

biondino

Thanks anyway weasel - they're really useful links.

Littigator

wayne182 wrote:

i'm selling my single speed if you're interested


pics here - http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9911.html

Venom Sabre track frame - resprayed by Mercian in a pearlescent white [nice and shimmery] - 56cm comparative to road frame sizing

White Industries Cranks

Phils front and back, fixed fixed laced to mavic CXP30's

nitto pearl stem

nitto noodle bars

hand stitched bar wrap

campy aero stem

Brooks Swift saddle

Currently running as SS but hub is fixed/fixed
[/img]

Showing pictures of such a lascivious nature this early in the morning is just plain wrong!

By the way do you keep it hermetically sealed in a UV protected room usually, it is absolutely spotless :shock:

dafruk

I'm no bike builder, my skills being limited to maintenance, but I'd have thought it wouldn't take too much work to convert it to a fixie/single.

I'd guess new rear hub (flipflot to give you the choice?), fixed dropout thingy, clearly just a single front ring and fancy chain to tastes. Oh and a non girly seat.

I'd guess the real work is in getting the tension right to keep your chain from ever jumping off.

Oh and, depending on whether you go with some of the silly hype, remove the back brake!

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Lovely bike Wayne.

biondino

Would it be theoretically possible to have a fixie with a front derailleur?

Thanks dafruk!

Littigator

Nope, as there's no rear derailluiiuiuueueerr (I never know when to stop typing that word) to take up the slack in the chain when you downshift to the smaller ring.

Which reminds me, ITB that white one you showed hanging on your wall, that had a double front ring. How does that work when it's at home eh?

biondino

I thought ITB's wasn't a fixie?

lost_in_thought

How's the search going? Bought one yet? If you buy it today you could cycle to beers!

Littigator

Dun't matter if it's a fixie or just a singlie the chain tension has to remain the same so if you move to a different chain ring you have to alter the chain length each time to keep the tension right, otherwise it'd keep falling off on a smaller ring.

blorg

I have a Tortec Ultra Lite on my tourer which at 400g is the same weight as that Tubus (significantly cheaper though, think it cost me £20) and works absolutely fine. Rated to 25kg.

lost_in_thought- where did you get the P-clips to attach a rack to the Bowery? I have a Bowery myself and would be interested in how that goes for you, it is just about the perfect commuter bike but for the lack of a rack (and mudguards, although I am OK with race blades.)

il_principe

Wayne - that is a thing of beauty. £900 you say *strokes chin.

Dammit I went SS to get a bike that I was ok leaving parked around London, now I seem to spend more money on SS than I do on my roadbikes. Why can't I just be happy with an SS beater/pub bikes without wanting to tart the damn thing up... :x

dafruk

Yeah that's totally the problem, everyone loves having a swanky piece of kit that's all singing all dancing. Problem is you cant leave it anywhere because there are theiving gypos all around that will trash/pinch it as soon as it's out your sight.

I've now got my every day comuter bike (a very much non tart tourer) and I plan on getting the swanky bike shortly that will spend 5 days a week chained up with every imaginable lock to keep the theives away and only be allowed out to play at the weekend.

I know I'd rather ride the swanky bike every day if I knew it would be safe.

biondino

Guys, I went to see Wayne's bike tonight. It is beautiful - really beautiful, classy, impressive without being blingy or trendy. It's also immaculate and wonderfully put together - it rides amazingly, with only some very tiny noises from the rear sprocket when putting the power down.

It was a bit of an odd experience to ride - it felt really solid, forgiving, very easy to ride, and yet because it's SO different from my Trek and my Focus it did feel alien. For a start, it's smaller, and with a higher BB the leg reach is reduced even more (and I have fairly long legs) so I spent a lot of time out of the saddle. Which felt good. It's not a light bike but it's lighter than I was expecting, and it rode so smoothly it felt really quick and versatile. Shame the campag brakes couldn't stop much!

The aggressive riding position (not that aggressive but likely to be more so if I adjust it to fit my size and shape) was a bit unfamiliar and the campag hoods were a lot smaller and less ergonomic than my Dura-ace hoods. Guess you get used to it.

It's set up as a SS right now rather than a fixed which was easier for me to ride but I suspect it lost a bit of personality as a result. Wayne was consideration itself, really explained everything about the bike, was honest and straightforward and I appreciated it a lot.

So, I am thinking about it! Unquestionably it's a great bike; I need to figure out if it's adjustable enough for me to fit the smaller frame without making too many compromises or having to replace too many bits of gear (the lovely aero campag seatpost is definitely too short, for example). But it's beautiful, and beautifully built. Quite a bike.

biondino

dafruk

I think it's the combination of the skinny frame and that L shaped headset with the brown bar tape that just makes it look so classically beautiful.

The finish on that frame almost looks satin like in that picture, very nice indeed.

Looks like wide rims and heavy spokes, should be very sturdy, how much does it weigh?

biondino

Not sure how much it weighs but less than I was expecting - maybe in the 21, 22lb area? Feels very sturdy, runs beautifully, and the sound of the Phil hubs is like nothing I've ever heard on a bike - a purr rather than a rattle!

The pearlescent finish IS beautiful, yeah, it's a big part of the appeal!

lost_in_thought

I meant to say to you Biodino, go on Gumtree and have a look. There's a bunch of people selling pretty (but not as pretty as that) fixies for reasonable prices.

£900 is a lot for a bike with flaws... that you'd have to work on to get right...

Littigator

Hi Guys

BD (great to meet you on Friday)...I'd have to agree with LiT, it truly is a wonderful looking bike and Wayne eye for detail is hard to beat, but if the fit ain;t quite riht you'll never get the ride the bike deserves.

But I totally understand why you are so torn, it's just...beautiful (sigh)

wayne182

BD, glad ya liked it, don't know what the total weight is,

weight weenie would be a totally different project… must resist…

wayne182

got the opportunity to pick up a carbon track frame so has to go, will put this in the readers ads if anyone is interested

il_principe

biondino wrote:

Riding it is a quantum leap from riding my perfectly acceptable alloy Trek 1200 - I should add I upgraded the wheels to a Fulcrum racing 3, which are a dream.

biondino

No, that cat is definitely in the box. Its waveform has collapsed. The joke would have been much better if the box had had a lid on it.

symo

I have seen the Pearson Touche. Definite December purchase then perhaps a roadie frame come summer.

secretsam

lost_in_thought wrote:

NYAHA!

Your powers are weak, old ( :?: ) man!

You have succumbed to the inevitable! Resistance is futile! Coasting is for sissies!

Bwahahahahahhaaaaaa! :twisted:

Then your country/weekend pursuits bike is also your sissy bike?

il_principe

symo wrote:

I have seen the Pearson Touche. Definite December purchase then perhaps a roadie frame come summer.

I can attest to the brilliance of the Touche. I'm completely in love with mine!

lost_in_thought

SecretSam wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

NYAHA!

Your powers are weak, old ( :?: ) man!

You have succumbed to the inevitable! Resistance is futile! Coasting is for sissies!

Bwahahahahahhaaaaaa! :twisted:

Then your country/weekend pursuits bike is also your sissy bike?

Yep. Gold star to you.

symo

jashburnham wrote:

symo wrote:

I have seen the Pearson Touche. Definite December purchase then perhaps a roadie frame come summer.

I can attest to the brilliance of the Touche. I'm completely in love with mine!

Are they the Cane Creek levers? Are they good for honking up the hills resting on top of them?