Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Psudeo-Track bike built on a steel frame- what do you think?

Lol, been gone for a long time, have been hanging out with my buddies. Doing car stuff and riding bikes through Seattle.

I picked up a Univega steel frame (nuevo sport) with no headset, I thought it was something rare. But several of my friends have seen my frame and they have built some fixies recently. And they said that they Univegas are pretty common. So I think it's okay for me to shave off the cable holds on the frame, repaint it and make it a fixie.

I am going to do a nice custom paint scheme anyways, so it will be worth more then the 20 bucks I paid for it. (Matte black with sharpie art to give it a "must see in person" look)

But yeah, idk, I have a 1 inch carbon aero fork from Cervelo and Mavic pursuit bars and it would look nice, but idk about putting it on a steel frame.

I have been looking for a nice aluminum frame on the cheap (since my friend got lucky and nabbed an aluminum TT frame for 60 bucks... and he just finished building a track spec fixie).

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/1083203893.html
^That is most nearly perfect (I just want full aluminum, not just mainframe) but it is a bit too big for me.. So yeah.. (can anyone find something for me? hopefully for under 100 dollars)

What do you guys think?

Would an Aero fork and pursuit bars be too weird on an old steel frame? Should I just go ahead and build using the Univega frame I have, or should I continue to hunt for a nice Aluminum frame? (I like the stiff ride of Aluminum since I got used to riding my Denali)

There's nothing "weird" about a carbon fork on a steel frame, it's just that usually a person who bothers to get a carbon fork will also bother to get a really nice steel frame. I think that the technium is a great deal, but, speaking from personal experience, don't buy a frame that's too big for you.

Yeah, that's what I meant, I can't get it because it won't fit me.

I want an undersized "short wheel base" frame, Like the Univega, it is 48 cm (I ride 49/50), and it fits really well, feels really quick and nimble when i tested it with some spare parts..

I'd just get regular sized cranks and put my seat up super high.

I ultimately want an Aluminum frame.. But yeah.. modern aluminum road bike frames won't do because of the Vertical dropouts and it would be dangerous to ride competitively (and I think vert drops are disallowed in velodromes).

I like the current frame I have, it's nice and tidy, and it has a straight top bar when my fork and wheels are fitted. (I used the wheels from the Denali for a test fit, but I still need to get a wheel set. I am just not really sure..

Will steel frames be stiff enough for regular bashing/hard sprinting/explosive sprint climbing? I am used to the "jarring" ride of Alu, and I love it. I heard about how Steel is a bit flimsy, I don't know if I can convert after riding/falling in love with Aluminum.

Or is there not much of a difference? And it wouldn't matter that much? IE.. full carbon frames don't feel that sporty to me, I tested a Madone, and it is too frickin soft.

You can pick up an aluminium Leader 721tr frame for $180US or so not including shipping. people on this board hate Leaders though, also keep looking on craigslist, you can find some decent stuff on there, I picked up a complete Cypress track bike for $360 Canadian.

I looked at leaders back when I was contemplating the project. Those are very nice aluminum frames, I like the aggressive geometry, but it's a tad bit expensive, and I don't think I want to get a brand new frame.

The super angry pursuit geometry might kill (my back) me on regular roads or biking within traffic. Kinda like daily driving a track car is a really bad idea.

And Yeah, I check into Recycled Cycles near UW nearly everyday. Nothing good (or cheap) though.. (that's where my friend got his TT frame.

Edit: oh.. I just saw that I can't get anything smaller then 51..

sorta far fetched to be hoping to get an aluminum track frame for under $100 i reckon. also asking for help on here prob won't do much good either. if someone finds one they'd prob just buy it for themselves as it's a pretty flippin good deal regardless.

Lul, oh right. Forgot that bikes sell/buy quicker then cars..

But I just want to know one thing: Are steel frames firm enough for a guy who is used to Aluminum oversized frames?

Because the Univega frame I have is perfect for building a Velodrome spec fixie. (horizontal drops with a screw adjust axle stop) and it is a bit undersized and is nimble (so I can stretch over the top holding the pursuit bars in a fairly neutral body position).

The only worry I have is the stiffness, I don't know if it will be too soft.