My first fixie - Project MBK SS

[dodgiebros]

G'day all,

I've caught the bug and started my first fixie. The bike is an MBK Super Sprint that I rescued from
the dump a couple of years ago. She was in a bad way but starting to look healthier now
As soon as I can post pics, I will (still got a few days to go).
I have some pics here.

Troy

[Scuba23]

Looking good! liking the blue finish you've chosen! Couple of quick questions if I may (i'm still trying to find a decent frame for my fixie project)

* what size gearing are you running? Are you sticking with the double chainring up front? or looking to add a single?
* A couple of guys i ride with here have added a front brake, your thoughts?
* Did you add a clear gloss top coat to your paint job or stick with the finish you got from the spray cans?

Keep up the good work, hope to see more photos when she is all finished.

[LOUDERPLEASE]

Nice work - good to see someone put in a whole lot of elbow grease instead of just slapping a bunch of new parts together.

[dodgiebros]

thanks Scuba and LP for comments.

Scuba, I've set up the gearing at 42/16 to start with and see how I go when I take it for a decent ride.
I wanted to keep the bike as original as I can and luckily the inner chainring is only a couple of mm out of line.
I didn't like the look of the outer ring but it's part of the crank, so I'm in the process filing the teeth off. ( I hope
it'll look better)
I bought the back wheel just to get on the road, my LBS didn't have any 36 hole flip flops. When
I get one I'll lace up the original rim. But I do like the look of the black in the new one though ...
Front brake is coming next (before decent ride) , bar tape, pedals and a better seat.
The paint.... I'm never gonna 'rattle can' again especially hard to paint metalic and get an even coating.
About 5 coats of cyan metalic and 5 of clear then a good No.2 polish a week later. I'd already had bleeding fingers
from heaps of wet sanding / polishing and pressing the can nozzle was a killer

Troy

[dodgiebros]

Cool I can insert pics now

Before



current unfinished

[LOUDERPLEASE]

Dodgy - rather than taking the teeth off the outer ring, I reckon you could be better off removing the inner one as it is prob too small anyhow. I cut mine with a grinder, undid the bolts and chucked it. Chain alignment turned out perfect.

I've now got 48/18 which is perfect for me.

Cheers

[dodgiebros]

LP yeah I would but the outer ring is too far out of line. 42/16 = 69", your 48/18 = 70.1", mine slightly shorter.
I had to have a ride and see.... bad mistake ie. still no brake Went for a cruise into town and
all was going well, smooth ride, comfortable, thinking a longer gear could be the go etc...
then the old 'car door' opening in front of me I don't know if a brake would have helped much, but
over I went. Laying on the road under my bike and a fella with the look of shock and panic on his face
Anyways, damage report: Bike:
front wheel buckled (hopefully not beyond repair)
forks bent and twisted a bit
bar tape (only 1/2 hr old) ripped
unbelievably duco is ok

Me:
left forearm, elbow and palms... still in the bitumen

Troy

[familyguy]

Let me be the first to say: sh****************************************t, what incredibly bad luck!!

I see why brakes are good. At least the guy didnt drive off. Hope the pain goes so you can fix the bike. I was just thinking 'how good did those hubs polish up!'

Jim

[Verbs & Nouns]

If you know how to stop a brakeless fixed, it helps.

Clips and straps help this.

[dodgiebros]

thanks for concern Jim thinking about it now, it was kinda fun in a weird way
Reminded me of being a kid having a stack, only mum ain't here with the Dettol
and Mecurochrome

Verbs.. I see what ya mean, If I was strapped in, I'd have more controlled back pressure
and could have locked the wheel yeah?
Not strapped in it just through me over the bars.

[LOUDERPLEASE]

Ohh dude - I'm sorry to hear this. Has to be one of my biggest fears when riding. Glad nothing too savage seems to have happened.

[Verbs & Nouns]

Verbs.. I see what ya mean, If I was strapped in, I'd have more controlled back pressure
and could have locked the wheel yeah?
Not strapped in it just through me over the bars.

Yeah, kinda. You can resist your legs, pulling up with your front foot into the straps, pushing with your back foot, therefore skidding.

[hartleymartin]

So, I surmise that today's lesson is that brakes are a good idea?

Sorry to hear you crashed your new steed. If your 48T chainring is too far out for good chainline, why not get a new bottom bracket with a shorter spindle? They only cost about $20 to $30.

[dodgiebros]

cheers fella's LP & Hartley for concerns I'm gettin there.... the body not as resilient
these days see how I go tomorrow on a ride with the local cycling club (on geared bike )

Hartley, good idea but I've already started filing the teeth down (52 btw) and the hassle of chasing down a BB to suit... nah.
I couldn't get the BB out to start with anyway broke a couple of teeth of BB tool then I gave up. (had to mask it for painting)
I think 42T will be ok. I'll keep the freewheel at 16T (69") and try a 15T (73.7") for the fixed side.

Anyone know where I can get a 36H flip-flop reliably online? Been searching but have only seen 32H hubs.

[hartleymartin]

Yeah - grind off the teeth and at least you have a good bash-guard for your chainring - it'll also help keep your shoe-laces out of the chain.

[dodgiebros]

SAFETY UPDATE Yes, I've learnt the hard way and fitted the front brake and
clipless pedals. Went for a ride up town with some confidence of stopping today.

I've filed the chainring teeth down and as Hartley said, I've got a chain guard. I had to pull
the front wheel apart to get it straight(ish) again. It's not perfect but it survived the stack.
For now I've taped up the bar tape that ripped until I get another one. I don't know if I like
the colour of it... was thinking just black... any thoughts????

[LOUDERPLEASE]

Looks grouse - the bar tape suits it.

On a somewhat unrelated note - turning right on to city rd just before a brakeless fixie rider (brown colored frame) almost had himself wiped out running a red light in front of me......brakes kids, brakes. I do not want my car scratched or spattered with teeth and blood.

[Mulger bill]

Get more of the black/blue tape Dodgy, works very well.

Shaun

[SeanB]

looking sweet.

[hartleymartin]

I wouldn't touch the colour scheme - looks fantastic.

[dodgiebros]

cheers lads on the bar tape, I know it's cosmetic but thought the colours might go against the age/retro style thingy.... ya know?....

I did have thought about gearing though.... I'm using the inner chainring which is 42T and it's bolted to the outer chainring (now chain guard)... So, am
I able to swap it for maybe a 44T or higher? Measuring the radius to the 5 spoke bolts = approx 60mm. But on my roadie (old school Shimano RSX)
it's aprox 55mm. Is there a standard? Has standards changed over the years?

Troy

[hartleymartin]

Chances are you're going to have to replace the crankset. 10-speed bicycles mostly came with one of the three following combinations: 42/52 - 40/52 - 40/48. Very occasionally you might see a 36/48.

The closest fitting chainrings to suit that 60mm radius would be either 122mm or 118mm (from Sheldon's website), the former is the obsolete Stronglight 93, and the latter is Ofmega, SR - also obsolete.

[Verbs & Nouns]

To measure the bolt circle diameter (BCD), try this link.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html

[dodgiebros]

thanks for tips Marty and Verbs looks like I have 122mm BCD (obsolete ) so
I reckon it's gonna stay the way it is

[;Heners]

Looking really good mate, maybe try a different crank ?