A few questions about my near-finished build
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:08 am
Pre powdercoat.. Orig paint was legit I thought, but rusty/chipped
I gave it to the powdercoaters today and they called me back a few hours later and said IT WAS DONE! I wasn't expecting to have it back so quickly. Since my brakes are arriving next week, but my fixed rear wheel is arriving tomorrow, I figured I'd be able to start riding tomorrow.
My questions:
1. Do I need strapped pedals in order to lock my legs and skid stop using fixed gear? If so .. which ones should I get, and where from? Are any of you riding fixed without brakes, and no straps/clips?
2. I may replace the forks (1" head tube), what 1" forks are decent and where should I look? The forks I have appear a lil bent, but have no cracks.
3. What tyre are you brakeless fixed riders using? I got some Gatorskins - hoping they last a decent amount of time if I try to be considerate on them with the skid stops. $35 was reasonable but I saw some home brand 'fixie' tyres at Cell bikes for $10 and wondered if the Gators really last 3.5x as long.
Cheers
- HLC
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:23 pm
- Location: Sydney.
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby HLC » Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:09 am
Hello,Josh. wrote:I recently drewed and powdercoated an old Raliegh frame I picked up for free.
Pre powdercoat.. Orig paint was legit I thought, but rusty/chipped
I gave it to the powdercoaters today and they called me back a few hours later and said IT WAS DONE! I wasn't expecting to have it back so quickly. Since my brakes are arriving next week, but my fixed rear wheel is arriving tomorrow, I figured I'd be able to start riding tomorrow.
My questions:
1. Do I need strapped pedals in order to lock my legs and skid stop using fixed gear? If so .. which ones should I get, and where from? Are any of you riding fixed without brakes, and no straps/clips?
2. I may replace the forks (1" head tube), what 1" forks are decent and where should I look? The forks I have appear a lil bent, but have no cracks.
3. What tyre are you brakeless fixed riders using? I got some Gatorskins - hoping they last a decent amount of time if I try to be considerate on them with the skid stops. $35 was reasonable but I saw some home brand 'fixie' tyres at Cell bikes for $10 and wondered if the Gators really last 3.5x as long.
Cheers
1. Yes. It makes a huge difference. It depends if you want to use BMX style platform pedals and straps, or cages and clips. I ride nobr akes on all my fixed gear/track bikes, but they all have clips/straps or clipless pedal systems. don't leave home without them. (or a brake if you are new to fixed gear).
For the BMX variety, look for either Odyssey Twisted or Fyxation Mesa pedals, with either SkinGrowsBack or BOgear pedal straps.
For clips / straps, MKS Sylvan, with MKS toe clips, and a double strap by All city / Cadence / Toshi / MKS will do the job.
2. You could replace the fork, and you should be able to find one relatively easy, BUT it looks like this frame is for 27"wheels, so if you get a fork for 700c wheels it will mess the geometry up. it would be much easier, (and probably cheaper) to replace the frame AND fork down the track.
3. I used to use gatorskins, i don't really like them. I now pretty much just throw whatever tyres I can on my fixed gear bike now. A favourite for me is Panaracer Pasela or Vittoria Randonneur (or however they spell it). BUt i also throw cheapy maxxis detonators on from time to time too.
- familyguy
- Posts: 8381
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:30 pm
- Location: Willoughby, NSW
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby familyguy » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:03 am
QFT.HLC wrote:2. You could replace the fork, and you should be able to find one relatively easy, BUT it looks like this frame is for 27"wheels, so if you get a fork for 700c wheels it will mess the geometry up. it would be much easier, (and probably cheaper) to replace the frame AND fork down the track.Josh. wrote: 2. I may replace the forks (1" head tube), what 1" forks are decent and where should I look? The forks I have appear a lil bent, but have no cracks.
1. Save a little cash
2. Get a $200 Cyclingdeal or VISP frame and fork
3. Swap over your cranks, wheels and chain
Tyres can get hugely subjective. I find Vittoria Zaffiro are a reasonably priced, hard-wearing tyre. Can't say how long they hold up to skidding though, cause I'm no strong enough to do it.
Jim
-
- Posts: 2435
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:45 pm
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Calvin27 » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:40 am
Or get the cell single speed for $200 - complete bike.familyguy wrote:QFT.HLC wrote:2. You could replace the fork, and you should be able to find one relatively easy, BUT it looks like this frame is for 27"wheels, so if you get a fork for 700c wheels it will mess the geometry up. it would be much easier, (and probably cheaper) to replace the frame AND fork down the track.Josh. wrote: 2. I may replace the forks (1" head tube), what 1" forks are decent and where should I look? The forks I have appear a lil bent, but have no cracks.
1. Save a little cash
2. Get a $200 Cyclingdeal or VISP frame and fork
3. Swap over your cranks, wheels and chain
Tyres can get hugely subjective. I find Vittoria Zaffiro are a reasonably priced, hard-wearing tyre. Can't say how long they hold up to skidding though, cause I'm no strong enough to do it.
Jim
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
- Gordonhooker
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 9:11 pm
- Location: Redlands
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Gordonhooker » Wed Nov 20, 2013 10:03 am
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:56 pm
I'll try those Skingrowsback DX and see if they fit on my current pedals for now. If not, I have a pair of Twisted pedals on a BMX which I can take off and swap. This is getting expensive! I found the dx straps for $60 in the city so I can grab em today to get riding at least.
That is a bummer about the need to replace the frame/fork due to the fork change. I'll probably hold that off as long as possible then. I expect the geometry isn't amazing anyway, if the fork is bent. Mostly I was worried about the forks snapping and me eating it.
The orig paint was cool but just too haggard. I'd love to find one in better condition with a fade in it. The powdercoat will look great though. From what I can tell, this is one of the more shite Grand Prix frames, no 531 or anything fancy. But it does have a nice feel and cool lugs.
I'll post some more about the build when its done. I even got some action shots of the night we drewed it. Hopefully finished today, maybe tomorrow afternoon.
Thanks all
- Gordonhooker
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 9:11 pm
- Location: Redlands
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Gordonhooker » Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:38 pm
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Nov 20, 2013 3:19 pm
The brakes are definitely going on though since I have two rear wheels which I'll swap out depending on that I'm doing. One is a Sturmey Archer S2 kick shift (pictured in OP) which has two gears, the other is a cheap Cell fixed rear.
Gonna pop over to my old man's place now to put it together. I have to clean up some powdercoat first
Here's a shot of the bike after the powdercoat (transformer grey)
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:31 pm
I picked up some DX straps this morning, and they fit into the $25 pedal jobbies I have on at the moment. Riding with the DX you really feel glued to the pedals - sort of scary, do you lot prefer the BMX style straps or clips?
Unfortunately I am still without a way to retard my motion. Rear wheel came with no sprocket, so I cant ride fixed yet, and my brakes are still on the way. Bah!
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:42 pm
They're Fulcrum rims with Fulcrum 2:1 hubs.. quite light, I might use one for the front wheel. Can I convert the rear to fixed? Single speed? I'm not smart when it comes to hubs/wheels/spokes.
- ldrcycles
- Posts: 9594
- Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:19 pm
- Location: Kin Kin, Queensland
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby ldrcycles » Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:12 am
These forks (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FORKS-27-700 ... 3a86c2023c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) should be a straight swap over (you would need to check the steerer length) or just hit up your local bike shop/tip, it's easy to find forks like these off a standard 10 speed clunker for next to nothing, if not actually nothing.
Whatever you do, just don't ride it with the current forks, it's asking for a faceplant.
With the Fulcrums, I don't know a way of making them fixed, but you can get a single speed conversion kit (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Conversion-K ... 5898eb8481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:08 pm
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:10 pm
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Mulger bill » Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:28 pm
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:12 pm
Especially great since my brakes arrived today and they're the wrong size (DERP!) - I'll have to pick up another one.
- Gordonhooker
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 9:11 pm
- Location: Redlands
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Gordonhooker » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:35 am
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:37 pm
Gordon, the correct answer is yes, raked out to hell. The blades are meant to be curved but if you have another look near the crown here...
...you'll notice that the upper part of the legs are angled outwards, they should be in a straight line with the head tube. Facial reconstruction surgery waiting to happen.
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
- Gordonhooker
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 9:11 pm
- Location: Redlands
A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Gordonhooker » Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:52 pm
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:42 pm
That seller also has some chromed ones for sale that are long enough... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FORKS-VINTAG ... 3cd7c593b7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;ldrcycles wrote:Those forks are bent WAY out of shape, I definitely would not ride it with them on there.
These forks (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FORKS-27-700 ... 3a86c2023c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) should be a straight swap over
Would be cool if these forks made the brake I bought fit.. and I'm keen to avoid powdercoating again.. looks like they'd suit?
This one also fits I think, slightly different style?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fixie-Single ... 25690deb38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- ldrcycles
- Posts: 9594
- Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:19 pm
- Location: Kin Kin, Queensland
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby ldrcycles » Sat Nov 23, 2013 7:27 am
The first ones there would be virtually identical to the original forks, so you would need to check the axle to brake bolt measurement on the original to see if there's a difference. The ones on ebay are listed as 380mm. The second pair are for 700C wheels, so that measurement is only 357 mm. A 27 x 1-1/4 wheel and tyre is somewhere around 340mm radius (I can't find my tape measure otherwise I would give you an accurate measurement), so it may fit in the 700C forks. The reason the chrome forks are so long is to allow room for mounting mudguards.Josh. wrote:
That seller also has some chromed ones for sale that are long enough... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FORKS-VINTAG ... 3cd7c593b7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Would be cool if these forks made the brake I bought fit.. and I'm keen to avoid powdercoating again.. looks like they'd suit?
This one also fits I think, slightly different style?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fixie-Single ... 25690deb38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I wouldn't know for sure without seeing them and trial fitting the brake calliper. The more likely cause of trouble with the 700C forks is width, i'm not sure if they would clear the big 27" tyres.
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Sat Nov 23, 2013 4:53 pm
- ldrcycles
- Posts: 9594
- Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:19 pm
- Location: Kin Kin, Queensland
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby ldrcycles » Sat Nov 23, 2013 5:46 pm
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Sat Nov 23, 2013 6:16 pm
I made a mistake ordering replacements and they are too long reach. Was wondering if the 27" forks might make them fit (I'd be lucky)
I could try and restore the old brakes.. the bit the brake cable sits into is all rusted but doesnt seem like it does much. They feel quite stiff to compress
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:08 pm
I'm really enjoying riding so far.. thinking I may even sell this bike and get something like a Pake Rum Runner, Fyxation East Side, Surly or if I feel like spending too much money an EAI BareKnuckles
I may need to get a brake - seems like I either burn out my knees or my tires without one, but I am sorta enjoying being forced to skid stop and drift around corners!
Been doing a couple of rides each day.. at least one.. 6-20kms. Might give it a rest tonight but then again..
- Josh.
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:10 am
Re: A few questions about my near-finished build
Postby Josh. » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:53 pm
Question: I need a good, affordable pump. Any suggestions?
The one I am using now is a small 20cm style thing and it does not get my tyres up to 110 really. And if I do borrow someones pump and get them to 110, they lose that pressure within a day or two..
Return to “Fixed Gear/ Single Speed”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.