gtvlusso's Fixie Build
gtvlusso
Posts: 5,112
Thread for my winter project fixie build:
Well this week has been exciting and expensive! I am turning this Barron (of Stow in Lincolnshire) TT frame:
Into a fixie for my daily commute and errand runs.
As you can see the frame is in very good condition for it's age, 1980 approx. It is beautifully lugged and built from reynolds 531SL as opposed to 531 pro tube (I don't think pro was available when this was built!). It has been resprayed blue - I may change the colour at a later date www.argoscycles.co.uk
First job has been to clean all the threads exposed with solvent and strip and clean the threaded Miche headset. The headset came apart easy enough with a monkey wrench (when in doubt, use the biggest, angriest tool you can find). I have cleaned the threads, races and bearings in solvent. It is in good condition and does not need replacing (thankfully!). It has been silicone greased up and rebuilt.
I am now awaiting delivery of:
Charge plug handlebar and stem
Taurus Wheels (flip flop hub)
FSA vero chainset + BB (Square taper)
Quill stem adapter from VO
I am also ordering
ITM TT levers
Campag Centaur Caliper brakes
All parts are cheap or secondhand (as I don't have anything to build this with in the shed!)
More pics soon when I start on the interesting bits!
Well this week has been exciting and expensive! I am turning this Barron (of Stow in Lincolnshire) TT frame:
Into a fixie for my daily commute and errand runs.
As you can see the frame is in very good condition for it's age, 1980 approx. It is beautifully lugged and built from reynolds 531SL as opposed to 531 pro tube (I don't think pro was available when this was built!). It has been resprayed blue - I may change the colour at a later date www.argoscycles.co.uk
First job has been to clean all the threads exposed with solvent and strip and clean the threaded Miche headset. The headset came apart easy enough with a monkey wrench (when in doubt, use the biggest, angriest tool you can find). I have cleaned the threads, races and bearings in solvent. It is in good condition and does not need replacing (thankfully!). It has been silicone greased up and rebuilt.
I am now awaiting delivery of:
Charge plug handlebar and stem
Taurus Wheels (flip flop hub)
FSA vero chainset + BB (Square taper)
Quill stem adapter from VO
I am also ordering
ITM TT levers
Campag Centaur Caliper brakes
All parts are cheap or secondhand (as I don't have anything to build this with in the shed!)
More pics soon when I start on the interesting bits!
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Comments
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Polish....you need lots and lots of polish on all chrome parts on that frame.
Also consider t-cut and wax before you consider a respray...the results are amazing!Roadie FCN: 3
Fixed FCN: 60 -
quote/ Polish....you need lots and lots of polish \quote
Don't you think we have enough of these damn polish
*joke*winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg0 -
Nice.
Is this a proper fixie as opposed to a single speed? 0 -
The bike will have a flip flop hub.....It may go completely fixie when I can get up Park St in one gear!0
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gtvlusso wrote:The bike will have a flip flop hub.....It may go completely fixie when I can get up Park St in one gear!
I can do that quite easily, just put one foot in front of the other and push the bike with your right or left hand
I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0 -
redvee wrote:gtvlusso wrote:The bike will have a flip flop hub.....It may go completely fixie when I can get up Park St in one gear!
I can do that quite easily, just put one foot in front of the other and push the bike with your right or left hand
Easy enough on a road bike - Bridge Valley Road is tough too...I do know a guy who fixies it up and down that street daily from Clifton - he is a mentalist though. I think going down would be tougher!0 -
Okay - next step:
pre-greased (with coppaslip - copper grease) headset threads, BB threads and seat pin threads.
Waiting for parts.0 -
mmmmm coppaslip. I love putting new things together . My own project's on hold while I accumulate sufficient money to exchange for the required goods and services
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marchant wrote:mmmmm coppaslip. I love putting new things together . My own project's on hold while I accumulate sufficient money to exchange for the required goods and services
ditto
I still need
Campag pista crank
pedals
hoods
seat and post
then I'm good to goPurveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
ITM aero levers
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
they snap the brake cables, absolute death trap. find some others.0 -
gtvlusso wrote:The bike will have a flip flop hub.....It may go completely fixie when I can get up Park St in one gear!
Any idea what gearing you're going to be using yet? My commuter is an old Trek mtb which I recently changed to singlespeed (not fixed) but I still use it in the woods from time to time and given Bristol's love of the hills I've got 33/14 at the minute. It's undergeared for anything remotely downhill, but for long flat stretches or if I'm running late for work I've learnt to spin like a trooper. Park St is fine albeit I'm normally hoping the lights at the top are red...0 -
48/18 - will drop to 16. Thats about what I have been "conditioning" myself to on my Road bike.....Fecking hurts though!0
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gtvlusso wrote:48/18 - will drop to 16. Thats about what I have been "conditioning" myself to on my Road bike.....Fecking hurts though!
Nice - if I didn't still hack around Leigh Woods on mine I'd up my gearing a fair whack too, but living at river level means I've got to get up a bloody great big hill just to get there.
If you want a quick way to build the old hill ability, I can recommend the road that runs up from the bottom of Ashton Court to the top for a spot of car-free interval training, just beware the rogue dogs and dodgy speed bumps on the way down!0 -
Okay - so lasts nights fun and games:
Tightening the headset requires all the delicacy of a monkey wrench. Being careful not to overtighten or leave it loose - coppaslip on all theads, silicon grease in the races and bearings:
As the shed was a bit cold, I decided to use the backroom in the house - the dog ran off with my bottom bracket, my waife moaned about the wood floors (not long stripped), but I stayed warm, so thats okay:
Fitting the bottom bracket - coppaslip on the threads (make sure of your threading, Italian or British) then use a bloody great torque wrench, bb tool and a 32mm socket! Make sure the BB is fitted the correct way around - it will say L and R on it, this is a square taper BB - very simple design!:
Behold the Cranks:
Fitting the cranks - not the allen wrench toolset - well worth it + a small torque wrench for good measure - coppaslip the threads again:
Fitted cranks, BB, Quill stem (forgot to photograph the quill adapter fit) - same procedure except I greased the whole stem adaptor and threads - basically, water is your enemy and it will get in everywhere - grease anything exposed that could fatigue and stick! The adaptor drops in (push it intil it is firmly in), then do up the tension bolt and torque it up:
About 10 to 15 mins work in total. I got the handlebars this morning and the wheels should arrive today. Will do a featurette on cabling and alignment of cranks and drive line!0 -
Looking really nice so far.Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.
Felt F55 - 2007
Specialized Singlecross - 2008
Marin Rift Zone - 1998
Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali0 -
Nothing new to report this week - my fecking wheels have not turned up! Thanks to Cyclesbeany on Ebay.....does not respond to e-mails either....
However, had to rebuild rodie after and Ice based incidend which damaged handlebars, brake and gear cables - all re-cabled with dura ace cables and handlebars straightened with a little head applied.
Re-taped and now looks quite bonzer!0 -
Okay - The wheels finally arrived yesterday!
Conti gatorskin tyres + tubes were fitted (spares in the shed!). Also managed to get a freewheel 18t 1/8 pitch sprocket and chain from my LBS for £10 the lot - bonus! Simple break/make on the chain after measuring tension length with the sproket and wheel fixed in place - not too sloppy, not too tight! Also fitted Charge Plug Handlebars + stem from Ebay onto the Quill adaptor. All in all another hours work inclusing coppaslipping everything in sight!
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I should also add that the seat is a Specialized Tri Trip - my favourite seat, the seat pin is from my MTB, Ritchey Pro - I will get a nice silver spangly one for this bike.
To be fitted:
Blackwell Aero Levers
18t fixed sprocket
Fausto Coppi calipers + shimano cables
Then sell the thing!0 -
gtvlusso wrote:I should also add that the seat is a Specialized Tri Trip - my favourite seat, the seat pin is from my MTB, Ritchey Pro - I will get a nice silver spangly one for this bike.
To be fitted:
Blackwell Aero Levers
18t fixed sprocket
Fausto Coppi calipers + shimano cables
Then sell the thing!
Really your going to sell it, why?Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
The pedals are the piece de resistance I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0
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Yeah, I probably will sell it.....may use it for a few weeks first though! I just like building stuff!! Pottering in my shed - I discovered this at age 30.....whole new aspect to life.
Anyway - with pedals and ridden around the block without brakes! 18t freewheel! I fitted some pedals I had spare in the shed. The dog chased me......
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The finished article:
I was gonna do a whole peice on how to cable up brakes, but could not be arsed in the end and just blatted it:
Brakes are Dia Compe Levers and calipers - bought from SJS Cycles. I cocked up a bit with the brake sizes - I originally bought Blackwell levers for a 19.4mm internal diameter bar, turns out they don't fit in Charge Slice handlebars - I needed to but the 17mm internal diamtere Dia Compe ones - live and learn! My vernier calipers must be out!!
Last job will be to go from a 1/8th chain to a 3/32nd chain, sprocket and chainset. I already have a 44T Stronglight chainset, just need a 17t 3/32nd sprocket and chain.
Currently running: 48 x 18 or 16 on the flip flop hub all 1/8th inch.
If anyone wants me to do a cable photobook, I can do on as I will change cables for something more funky at a later date.0 -
Looks good.
Why are you changing from 1/8 to 3/32? Both my fixies run/ran on 1/8....0 -
looks good!
Go really pimp and get a shadow conspirasy BMX chain (super strong/cool)!!
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shadow-conspiracy/interlock-v2-chain-ec011381
I used to run one on my track bike it works fine and chris hoy uses one or used to or something?! "If we all had hardtails we'd all go down the hill, just slower"
Nick Larsen
Voodoo D-Jab Ti
Boardman Road Team 09
Boardman Urban Team 08
Falcon 3 Speed0 -
lost_in_thought wrote:Looks good.
Why are you changing from 1/8 to 3/32? Both my fixies run/ran on 1/8....
Hi LiT - hope your achilles is getting better - more festive booze should sort it...!
Basically, the current chainset is 1/8th, but I am finding 48t x 18t pretty easy and 48t x 16t a bit harsh - so, I bought a 44t 3/32nd chainset. Consequently, I need the chain and a sprocket to go with it - probably 17t and a 15t - slightly harsher gearing. It is also because the new chainset is shiny silver and not black........ruins the aspect of the bike!
Am I so vain?!
I may "pimp my bicycle" with Dia Compe cables too.....0 -
It strikes me that you could have just bought at 17t sprocket....
Don't really know how the achilles is going, it's in plaster! 0 -
A 1/8th chain will run fine on a 3/32 ring.0
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Its looking good, i'm loving the bar tape!! FCN 8 mainly
FCN 4 sometimes0 -
lost_in_thought wrote:It strikes me that you could have just bought at 17t sprocket....
Don't really know how the achilles is going, it's in plaster!
Yeah - agreed.....but silver chainset will go better with the bike than a black one......! Last minute purchase!0
