Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Rear Brake Bridge

This is my stripped Pista frame I'm working on right now. Would I be compromising the integrity of the frame by cutting off and eliminating the brake bridge? As you can see, it is drilled for a brake but I will be running a front caliper only. I'm simply looking for that clean minimalist look. It is not a large frame so I don't foresee any flexing problem in this situation. Any advice?

don't cut it out. it would be bad.

even real track frames have rear "brake" bridges...even though they're not drilled.

That bridge is a major structural component. If you cut it out, you'll likely have a flimsy frame.

Fill with bondo for a 'smooth' look...

If you want to make a positive change to the frame, have a frame builder fill that hole in the bridge or braze a piece in to fill it.

Hey, thanks all! OK, I think I'll fill the hole......

Yes do not cut it. You can bondo as mentioned or braze and fill or do what I did: look thru the bin of used rubber bits at the shop and get one that fits in the hole.

Cutting it out would definitely be bad.

It turns out, however that the rear brake hole is an excellent place to mount one of two things:

1. LED
2. a decoration. mine has a chromed skull (on a bolt) that i bought from the local harley dealership.

The skull. I like, I like.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
The skull. I like, I like.

Oooh, yeah...... a major ditto to that idea...... I like that....

you can use DAP sealant, it's paintable and flexable.

Originally posted by William Karsten
you can use DAP sealant, it's paintable and flexable.
You mean as an undercoat?

oooh!! you could do a skull with LEDs as eyes!!!!

Originally posted by OneTinSloth
oooh!! you could do a skull with LEDs as eyes!!!!

yes, in fact, you can...

you can get aftermarket motorcycle license plate bolts that have an electrical hookup so that the eyes of the skull glow red, or so that your license plate is surrounded by little flashing LEDs.

of course, on the motorcycle, they're normally wired into the taillight harness.

not that i have any little blinky lights or glow-eyed skulls on my motorcycle. a few bullet-headed bolts, and one discreetly placed skull.

my next little project is to re-tap the threads on a couple of the skullheaded bolts so that they fit the downtube shifter bosses on my fixed road conversion. combine them with a chromed sleeve to cover the shifter bosses themselves, and it should look pretty cool.

i've also got a press-on skull that fits nicely into the handlebar clamp bolt on the stem. sooner or later, i'll have skulls to the front, rear, and sides.

Originally posted by George
You mean as an undercoat?

No to fill in holes. I used it on spots on my frame.

I used just primer.

Hey Georgy, what'd you use as paint remover?

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
The skull. I like, I like.

Pretty silly to me, I say!!

but, shoot, it's just my taste, and I have wierd acceptables anyway.

Originally posted by bent_sprocket
my next little project is to re-tap the threads on a couple of the skullheaded bolts so that they fit the downtube shifter bosses on my fixed road conversion. combine them with a chromed sleeve to cover the shifter bosses themselves, and it should look pretty cool.

i've also got a press-on skull that fits nicely into the handlebar clamp bolt on the stem. sooner or later, i'll have skulls to the front, rear, and sides.

SKULLS=HOT!

i'm being serious.

Originally posted by William Karsten
No to fill in holes. I used it on spots on my frame.

I used just primer.

Hey Georgy, what'd you use as paint remover?

Oh, the caulk-like sealant. But wouldn't it be too flexible and not ever harden?
For paint removal, I used Jasco paint removing gel/paste. It was a pretty messy job..... isn't there something easier and less toxic to work with?

Originally posted by George
Oh, the caulk-like sealant. But wouldn't it be too flexible and not ever harden?
For paint removal, I used Jasco paint removing gel/paste. It was a pretty messy job..... isn't there something easier and less toxic to work with?

You're right, but it's the best bet to fill holes. It hardens enough to paint, and holds paint ok.

There is no other paint remover that works as well, at least not that I've ever heard off.

My SS mountian bike will not get so much work. It's gonna be flat black.

Similar question, my fix is a 1973 Schwinn Supersport. Can I safely grind off the kickstand mounting? with it gone, there will be no bridge between the chainstays. Am I in for a world of bottom bracket flex?

Originally posted by Hot Pepper
Similar question, my fix is a 1973 Schwinn Supersport. Can I safely grind off the kickstand mounting? with it gone, there will be no bridge between the chainstays. Am I in for a world of bottom bracket flex?
?

I don't think cutting it off would be a problem, but I'm not 100% sure.


Why not just cut off the excess, and leave a small portion of the welded section?