Cycling UK Forum

I'm planning to use the extra light this summer to build myself a fixed/fixie - albeit on a seriously tight budget.

Can anyone give me any pointers on the frame - what sort should I look for? Round Brixton there are loads of Surly FFF bikes with tiny frames that zoom happily round London, but I would have thought maybe a larger traditional racing frame was better?

Also, anyone know where to get one really cheap? Eg, any experience of police sales and the like? I'm looking in skips atm, but if that doesn't work...

Ta for any help.

Edward

if you are on a very tight budget then rather than buying new you could consider getting an old steel frameset with forward facing horizontal dropouts (ideally 126 wide).

I saved a Jaque Anquitel (however you spell it) 531 framed road bike of 1960s or 70s vintage from a trip to the skip to build mine. For the rear wheel I'm using an old screw on hub with a sprocket and BB lock ring. Might need a bit of faffing to get the chain line right.

Si wrote: For the rear wheel I'm using an old screw on hub with a sprocket and BB lock ring. Might need a bit of faffing to get the chain line right.

Si, do you mean you are using an old gear sided hub, or an old fixed wheel hub? If you are using a gear sided hub for fixed, there is a very real danger that the fixed cog will unscrew if you try braking with your legs. Proper fixed hubs, or the fixed side of gear / fixed hubs have a counter clockwise threaded outer section for the counter clockwise threaded lockring - so the fixed cog cannot unscrew, even if the pedals are locked.
Forgive me if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs, but your comment reads as if you don't need a dedicated fixed hub.

eteb,
Try http://www.hubjub.co.uk/ or 'phone Spa Cycles Tel:01423 887003
as their web site doesn't show fixed hubs, but they used to stock them.

Also, it's better if you can get a plain chain ring that's not drilled for inner rings. I used to ride with a TA Cyclotouriste chainring drilled to take an inner and the stress of the fixed caused cracks from the bolt holes that would have led to failure of the chainring.

Hope this helps.

a none fixed-specific without the reversed lockring thread. Yep, I'm aware that it can unscrew but put my trust in god, thread-lock and a BB lock ring to clamp it all down. My old aton fixed hub never gave any problems without the lockring - just a case of getting the sprocket on tight enough to start with.

Others will wish to make up their own minds on whether this is an acceptable solution or not. For me it is, however, I shall report back (or go permenantly quiet ) if it should fail - currently still in the testing phase.

BTW, back on the subject of budget frames - if you do want to get a fixed specific one then consider the On-One Pomp' which are cheap to start with and often discounted, or one of the SJSC frames that sometimes appear on their ebay shop for very little.

Si wrote:a none fixed-specific without the reversed lockring thread. Yep, I'm aware that it can unscrew but put my trust in god, thread-lock and a BB lock ring to clamp it all down. My old aton fixed hub never gave any problems without the lockring - just a case of getting the sprocket on tight enough to start with.

Others will wish to make up their own minds on whether this is an acceptable solution or not. For me it is, however, I shall report back (or go permenantly quiet ) if it should fail - currently still in the testing phase.

Rather you than me. I would suggest that a rear brake is fitted and used, although this is not required by law if one is riding fixed.

I always use a rear brake anyway after having a front cable snap when rapidly approaching a busy dual carrige way (plus the bike gets run as a SS a lot)

Just to say thanks for the tips, which I'll digest tomorrow.

This was all very helpful, thank you both. I'll look around on SJS for a frame, certainly.

Si, by "horizontal forward facing dropouts" do you mean the sort you find on old roadbikes? Ie, not quite horizontal, but slightly downward facing?

I suddenly have the sense that I may be biting off rather more than I can chew, but hey, it'll be a learning curve!

Edward

eteb wrote: by "horizontal forward facing dropouts" do you mean the sort you find on old roadbikes? Ie, not quite horizontal, but slightly downward facing?

it's all explained here

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixeda.html

Have a look here. Everything you need to know.

Take this advice with a grain of salt, because both Sheldon Brown and the Fixiespotting website have some misleading and under-developed information - they are seriously biased in the one way is right camp.

As someone who runs two fixed bikes and races track, you can believe that nothing will get people debating more then a discussion of fixed gear riding - okay maybe helmet laws or campag vs shimano.

Position, set up and choosing the right gear ratio can make or break your body and sometimes the bike, but don't be scared off, once you have a dialled in bike, the connected feeling is amazing.

andwags wrote:don't be scared off, once you have a dialled in bike, the connected feeling is amazing.

yeah, he's right. The first time I went on to a fixed wheel bike, I let it go down a hill and pulled my feet out in a desperate panic measure. I was about to give up, but persevered and never looked back. That feeling of one with the bike is spot on.

Surly Steamroller - dedicated fixed. Surly Crosscheck - fixed or geared. I ride a steamroller and it's great. SJS used to do cheap fixies. Condor are another well respected fixed manufacturer. As said before, Will at Hubjub can source parts as can on-one (www.one-one.co.uk). Key issues will probably be chainline and gearing. Suggest you gear for downhill rather than uphill - going up is easy but coming down..........

Condor, On-one, Surley - all lovely and not extremely expensive but not exactly 'budget' either.

You might also try trawling around some of the cycle jumbles and putting a wanted up on this site to find an old steel track frame or a 'road and path' (as I think they were called...), either of which will have rear-facing dropouts, which are much more aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional.

If you don't mind limiting your tyre choice a little, you might find an old 27" bike fairly cheap and can always build your own wheels. Ambrosia do pretty good, but cheap, flip-flop hubs.