Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - fixed commuting...

also posted in Commuting to get various opinions...

I'm converting over my old Panasonic to fixed to commute and work on smoothing my pedaling out.

so I'm looking for what you might like if you had a 20 mile RT commute with hardly any elevation change (300 ft.+) on a fixed commuter.
I've already picked up the ENO hub, soon to have Mavic A719 rims and DT Swiss 14g spokes. Tektro R730 brakes (both ends, thank you very much!), moustache bars, trunk rack, B-17 narrow (suprise suprise), Conti Travel Contacts and fenders. Everything from 53-20 to 38-15 (too similar? 38-15 easier to spin up?)
The sticking point? The front hub. I would love to run a dynohub. Haven't heard the best reviews about the Shimano hubs but Schmidt Dynohubs with the E6 light come highly recommended for someone like me who commutes in all weather with everything from dark MUPS to high traffic roadways. More than anything, its the price. Yeah, you get what you pay for but man! A hub and wheel that will likely cost what my whole build is going to cost ($550 after wheel/hub/light/mounts!!)?!

and yes, I know I'm whining a bit.

I want opinions and maybe alternatives to what I've mentioned? I've got some time. Accumulating parts for spring.

Thanks all!!

That build sounds good. A719s are a beefy rim, I have em on my crosscheck. 53-20 will do you fine to start with, you may want to adjust it up or down later but 69-70gi is a great beginning point. I commuted for awhile on a 50km round trip and found 69 gi was the best for me over the long haul.

sorry I don't know much about dynohubs. I have heard bad murmurs about the low-end shimanos too. If it was me I'd just throw on a cheap front wheel and a planet bike led light with rechargeable batteries, and wait for a deal on a nice used dynohub to float by.

I have the eno eccentric hub. It's alright I guess.

Hey, which DT Swiss spokes did you buy?

Consider the b&m iq fly headlight http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Busch-and-Muller-Busch-and-Muller-Lumotec-IQ-Fly-LED-Head-Light-with-bracket-15240.htm

if you are going for the dynohub setup.

For reference my commute is 20 - 30 miles rt and I run 52x18 which is fine although I am thinking of swaping to a 19 to improve my spin.

thanks for the replies!

mander: I'm starting out with what I have already on the bike and I know that since I've left it in the 53/20 I've been happy with how fast I get around and the effort needed for my commute/joy rides. I may just go for batterie operated DIY lights and wait/cancel the dynohub idea.

wroomwroomoops: not so much a fan of the ENO? Otehr tha it being aluminium, do you have a specific problem with it? I know its not ideal but the Panic is vertical drop outs. Seemed the cleanest conversion.
Haven't bought the spokes yet. That will come this week I think. I'm a big fella so I figured that straight 14 was better than any weight savers I could put in place.

Consider the b&m iq fly headlight http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Busch-and-Muller-Busch-and-Muller-Lumotec-IQ-Fly-LED-Head-Light-with-bracket-15240.htm

if you are going for the dynohub setup.

For reference my commute is 20 - 30 miles rt and I run 52x18 which is fine although I am thinking of swaping to a 19 to improve my spin.

I need to look into those lights some more. I'd worry that they would seem so tempting to someone when I go to the clubs, shopping, hiking...

That is a whole 'nother issue I won't get into for now...

A fixed or singlespeed wheel with an A719 rim is about as bombproof as bombproof can get.

For gearing, I like to have my fixed gear bikes to be just slightly higher than the gears I tend to wear out on my dérailleur bikes So on my Surly crosscheck, I like to use 48-19 and 36-14 the most. So one of my fixies has 40-15, and the other has 39-14. If I flip the wheels, they have 17 and 16 tooth cogs respectively.

Which brings me to the use of a flip flop wheel. It's nice to be able to flip the wheel around and have an easier gear to use if it's windy.

Unless you're in love with this frame, I'd sell the eno and buy a complete bike. The redline 925 has everything you want, though you'll have to find an '07 to get mustache bars. The raleigh one way is also great. Both are under $600.

Are you sure the Panic has enough tire clearance? I googled the tires you're talking about and they only seem to come in 37, there aren't too many frames that have vertical dropouts and clearance for a 37 and a fender.

Also, a lot of people will argue about this, but with the advent of cheap LED lights, I find dynohubs to be something only worth doing for aesthetic reasons and because you like them, not really ever the best solution to the problem.

i'd consider a carbon fork. aside from (possibly) saving a few dozen grams, you'll get a nice comfort increase. my girlfriend notices a significant decrease in "road buzz" from her steel fork/stem to my carbon fork/ti stem.

wroomwroomoops: not so much a fan of the ENO? Otehr tha it being aluminium, do you have a specific problem with it? I know its not ideal but the Panic is vertical drop outs. Seemed the cleanest conversion.
Haven't bought the spokes yet. That will come this week I think. I'm a big fella so I figured that straight 14 was better than any weight savers I could put in place.


My specific problem is that one of the cartridge bearings broke almost immediately (3 months in as I started riding the wheel I build around the hub). And unlike you, I'm a light guy. Also, there's nothing in the workmanship or components of the hub (took it apart several times) that would impress me or justify the price in any way at all. You take it apart, you look at what you paid, and you start to wonder.

You'll be surprised to know that butted spokes are actually more durable than straight gauge. In fact, if you could get your hands on the Alpine III, that would be really sweet. Still best spokes in the world, ever.

Also, a lot of people will argue about this, but with the advent of cheap LED lights, I find dynohubs to be something only worth doing for aesthetic reasons and because you like them, not really ever the best solution to the problem.

I agree wholeheartedly. Dynahubs are evil.

Also, a lot of people will argue about this, but with the advent of cheap LED lights, I find dynohubs to be something only worth doing for aesthetic reasons and because you like them, not really ever the best solution to the problem.

The convenience factor is still hard to beat though - light never needs to be recharged, batteries don't need to be carried.

But seriously, battery powered LED lights for $500 will absolutely light up the road.

The high-end shimano dynohubs (DH-3N70 and 3N71) are nearly as good as the schmidt's for less than half the cost. The low end (NX-30) are crap, so avoid those. But don't lump the nice stuff in with the crap.

You can also get pre-built (3N70 laced to salsa delgado) wheels for around ~$115 from QBP, which should put a nice lighting system under $200.

The convenience factor is still hard to beat though - light never needs to be recharged, batteries don't need to be carried.

But seriously, battery powered LED lights for $500 will absolutely light up the road.

Convenience and run time, even with efficient l.e.d setups for poeple who do really long rides (like 1000(s)km straight) it gets difficult to manage the batteries so you have enough juice. For commuting however I would find the cost a bit much as you will always have the opportunity to recharge.

Thank you all!
I'll check on the double butted DTs' and if I can get my tire of choice in the frame. I like Contis but the world won't end if I have to use something else...

Reconsidering batteries V. Dyno...

Thanks again for all the input, you've been most helpful!

as to the frame and rear hub, I love the butted frame and thought it would be a good way to 'try this out' for commuting. Either way, frame stays as single or gets turned into a geared bike again later. Looking at what I need/want before investing money in a specific frame (although I was eyeballing the Cannondale SS/FG the other day...)

heres' to hoping the hub holds up!

OK, just a little note: the DT Swiss Alpine III are triple-butted. Smart tech.