Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Thinking about a custom frame...

I heard Don Walker was offering deals on Columbus tubed bikes and I'm thinking about taking him up on the offer.

Anyone know the differences between Columbus tubing, specifically SL, SP, and PL?

Also, if I do get a custom should I stay with the sloping top tube or go with something more traditional? I definitely want a drilled fork so that I have the option of riding a brake, is that wrong?

Opinions?

I think it's more wrong that you will have more Walkers in your garage than Don does. ;)

http://poli.cs.vsb.cz/personal/bike/columbus.htm

http://www.desperadocycles.com/The_Lowdown_On_Tubing/Tubing_Properties_For_Non_True_Temper_Tubing.htm

Here is some. My Atala is the SL/SP mix. Always go custom it will be a perfect fit.

S/F<
CEYA!

get the drilled fork, and go traditional, is my vote.
you already have sloping/non-drilled, right?

Get two forks on drill one not drilled.

S.F,
CEYA!

get four forks...
1 threadless drilled
1 threaded drilled
1 threadless un-drilled
1 threaded un-drilled

Also, if I do get a custom should I stay with the sloping top tube or go with something more traditional?


Aside from getting a sexy bike, one of the whole points of going custom is to get a frame that fits optimally and feels amazing. Isn't it? If you find out that the ideal geometry of your frame includes a sloping top tube then that's what will fit the best and be the most fun to ride. To hell with tradition -- unless it includes some nice campy cranks of course. . .

Aside from getting a sexy bike, one of the whole points of going custom is to get a frame that fits optimally and feels amazing. Isn't it? If you find out that the ideal geometry of your frame includes a sloping top tube then that's what will fit the best and be the most fun to ride. To hell with tradition -- unless it includes some nice campy cranks of course. . .

Yup, I love the way my sloping top-tube walker track bike fits. However, I have two sloping top-tube bikes right now. Hmm, that may be a dilemna...

As for the tradition and campy cranks, I've got a nice set of NOS cranks waiting for whatever I build next.

Anyone know the differences between Columbus tubing, specifically SL, SP, and PL?


I remember the diff btwn SL and SP is that SL is the lighter (thinner walls) of the two tubesets. Back in the day... the SL was generally recommended only for lighter (say 160 pounds or less) riders.

IMO if you want a really nice track tubeset... go with the Reynolds 531 track set with the 24mm round fork blades... and for the chainstays use the same 24mm round forkblades... and then use a 531 headtube for the downtube if you really have that awesome "sprint" in your legs... it was a bit of a tank but a stiff tank... I have a track tandem that I built in 1980 based on this recipe.

msl

get four forks...
1 threadless drilled
1 threaded drilled
1 threadless un-drilled
1 threaded un-drilled

i'd say 8 forks

1 straight threadless drilled
1 straight threaded drilled
1 straight threadless un-drilled
1 straight threaded un-drilled
1 curved threadless drilled
1 curved threaded drilled
1 curved threadless un-drilled
1 curved threaded un-drilled

I like sloping top tubes, but it's only an aesthetic question. For me being a rider of *cough* larger bikes, a sloping top tube makes the bike look less behemoth.

I'm not sure what the benefits are of using the older Columbus tube sets other than you can get all nostalgic over them and the builder can pick them up for a pitance. Personally I'd look at something more 2005 like Life or Zona or whatever, but heck, if you're on a nostalgia trip and can save yourself 50 bucks, why not eh?

As for how traditional or otherwise you want to go with the design, well, that's the beauty of custom.

What do you plan on doing with this bike?

i say enough track bikes, ask don to build you a dedicated fixed touring machine. canti studs, rack mounts, eyelets, long wheelbase, huge tire clearance...

how about the don walker interpretation of the rivendell quickbeam? who wants to be stuck in the land of pavement all the time? track bikes are sweet, but fixed riding doesn't need to be so limited.

Totally.

Get a more relaxed geometry with all the drilling and eyelets for brakes, racks, fenders, cantis, generous tire clearance. Fit it up with a rack or two and buy a backpacking tent and do some light camping.

Oh wait, those are my summer plans! :D

i say enough track bikes, ask don to build you a dedicated fixed touring machine. canti studs, rack mounts, eyelets, long wheelbase, huge tire clearance...

Gross! :D


who wants to be stuck in the land of pavement all the time? track bikes are sweet, but fixed riding doesn't need to be so limited.

Me, city is where it's at. If I want to see nature, I'll go hiking.



As for how traditional or otherwise you want to go with the design, well, that's the beauty of custom.

What do you plan on doing with this bike?

Plan on using it as the weekend bike and fair weather commuter. Thinking of selling the blue bike and using the new one as the part-time track bike as well, but we'll see. I really don't want to sell the blue bike.

Gross! :D
Plan on using it as the weekend bike and fair weather commuter. Thinking of selling the blue bike and using the new one as the part-time track bike as well, but we'll see. I really don't want to sell the blue bike.

Sell it and get one that fits better. You could always paint it the same blue.

http://www.ceeway.com/Columbus-Tubing.htm


I'd have a standard geometry frame, SP downtube, fork blades and chainstays, the rest SL. PL is really too light for general use. 24mm round fork blades too, having a drilled crown is no big deal, and it allows you so much more versatility.

Sell it and get one that fits better. You could always paint it the same blue.

Yeah, I don't know. Thinking about it more, I really like the blue bike. It seems to fit pretty well, so I don't think I'll sell it. It would be nice to have a custom fit commuter though. Something maybe not quite as aggresive, but still with track angles and relatively lightweight.

Plus, Don's backlog is pretty clear, so if I do get it, it would be done pretty quickly.

Custom built commuter sounds very nice, my everyday fixed is one of my old 531 race frames that aquired double bottle cage bosses, mudguard eyes, rear brake fittings and bosses in chain and seatstay bridges for bolting a guard (fender) to. Then it aquired a pair of steel ahead forks from a Pinarello sestriere. Its still very fast and comfortable, it might get rack mounts next respray.

I remember the diff btwn SL and SP is that SL is the lighter (thinner walls) of the two tubesets. Back in the day... the SL was generally recommended only for lighter (say 160 pounds or less) riders.

IMO if you want a really nice track tubeset... go with the Reynolds 531 track set with the 24mm round fork blades... and for the chainstays use the same 24mm round forkblades... and then use a 531 headtube for the downtube if you really have that awesome "sprint" in your legs... it was a bit of a tank but a stiff tank... I have a track tandem that I built in 1980 based on this recipe.

msl


Columbus Sl and Reynolds 531 is almost the same. I like both tubings. I also posted links that compare most of the Columbus tubing.

S/F<
CEYA!

"Something maybe not quite as aggresive, but still with track angles"

Judah, I think you need to have more of a think about this. If you want something for scooting arround town and something that's going to work at various speeds, then track geometry isn't going to work. I think something more like solid road geometry would serve you better, or at least something with a more generous wheelbase and less weight on the front wheel.

Now, you do realise that all these retro tubesets you guys are mentioning like SL, SP, 531 etc are approximately 20% weaker than Zona and Foco etc., right?

I don't know if you realize what kind of geometry my blue bike has. The KHS aero I ride now feels lax compared to it. The KHS is about as lax as I can take as far as geometry is concerned. As for the tubeset, the reason I'm considering the SL, SP, PL, is because that's what he can give me a deal on. We'll see. I do need to think about it more, but not because I'm conflicted about which geometry to get, but whether I can afford a $1000 frame right now.

Thanks for the replies though, I appreciate everyone's input.