Can this fixie be built better?

In article <[email hidden]>, Lobo Tommy

Quoted message said:

Surly Steamroller frame,
Suzue track hubs,
Profile bar and stem,
Michelin tires,
Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
Kalloy post,
Mavic MA3 rims,
Sugino crank (49T),
15t track cog,
and an RX100 front brake

Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Better? I don't know. I suppose "more suitable" would be a more
accurate term. And that is contingent on your expectations, budget,
intended use of the bike, etc...

Here's my .02. The 49/15 chainring/cog combination may be hard on your
knees. I'd go for lower gearing. I live in a relatively flat city -
Toronto - and my chainring/cog setup is 48/17 with 165mm cranks. At
times this setup is a bit much: Once the drive train components wear
out they'll be replaced with a 47/18 setup (or thereabout).

From a maintenance standpoint, if you plan on extensively using the
fixie in snowy or rainy conditions (i.e as a commuter) you may want to
opt for hubs that utilize cartridge bearings. I use a set of Phils
(These are expensive!) but I believe Miche and others make cartridge
fixed gear hubs. Every Spring I just pop the old cartridge out... No
setting cones.

Regarding the crankset; bear in mind the BB height of your Steamroller.
The longer the arms the more the possibility you may grind a pedal
while cornering - especially over uneven terrain. Said grinding of
pedal may be followed by intimate contact with the blacktop - a painful
experience!

Bars, stem, saddle, seatpost etc... No comment. Let your sense of
aesthetics, budget and experience dictate these. I prefer threaded
headsets but this may not be an option with your flavour of forks.

As far as the MA3's. I'm riding on a pair of these now (36hole) and
once they wear out or crack they'll be replaced with your basic single
wall non anodized aluminum variety of rim. For my needs, there's
nothing in the performance of the Ma3s over less expensive options that
justifies the cost. And you should note; quality of wheelbuild is just
as important as wheel components in determining the strength and
durability of your wheels.

Happy riding
luke

Quoted message said:

Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

No, dog, that's the Jones.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>[email hidden]__________

Lobo Tommy said:

Surly Steamroller frame,
Suzue track hubs,
Profile bar and stem,
Michelin tires,
Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
Kalloy post,
Mavic MA3 rims,
Sugino crank (49T),
15t track cog,
and an RX100 front brake

Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Jobst would use MA2s from his stockpile ;-)

According to Lobo Tommy <[email hidden]>:

[order of post changed]

Quoted message said:

Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Potentially.

Quoted message said:

Surly Steamroller frame,

Why the Steamroller? They seem like nice enough frames, but:

1. I don't like threadless headsets
2. "Surly" is a marketing front for QBP, a big supplier in Minnesota.
The actual frames are made by robots in Taiwan.

Quoted message said:

Suzue track hubs,

The Suzue basic hubs are pretty nasty. I'm about to try a set of
Promax instead.

Quoted message said:

Mavic MA3 rims,

I've never heard anything good, but I don't really know. I have an Open
Pro on my fixed and it seems nice.

Quoted message said:

Sugino crank (49T),
15t track cog,

That's way too huge, I think.

Quoted message said:

and an RX100 front brake

Sounds like a nice time.

---
Lars