Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - track end pics.....the devil's in the details....

can i see some pics of good looking track ends with frame info....i have been looking at getting a dedicated track frame/bike to replace my conversion but everytime i make up my mind i see a photo of the track ends and it kills the deal...bad welding, stamped....etc.....thanks, bob

http://media.photobucket.com/image/jamis%20sputnik%20frame/yankeehotelfoxtrot/100_1715.jpg

Jamis sputnik has nice dropouts, so does Alien I believe. I also like Surly Steamroller dropouts.

http://www.kinesisdecade.co.uk/xtraproduct/large/HoriDout.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2086148670_6e83f541f9.jpg

You should worry more about the geometry and fit of the frame if you care about riding. The way the dropouts look on a mass produced frame has never been a deal breaker for me. They all look like crap for one reason or another. If it is that big of deal for you, go custom.

1fluffhead....i know i know.....but you have to admit there is something nice about a good looking track end....

http://www.rawlandcycles.com/_uls/store_items/rawland_olaf_2.jpg

1fluffhead....i know i know.....but you have to admit there is something nice about a good looking track end....

No doubt. I have just not seen anything that is mass produced that really looks good. The only ones that I have ever seen that were really hot were all custom.

What frame(s) have been you been considering and what has been the fail for you for the dropouts?

Sputnik has lost wax dropouts which are top notch, investment cast dropouts. Check it out. Great bike in general, too.

kilo....rush hour....burroughs....khs flite.....i am sure they are all strong enough and, like fluffhead says,there are other more important things to consider....i will probably end up getting the rush; it's ends aren't the handsomest but seems to be a great frame for the dough....steamroller and se premium brew have nice looking ends but more relaxed geometry which is not what i am looking for...apparently the 2010 rush will have some nice tange ends; perhaps i'll wait....were i able to find the sputnik, frame only, i might go that way, but as it stands i have already started acquiring parts and purchasing complete bike is no longer an option.....guess i just wanted to see some nice ends.....those courage ones are beautiful...bob

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3489506703_4963bc82d4.jpg

http://bikeisland.com/images/jury70.JPG
they eyelets are brazed on but still sexy

But won't they get all scraped up anyway?
Who cares...

seems all the ends i admire are nice and beefy; so, maybe not just aesthetic....

yup once they have been kissed they tend no to look so good

Sputnik has lost wax dropouts which are top notch, investment cast dropouts. Check it out. Great bike in general, too.
Sputnik is getting a lot of love on here, lately!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/jezbabe/9mmtrackFROMright.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/448732474_6b509e0727.jpg

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/539/broaklanddropoutscp3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/1793817456_d95945e7af.jpg?v=0

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/swel50/P1030148.jpg

http://jonnycycles.com/images/Rickey%20009.jpg

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=80729&d=1221067135

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/2257759725_ef836c70de.jpg

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/3612543082_8b59bcb8c3.jpg

happy whales ftw
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/eric07/01010601041101030720080419d5fce219e.jpg

Paul dropouts are so nice!

http://velospace.org/files/158841500_f7d698bf06_o.jpg

http://velospace.org/node/477

Sputnik is getting a lot of love on here, lately!

That's cause I'm on here all the time and I love that freakin bike haha.

Those dropouts posted above are soo cool lookin

OP- I should also mention that you should look for a bike that has built in chain tensioners in the dropouts. It's a minor detail, but it comes in handy. When I put my rear wheel on, I don't have to worry about messing w/ it to get proper chain tension or wheel alignment. I just push it on to my two screws and know it's in the perfect spot. Not a big deal, but definitely convenient.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2086148670_6e83f541f9.jpg

Pure artform.

I'd like my bike to have those adjusters

Courage needs to work on their kerning.

Courage needs to work on their kerning.

Lol th ey sur e do.

dropouts aint bad on my next frame

http://www.chariandconyc.com/images/products/detail/DSC_0080.jpg

but what's got me is the bottom bracket:
http://www.chariandconyc.com/images/products/detail/DSC_0076.jpg

glad to see someone has already covered vanilla and courage. pure sex and function, respectively.

here's those sputnik track ends. made by maxway. photo is more hub than track end i guess, but you get the idea. cog is now EAI 16t for the record.

http://middlepath.gotdns.com/bikes/volos.jpg

i dig the cane creek hub!

happy whales ftw
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/eric07/01010601041101030720080419d5fce219e.jpg[/QUOTE]

those are the coolest ends i have ever seen. what company?
i also liked that vanilla one. too bad its like a year long waitlist to get a frame

happy whales ftw
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/eric07/01010601041101030720080419d5fce219e.jpg

those are the coolest ends i have ever seen. what company?
i also liked that vanilla one. too bad its like a year long waitlist to get a frame[/QUOTE]

Those whale ends were one offs made by the owner, iirc.

yeah some local guy and his brother were making those with a plasma cutter out of plate they were funny dudes they made some weird end too

Speedvagen

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/02/28/1235858370641-vpl0zh5mosjd-480-90-480-70.jpg

I don't understand why some track nuts have allen keys. I like the box end style ones more. It feels sturdier to me and a lot of allen wrenches don't give much leverage unless you buy a special, long one.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=428233

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=387687

Sputnik has lost wax dropouts which are top notch, investment cast dropouts. Check it out. Great bike in general, too.
I've never seen the point of investment cast dropouts, except on production frames where it can save finishing time. Forged, mild steel dropouts are malleable and less prone to failure.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/448732474_6b509e0727.jpg
I built a frame with those Nagasawa dropouts:
http://os2.dhs.org/~john/track0005.jpg
I've found regular forged dropouts nicer:
http://os2.dhs.org/~john/fixed-frame/ends.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/eric07/01010601041101030720080419d5fce219e.jpg
those are the coolest ends i have ever seen. what company?
i also liked that vanilla one. too bad its like a year long waitlist to get a frame


Those whale ends were one offs made by the owner, iirc.
Pretty nasty joining on there... :eek:

I don't understand why some track nuts have allen keys. I like the box end style ones more. It feels sturdier to me and a lot of allen wrenches don't give much leverage unless you buy a special, long one.

not to go too OT, but allen bolts do have a few benefits. they can shave some substantial weight (less axle, bolt is usually lighter than track nuts). They are much less likely to get rounded off/out (and it's harder to use the wrong tool on 'em... you can't just grab channel locks or pliers and go to town, as I've seen done many times to standard track nuts).

and from personal experience, I had a set of Paul hubs with allen bolts that I rode for several years and never had any issues torquing 'em down with a standard Y-wrench.

and to keep it more OT, a few more pics:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3682520659_4f270ca7d5.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/443651820_fc8a7819f9.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/3111206241_e63032417e.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/1746867549_e160bf964e.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3472962959_feaa18117f.jpg?v=0

glad to see someone has already covered vanilla and courage. pure sex and function, respectively.

here's those sputnik track ends. made by maxway. photo is more hub than track end i guess, but you get the idea. cog is now EAI 16t for the record.

http://middlepath.gotdns.com/bikes/volos.jpg

those can creek hubs are sexy :p

wish i could find a sputnik frame....

http://velospace.org/files/DSC02309.JPG:)
mmmmm peacock groove

paul- why don't you just sell the conversion as a complete bike and then buy a complete sputnik? It's really not a bad build. I mean it's not amazing, but it comes w/ the same stuff that most other bikes come w/ and will serve you well. Plus it's pretty.

it's a thought.....i may just get the rush though.....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3404463913_bba96f4d3a_b.jpg

Anvil custom ends.

http://www.anvilbikes.com/gallery/data/media/14/crowdropout.jpg

stop posting the courage stuff!....5 year waiting list......frustrating and saddening.....joking

happy whales ftw
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/eric07/01010601041101030720080419d5fce219e.jpg

I was looking so hard for this picture.
Those are still my favorite dropout, then the Courage ones, then the Paul ones.

Courage needs to work on their kerning.

Co u ra g e

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9896/folderz.jpg