Fixed-wheel commuter rebuild

el_presidente

We haven't had a build thread for a while so i thought there might be some interest in my latest project, rebuilding my fixie for the summer.

Here it is in the previous configuration:



Graham Weigh 531 frame & forks, Harry Rowland handbuilt wheels (Mavic CXP22 on Ambrosio), FSA gossamer chainset and Dura Ace brakes. I got the frameset for £100 off a mate a couple of years ago, it is a classic early 90s steel racing frame with tight clearances and angles and the all important semi-horizontal dropouts.

The main problem I had was that the fork had such tight clearances that you could only run a 700*20c tyre. This needed to be inflated to 160 psi giving a hugely harsh ride and I never quite trusted it in the wet. Fine for my old 5-mile commute but now at 11 miles I fancied something more comfortable. Solution - get a carbon fork with better clearance. Also maybe a carbon seatpost too.

Decision made, eBay came to my rescue with a 1" steerer Deda Black Force brand new fork for £65. The old fork was threaded so I also needed a new headset and stem. Also a carbon post from Exotic Cycles and a Chaarge Spoon from Wiggle. finished with very cheap 3T stem and bars from PBK.

I stripped down the bike last weekend and under the dirt realised that the rust I thought was superficial was starting to take hold. Frame stripped down:



Solution to this was a full respray so off to Armourtex in Hackney for a full powder coat in gloss white. Here's a pristine frame straight from the paint shop.





Ebay also provided me with new 531c and Graham Weigh stickers:





and I've offered up the fork to check the look.



Next step - put it back together

Gussio

The new paint job looks sweet. I reckon that red bar tape would pick up the red in the decal on the forks very nicely. Keep the photos coming....

lost_in_thought

Lovely! Do you mind my asking how much the respray set you back?

_Brun_

Think Armourtex do standard powder coating for about sixty quid. Does look very nice.

el_presidente

Costs were £40 for the standard powder coat and £24 for clearcoat over the top, if I recall the breakdown correctly.. Anyway it was definitely £64 total, 3- day turnaround too. Very impressed.

Gussio I have some black bar tape knocking about but I am tempted by red.

fossyant

Nice job............

el_presidente

Last night I used my patented home made headset press



and a couple of man-sized wrenches



to drive in the headset cups



(I know it's wonky in this pic; I did straighten it up)


then £3 worth of Wickes's finest technical pipe to seat the crown race



and assembled headset, spacers & stem ready to cut the steerer tube.



Tonight I was mostly in the pub.

dreamlx10

rebuilding my fixie

Let us know when you are rebuilding your "fixed" as well !

lost_in_thought

Blimey, that's some high-end fettling!

Bikes are so lovely and simple.

essex-commuter

That paint job looks soooo nice. My commuter isn't chipped, scratched or anything...but I'm so tempted to get it painted white :?

Clever Pun

dreamlx10 wrote:

rebuilding my fixie

Let us know when you are rebuilding your "fixed" as well !

glad it's not just me that winced

el_presidente

Clever Pun wrote:

dreamlx10 wrote:

rebuilding my fixie

Let us know when you are rebuilding your "fixed" as well !

glad it's not just me that winced

Now edited for your reading pleasure

Canny Jock

looks very nice, but I must admit I like the original version a lot too!

Clever Pun

thank you... it's looking good, you going to lug line as well?

el_presidente

Clever Pun wrote:

thank you... it's looking good, you going to lug line as well?

No
a) I like it as is, with clean lines
b) I would only stuff it up
c) if it were doen then before the clearcoat would have been preferable.

Zachariah

This is very timely as I'm seriously considering getting these forks. It would be nice to see someone putting some new ones in. I had no idea crown races existed until a few weeks ago, so this could be an expensive learning experience.

el_presidente

Zachariah wrote:

This is very timely as I'm seriously considering getting these forks. It would be nice to see someone putting some new ones in. I had no idea crown races existed until a few weeks ago, so this could be an expensive learning experience.

Your LBS will swap them out at a price and it is an easier job if you have the correct (expensive) tools rather than my Heath Robinson efforts, worth thinking about if you're not too confident - it is one job that can be very expensive if you get it wrong.

Not that I'm trying to put you off, it is very satisfying when you do it right, but make sure you know exactly what you are planning to do and don't rush anything.

Clever Pun

el_presidente wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

thank you... it's looking good, you going to lug line as well?

No
a) I like it as is, with clean lines
b) I would only stuff it up
c) if it were doen then before the clearcoat would have been preferable.

but 531 needs lovely detail.....

I'm getting someone else to do mine, once i get round to asking them

el_presidente

Front end sorted:



just half an hour spare but added seatpost & saddle, and bb cups and chainset

el_presidente

Just needs pedals, a final adjust of the riding position and bar tape

el_presidente

Finished!








back riding fixed tomorrow

Mickey Eye

Lovely.