Putting together a fixie

fish-head

Hiya lads, after years going around on a normal roadgoing bike I've decided to try my hand at building a fixer. Two reasons, 1. For a change and all the inherent benefits (and drawbacks) of owning a fixer and 2. to get my hands dirty and get a bit more mechanical knowlege regarding bikes.

Can anybody reccomend me anywhere to start off? Where can I get frames and all that? Is it possible to use some bockety old yoke and strip it down or is a new frame preferrable?

Cheers in advance.

flickerx

fish-head wrote:

Hiya lads, after years going around on a normal roadgoing bike I've decided to try my hand at building a fixer. Two reasons, 1. For a change and all the inherent benefits (and drawbacks) of owning a fixer and 2. to get my hands dirty and get a bit more mechanical knowlege regarding bikes.

Can anybody reccomend me anywhere to start off? Where can I get frames and all that? Is it possible to use some bockety old yoke and strip it down or is a new frame preferrable?

Cheers in advance.

IMPORTANT: You should take a couple of hours and have a read of Sheldon Brown's website. http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html

I am two months work ahead of you - I just finished my first fixie and I am very happy with it, I cycled it down to the courier world championship races in the Phoenix Park yesterday and felt like one of the gang :rolleyes:

I started with a racer frame I bought on eBay from the UK for 20 pounds sterling. If you're starting with an old frame (which I would recommend, cos new fixie frames are expensive), make sure it has horizontal dropouts, and check the threads on the frame for the bottom bracket are not damaged, as well as checking the frame for any other knocks, cracks, etc. Obviously if you're buying on eBay there's always going to be a certain level of blind faith that your item will be OK.

Then start picking up things like the wheels, crank, chainring, sprocket, lockring, chain, etc. If you're just starting out then dont bother buying a new front wheel. Just get a new back wheel with a fixed hub. At the moment you can get these posted from the United States (via eBay) for cheap enough, because of the exchange rate. If you're really into upskilling then you could just buy the hub, spokes, and rim and build the wheel yourself, but this is difficult and you ideally need a tensiometer to get the spokes right, so just buy a fully built rear fixed wheel to get started.

I also got my crank and chainring from the US. Just buy them together so you wont mess up with incorrect fits. Get a 1/8" chainring if you can. Its up to you what gear ratio you want but I have a 48 tooth chainring and a 15 tooth sprocket which is fine.

Based on whatever frame you bought, you'll need to get the appropriate headset for the forks, and then a bottom bracket which needs to be the correct width to align the chainring directly in line with the sprocket (tricky). Then you just stick it all together, slap on the chain and the pedals, and you're ready to go.

OK that's the short version of how to do it, and I made a few mistakes along the way (anyone want to buy a 118mm bottom bracket, and a pair of racer Campangolo Caliper Brakes?), but it was a very, very steep learning curve and I was glad I did it. Stick with it, but DO read up as much as you can first before jumping into eBay and buying parts you realise later you dont need!

fish-head

Thanks for the tips man. I've been spending a bit of time at Sheldon's site alright. The man's incredible.

I guess I'd just better take to Ebay and find myself a frame first of all.. did you pay much shipping on yours?

flickerx

fish-head wrote:

Thanks for the tips man. I've been spending a bit of time at Sheldon's site alright. The man's incredible.

I guess I'd just better take to Ebay and find myself a frame first of all.. did you pay much shipping on yours?

Frame was 20 sterling, shipping in a cardboard box I think was 17.50 sterling, so overall the entire cost for the frame was around 53 euros. Not bad at all.

Good luck with the building. Be patient and be prepared to make a couple of mistakes! (and be prepared to spend money on tools you might only ever use once!!!)

Itsfixed

flickerx wrote:

IMPORTANT:

Then start picking up things like the wheels, crank, chainring, sprocket, lockring, chain, etc. If you're just starting out then dont bother buying a new front wheel. Just get a new back wheel with a fixed hub. At the moment you can get these posted from the United States (via eBay) for cheap enough, because of the exchange rate. If you're really into upskilling then you could just buy the hub, spokes, and rim and build the wheel yourself, but this is difficult and you ideally need a tensiometer to get the spokes right, so just buy a fully built rear fixed wheel to get started.

If you are interested in developing your bike mechanic skills I'd really recommend having a go at building a rear wheel yourself. I would take the old rear wheel apart (as long as its reasonably straight) and buy a fixed hub and new spokes.

I've built three fixies in my time and during the last two efforts I built the rear wheel myself after following - yes, that great man again - Sheldon Brown's advice on building wheels. Its explained really well, step-by-step and while my first effort was OK i went too quickly. The second time I took my time I succeeded in making a fairly robust and straight rear wheel. It adds hugely to the sense of achievement in having built the bike yourself.

Anyway, good luck. Its a great project, great fun to do.

Snapper1

hi folks,

i don't mean to hijack the thread but its a related subject. where would be the best place to buy a fixie, either new or secondhand? are they a rare because couriers and others who ride them become so attached to them that they wouldn't sell them on? I've been looking at brand new ones like the specialised langster etc but i'd prefer to buy a used one as my first to get the feel for it and then embark on something similar to the OP in building one.

thanks for any replies

Itsfixed

Second hand fixies are hard enough to find here. The cheapest semi-new option might be to order a new On-One il pompino frame and build it up with used or cheap parts. (sorry I'm endless plugging on-one on this forum but you can't beat them for sheer value, IMHO).

If you pre-order with Brant, the owner, it'll cost just STG125 for the frame, STG35 for fork. Only danger is you might like it so much that you'll pay just as much to build it up as to buy complete bike like the spez langster.

how about the Charge Plug? Great review and same price as langster.

My first fixie i built myself but didn't make a great fist of it. My second was a new complete On-one il pompino, which I still have. My other bike is also a pompino, built myself with cheap parts. Total cost about €300.
my bike 001.jpg

fish-head

Right so I've got my hands on a frame. A nice Paganini jobbie in red and yellow. Spent some time today stripping off the bits I don't need, gears, brakes (I'll put one back on) and all kinds of crap that was on the frame. It's good to go now for a set of wheels.

I haven't a rashers about building a wheel really.. I'm sure I'd make an arse of it! Do you know of anyone in Dublin that could build/sell me a rear wheel with a fixed hub?

Morgan

Cliff in Cycleogical would be able to sort you out.

http://www.cyclelogical-bikes.com/
01 872 4678

Itsfixed

fish-head wrote:

Right so I've got my hands on a frame. A nice Paganini jobbie in red and yellow. Spent some time today stripping off the bits I don't need, gears, brakes (I'll put one back on) and all kinds of crap that was on the frame. It's good to go now for a set of wheels.

I haven't a rashers about building a wheel really.. I'm sure I'd make an arse of it! Do you know of anyone in Dublin that could build/sell me a rear wheel with a fixed hub?

Sounds great. Will you post a pic here when you're finished?

fish-head

Itsfixed wrote:

Sounds great. Will you post a pic here when you're finished?

Yeah I will of course.

I went to Cycleogical only to be told you can make a fixer out of an old racer, which I know is a complete pile of horse arse. So I went to Penny Farthing on Camden St and got a quote for a set of Mavic wheels, chainset and crank, sprocket and chain for €260. Does that sound good?

Morgan

fish-head wrote:

I went to Cycleogical only to be told you can make a fixer out of an old racer, which I know is a complete pile of horse arse.

Isn't the Paganini an old racer?

fish-head wrote:

So I went to Penny Farthing on Camden St and got a quote for a set of Mavic wheels, chainset and crank, sprocket and chain for €260. Does that sound good?

Depends on exactly which components you're getting - do you know the model names etc? Sounds reasonable though, assuming the parts are of OK quality, since there isn't really much else you need for your build.

fish-head

Morgan wrote:

Isn't the Paganini an old racer?

Yeah it is. I meant what he said was horse arse, not the bicycle!

Anyway, I placed the order on the parts today. Didn't order the chainset and crank, as the one already on the frame is perfectly serviceable so that's dropped the price considerably. I just needed a new chain ring for the bottom bracket.

flickerx

fish-head wrote:

Yeah it is. I meant what he said was horse arse, not the bicycle!

Anyway, I placed the order on the parts today. Didn't order the chainset and crank, as the one already on the frame is perfectly serviceable so that's dropped the price considerably. I just needed a new chain ring for the bottom bracket.

? The crank connects to the bottom bracket. Then the chainring is connected onto the crank.

Be warned though - the rear sprocket and the chainring on the crank have to be exactly in line with each other! You may have to get a different bottom bracket installed into the frame.

Thats a decent enough price for all the gear. Mavic wheels are what I have on my home made fixie, with miche hubs.

I think Sheldon Brown does nice cheap rear fixed hubs if you wanted to have a go at building the wheel yourself.

Good luck with it... and yeah please post some pix up when you're done

flickerx

hey fish-head, hows your fixie coming along?

fish-head

Still waiting for parts from the folks at Penny Farthing. Apparently they'll have them tomorrow, but that's what they said the last two times I've been at them aswell. Not the most efficient service.

I've heard 'I ackchlee forgoh abow dah' too many times..

Ghost Rider

Chain Reaction Cycles are really quick to deliver and stock a lot of the parts you'll need, I reckon. Also, Hub Jub in the UK specialise in fixed gear parts and were pretty prompt when I used them.

fish-head wrote:

Still waiting for parts from the folks at Penny Farthing. Apparently they'll have them tomorrow, but that's what they said the last two times I've been at them aswell. Not the most efficient service.

I've heard 'I ackchlee forgoh abow dah' too many times..

fish-head

Wahoo! I got it finished (sorta) today! Picked up all the bits from town and went to work at it.

Unsurprisingly, Penny Farthing gave me a front hub with the wrong axle, so I had to borrow my friends front wheel from his Mercian fixer. Feels great to ride though!

Flew home from my buddies house (he's got all the tools and a his dad has a workshop, which was very handy) up and down hills and didn't need to brake once.

Still a bit of tweaking to do to get it right, but I'm very happy.

I'll lash up a picture when it's finally done. Cheers for the advice lads.

flickerx

sounds good. what brakes did you put on it?

i still havent put any brakes on mine yet. dont think i will now either. gonna get me some cycling shoes and the pedals that the cleats (?) go onto for some serious pedal-core action.

p.s. congrats on getting it done - yeah do post some pix up, i'm keen to see what other people are doing... if i can find somewhere to put up a pic of mine, i'll do it...

Morgan

flickerx wrote:

i still havent put any brakes on mine yet. dont think i will now either.

Oh no, I sense a vicious braked/brakeless argument approaching...

Ghost Rider

As long as he's wearing a helmet...

Morgan wrote:

Oh no, I sense a vicious braked/brakeless argument approaching...

fish-head

flickerx wrote:

sounds good. what brakes did you put on it?

Whatever brakes were on the frame when I got it.. I think they're Shimano, they seem to work fine. I need to change the lever though. I want mine on the top of the bar rather than on the drop. I think I might need an entirely new handlebar, feels a bit small on me.

fish-head

Behold!

philstar

well done, looks great.........how long did it take altogether??

flickerx

fish-head wrote:

Behold!

Wow. Nice piece of machinery. I'm well impressed.

Definite target for thieves!

I'll try and put up a picture of mine...

flickerx

Here's mine. Hope this works.



Here's the handlebars, cos you cant really see them from the side. They're from a really old mountain bike I had. I might trim them down a bit. They look a bit strange, but I like them. And the stem says Ferrari on it - instant bling cred.

Morgan

I thought you were riding without handlebars for a minute - desperately clutching onto the stem

flickerx

Morgan wrote:

I thought you were riding without handlebars for a minute - desperately clutching onto the stem

No brakes, no gears, no helmet - although no handlebars seems just that bit too extreme.

Maybe some of the couriers do it?

parasite

do you not miss handlebar grips in the rain

fish-head

flickerx wrote:

Wow. Nice piece of machinery. I'm well impressed.

Definite target for thieves!

I'll try and put up a picture of mine...

Cheers! I'm gonna repaint it soon enough, I just wanted to get a bit of riding into it first.

Yours is class! Looks great. I quite like the handlebars too. I haven't decided on what sort of handlebars I'm going to use. All I know is the ones on it are a bit too small and flimsy for a big lad like myself. I might get something by Nitto.

philstar wrote:

well done, looks great.........how long did it take altogether??

Thanks. With all the waiting around it took about two weeks but if I had my hands on all the parts at once I guess it would have taken about 2 or 3 hours..

philstar

how much did it cost you guys to put together those fixies??

and how come you did'nt fit multi gears??......are they a bitch to set up??

Morgan

It's easy to install and set up derailleur gears, however you can't do this with a fixed gear drivetrain. You're trapped in the one gear and unable to freewheel. Forever!!! :eek:

fish-head

Mine cost €390 altogether, frame and all, which isn't too bad I reckon. Next time I'll be able to do it cheaper because I can buy what I need off the net and not have to use local distributors.

It's all about the simplicity of it all, Philstar.