Yay, fixie!

Mark said:

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

Cool - I'm using 42/16 at the mo, which is good enough for
Manchester/Cheshire and a v small bit of Derbyshire :-)

I did my first fixie for about a hundred quid, my second build cost over
seventeen times as much...it's not THAT much better to ride but it sure
looks a load better ;-)

My chainline issues were a nightmare; it really is trial and error. The
trouble is that on any given square taper BB different brands of crank
will give different measurements, so working it out beforehand is a none
starter. Line it all up with what you have, measure any discrepancy as
best you can (using the centre of the seat tube as one datum and the
middle of the rear hub as the other) and then go to your LBS with your
BB and put a few side by side, it helped me. But don't get too fussy
about perfect line, it's surprising how much the chain drive will
accomodate (up to the point it jumps off and causes you immense pain).

hth,

Tony B

"Mark" <pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After stumbling across a frame with horizontal rear dropouts I've done the
obvious thing and started making a fixie. I've cold set the frame - the
spacing has been raised(!) to 120mm (the frame wasn't in the best of
condition:-), unnecessary bits have been stripped off and a rear wheel,
track hub and lock ring have been purchased[1]. Unfortunately I'm now
flat
broke, but this does mean I can think at leisure of what else I'll need (a
front wheel would be a good start).

The bottom bracket seems in good condition, but the double chainset is
missing the left hand crank. I can prolly scavange replacement crank for
nothing so would I be able use the inner ring (it's not too worn but is
riveted to the big ring), or would spending scarce pennies on a 'proper'
chainset make sense?

The chap I spoke to at the LBS mentioned he went through three bottom
brackets before he found one that gave a good chainline. Is there a way
to
work out what size you need, or is it all trial and error?

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

Pics up when there's something to photograph.

Mark.

[1] Nearly new Open Pro rim, Formula track hub and locking for £25. It
doesn't get better than that. Prolly a good thing too, as I'm now flat
broke :-/

Went to my LBS yesterday and did a straight swap of my "old man bike" with a
Dawes Milk Race which is my new project. Think I'll go with a single speed
first ........

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/1016533651_f707a7f6c8.jpg?v=0

Sorry, but my kitchen is on the second floor ...

elyob said:

"Mark" <pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After stumbling across a frame with horizontal rear dropouts I've done the
obvious thing and started making a fixie. I've cold set the frame - the
spacing has been raised(!) to 120mm (the frame wasn't in the best of
condition:-), unnecessary bits have been stripped off and a rear wheel,
track hub and lock ring have been purchased[1]. Unfortunately I'm now
flat
broke, but this does mean I can think at leisure of what else I'll need (a
front wheel would be a good start).

The bottom bracket seems in good condition, but the double chainset is
missing the left hand crank. I can prolly scavange replacement crank for
nothing so would I be able use the inner ring (it's not too worn but is
riveted to the big ring), or would spending scarce pennies on a 'proper'
chainset make sense?

The chap I spoke to at the LBS mentioned he went through three bottom
brackets before he found one that gave a good chainline. Is there a way
to
work out what size you need, or is it all trial and error?

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

Pics up when there's something to photograph.

Mark.

[1] Nearly new Open Pro rim, Formula track hub and locking for £25. It
doesn't get better than that. Prolly a good thing too, as I'm now flat
broke :-/

Went to my LBS yesterday and did a straight swap of my "old man bike" with a
Dawes Milk Race which is my new project. Think I'll go with a single speed
first ........

out of intrest what shop would that be? as you can't be that far from
me.

Quoted message said:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/1016533651_f707a7f6c8.jpg?v=0

Sorry, but my kitchen is on the second floor ...

heh a bike would fill my kitchen and at best you'd only get a end on
shot.

sounds fun by way. i like gears to much for the moment, and i suspect my
knee would have something to say about a fixie

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

Mark said:

The chap I spoke to at the LBS mentioned he went through three bottom
brackets before he found one that gave a good chainline. Is there a way to
work out what size you need, or is it all trial and error?

It's sort of trial and error, but there are two rules:

- Proper track kit from Shimano and Campag gives a chainline of 42mm.

- Goldtec and White Industries ENO hubs are designed for conversions and
line up with the *middle* ring of an Shimano MTB triple chainset or the
*outer* ring of a road double chainset - if you had the
Shimano-specified BB length to begin with. To be pedantic, 47.5mm with
a typical rear sprocket fitted.

Quoted message said:

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

70" is a good knocking around gear, often called 72" by people who use a
round 27-inch wheel to calculate it (a 700c wheel is nearer 26" with
skinny tyres). 42 x 16, 48 x 18, 39 x 14 (what I'm using for my next
conversion), etc. 63" is traditional in some circles for winter.

Mark said:

After stumbling across a frame with horizontal rear dropouts I've done the
obvious thing and started making a fixie. I've cold set the frame - the
spacing has been raised(!) to 120mm (the frame wasn't in the best of
condition:-), unnecessary bits have been stripped off and a rear wheel,
track hub and lock ring have been purchased[1]. Unfortunately I'm now flat
broke, but this does mean I can think at leisure of what else I'll need (a
front wheel would be a good start).

The bottom bracket seems in good condition, but the double chainset is
missing the left hand crank. I can prolly scavange replacement crank for
nothing so would I be able use the inner ring (it's not too worn but is
riveted to the big ring), or would spending scarce pennies on a 'proper'
chainset make sense?

The chap I spoke to at the LBS mentioned he went through three bottom
brackets before he found one that gave a good chainline. Is there a way to
work out what size you need, or is it all trial and error?

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

Pics up when there's something to photograph.

Mark.

[1] Nearly new Open Pro rim, Formula track hub and locking for £25. It
doesn't get better than that. Prolly a good thing too, as I'm now flat
broke :-/

I looked at converting my old Dawes frame, but the parts added up to
about 200 quid. Crankset, hub, new chain, spokes, and probably a rear
rim (or whole new wheel), so I bought a 2008 Langster because I was off
work for a few days, and had the chance to ride it straight away, and so
far I've done about 200 miles on 42/16 - which is about 70". It's also
really light, while the Dawes would have come out at least twice the
weight of the Langster. In the end it made economic sense in my case to
simply buy a ready made fixie. I knew I was going to like it because I'd
had a little go on one years ago.

I really like it but, I am seriously considering going to 42/15 which is
about a 74" gear, which I think will suit me slightly better, since
there're pretty much no hills where I live (within a 60 mile radius).
Slightly smaller if I put my Hutchinson 622-20 tyres on it.

42/16 is considered a good round-town ratio, but I am riding long rides
on b-roads and lanes, where you see few cars, so I reckon that bit
longer will be better for me. I'll probably try and get a 14T as well at
some point in the future for 10 mile TT stuff.

Anyway - I've got a pair of 700c wheels going spare - rigida alloy rims.
They're quick release and the rear is a freehub - but I'm prolly gonna
fling 'em out when I clear out the shed. Front one might do you, at
least to start with.

Chris

Quoted message said:

Anyway - I've got a pair of 700c wheels going spare - rigida alloy
rims. They're quick release and the rear is a freehub - but I'm prolly
gonna fling 'em out when I clear out the shed. Front one might do you,
at least to start with.

That would be absolutely brillig. If the alternative is the dump I can
find a use for the rear too.

My email address is the aptly named <pleasegivegenerously @at@ hotmail
..dot. com>

Thank you once again.

Mark.

(Roger Merriman) said:

elyob said:

"Mark" <pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
wrote in messagenews:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After stumbling across a frame with horizontal rear dropouts I've done the
obvious thing and started making a fixie. I've cold set the frame - the
spacing has been raised(!) to 120mm (the frame wasn't in the best of
condition:-), unnecessary bits have been stripped off and a rear wheel,
track hub and lock ring have been purchased[1]. Unfortunately I'm now
flat
broke, but this does mean I can think at leisure of what else I'll need (a
front wheel would be a good start).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The bottom bracket seems in good condition, but the double chainset is
missing the left hand crank. I can prolly scavange replacement crankfor
nothing so would I be able use the inner ring (it's not too worn but is
riveted to the big ring), or would spending scarce pennies on a 'proper'
chainset make sense?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The chap I spoke to at the LBS mentioned he went through three bottom
brackets before he found one that gave a good chainline. Is there a way
to
work out what size you need, or is it all trial and error?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Finally, how many teeth (or inches) do you recommend. It'll just be used
for hacking around Manchester so no hills. The hub can take a track
sprocket and lockring on both sides. If I stay with the present chainset
the inner ring has 42 teeth.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Pics up when there's something to photograph.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Mark.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[1] Nearly new Open Pro rim, Formula track hub and locking for £25.. It
doesn't get better than that. Prolly a good thing too, as I'm now flat
broke :-/

Quoted message said:

Went to my LBS yesterday and did a straight swap of my "old man bike" with a
DawesMilkRacewhich is my new project. Think I'll go with a single speed
first ........

out of intrest what shop would that be? as you can't be that far from
me.

Quoted message said:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/1016533651_f707a7f6c8.jpg?v=0

Quoted message said:

Sorry, but my kitchen is on the second floor ...

heh a bike would fill my kitchen and at best you'd only get a end on
shot.

sounds fun by way. i like gears to much for the moment, and i suspect my
knee would have something to say about a fixie

I might be revealing my new bike fairly shortly. 🙂

Need to strip some stuff of another bike, but had a call earlier from
a mate who got a little busy with his tinkering and sounds like he's
rebuilt it when I wasn't there ...