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My lovely custom singlespeed commuter

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My lovely custom singlespeed commuter

Old 08-08-08, 07:16 PM
  #1  
Hey let's ride.
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My lovely custom singlespeed commuter

Don Walker hand built singlespeed frame complete with brakes, Soma moustache bars, Dura
Ace crank, Chorus skeleton brakes, Gold matching Velocity Deep V rims, Nitto Front rack with
canvas bag from Rivendell, and of course my favorite SMP saddle and Thompson seatpost.

https://home.swbell.net/hebert11/sing...d_cruise_2.jpg

Handgrips are Elk leather and sewn in place.

I have a super short downhill stem, Don is making a custom one to my specs.

Hope you enjoy. Frame was seen in NAHBS in a slightly different configuration.

One mistake, I forgot to ask for fender clearance.
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Old 08-08-08, 07:26 PM
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I guess as long as you like it that way...
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Old 08-08-08, 07:28 PM
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I almost got a single speed road bike earlier this week. Thank goodness I didn't; a flat bar road bike with gears suits me (and the terrain) much better. Whatever works...
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Old 08-08-08, 07:28 PM
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Sweet bike! What kind of front hub?
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Old 08-08-08, 07:29 PM
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nice if singlespeed is your thing... a brooks or other leather saddle would look nice on it.
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Old 08-08-08, 07:34 PM
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Brooks would look nice. Have considered it.
Hubs are Phils.
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Old 08-08-08, 09:37 PM
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That's sweet!
Reminds me of a fancy Salsa Casserole (the colors).

This is a weird question but when your front bag is filled and not so flacid, can you see the front tire at all while riding? I was thinking about doing the front rack and bag at some point but for some reason it bugs me when I can't see my front wheel.
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Old 08-08-08, 09:47 PM
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You can see the front tire just fine.
If I had thought about it I'd probably have gone with 650 wheels like your A. Homer Hilsen, which is supersweet BTW.
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Old 08-08-08, 09:59 PM
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Gorgeous.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by pathdoc
Don Walker hand built singlespeed frame complete with brakes, Soma moustache bars, Dura
Ace crank, Chorus skeleton brakes, Gold matching Velocity Deep V rims, Nitto Front rack with
canvas bag from Rivendell, and of course my favorite SMP saddle and Thompson seatpost.

https://home.swbell.net/hebert11/sing...d_cruise_2.jpg

Handgrips are Elk leather and sewn in place.

I have a super short downhill stem, Don is making a custom one to my specs.

Hope you enjoy. Frame was seen in NAHBS in a slightly different configuration.

One mistake, I forgot to ask for fender clearance.
Sweet bike! I suppose if you ever get the hankering for gears you could put an internally geared hub on it..
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Old 08-08-08, 10:32 PM
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My first thought when I saw the bag on the front was "looks like a moose nose.... ". Sorry, but it DOES....

The bike looks great. But I'm not a big fan of the front rack. I'd rather have any added weight on a rear rack where it can't be felt when I steer the bike. But other than that I think it looks great and ready for some long cross town rides.

If you're a Brooks fan then one of those colored to match the leather grips would be super sweet and set it up with that elusive "gentleman's ride" look.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:37 PM
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Very nice looking bike. Its clean and utilitarian looking, like a nice gold mid 60's chevy pick-up.
I dig the mustache bars with the elk hide grips, and the front rack. Very nice. I agree some fenders would really add to the package, along with a black B-17 or B-66 saddle.

Thanks for sharing.
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Old 08-08-08, 10:44 PM
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Can you post a close up of those lugs? *drool*
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Old 08-08-08, 11:12 PM
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Oh man, I am so glad to see a guy with a SS that has brakes.

My pet peaves are the hipster "fixie" crowd that

1. Ride with no brakes for the "Zen of the road," which is BS, it is extremely dangerous and they have nearly hit me because of their lack of control, and they go EXCESSIVELY slow down hills because they can't stop. This is my number one peeve with the "fixie" people. If they want to be Darwin poster people they should not take me along with them.

2. Ride with no helmets (this is not such a big deal, many people don't)

3. Ride more dangerously (in general) than any other rider I have ever seen on the road, including the crazy decked out "roadies." Examples that I have seen : blowing through a completely red light to cross a six lane street full of cars : riding through a stop sign while looking down at some kind of blackberry/iPhone (note that that there was no stop sign for the traverse traffic) : Turning right into oncoming traffic without stopping (and apparently without looking) and taking the lane, causing drivers to swerve to avoid hitting him : riding the wrong way down a bike path, at night, with no lights, with no brakes, with huge bug eye dark sunglasses on : etc, etc.

I like the look except for the front rack, as someone else mentioned.
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Old 08-08-08, 11:17 PM
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Where do you park it at night?
I might want to borrow it.
Thanks
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Old 08-09-08, 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted by daaxix
Oh man, I am so glad to see a guy with a SS that has brakes.

My pet peaves are the hipster "fixie" crowd that

1. Ride with no brakes for the "Zen of the road," which is BS, it is extremely dangerous and they have nearly hit me because of their lack of control, and they go EXCESSIVELY slow down hills because they can't stop. This is my number one peeve with the "fixie" people. If they want to be Darwin poster people they should not take me along with them.

2. Ride with no helmets (this is not such a big deal, many people don't)

3. Ride more dangerously (in general) than any other rider I have ever seen on the road, including the crazy decked out "roadies." Examples that I have seen : blowing through a completely red light to cross a six lane street full of cars : riding through a stop sign while looking down at some kind of blackberry/iPhone (note that that there was no stop sign for the traverse traffic) : Turning right into oncoming traffic without stopping (and apparently without looking) and taking the lane, causing drivers to swerve to avoid hitting him : riding the wrong way down a bike path, at night, with no lights, with no brakes, with huge bug eye dark sunglasses on : etc, etc.

I like the look except for the front rack, as someone else mentioned.


WTF... does your rant have to do with this thread?
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Old 08-09-08, 01:42 AM
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Very nice bike, congratulations. How long have you been riding with that saddle? WHat do you like about it? I have been in the market for a new saddle but I havent found anything I've liked. Your saddle looks like what I have in mind.
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Old 08-09-08, 02:11 AM
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Congratulations on the bike!


Originally Posted by daaxix
Oh man, I am so glad to see a guy with a SS that has brakes.
I haven't seen anyone ride a ss bike without brakes before... Except for Ted Shred and some BMX/Flatland riders.
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Old 08-09-08, 06:20 AM
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Originally Posted by daaxix
Oh man, I am so glad to see a guy with a SS that has brakes.

My pet peaves are the hipster "fixie" crowd that blah blah blah...
You are confused sir (or ma'am). Virtually all SSs have brakes. How else would you stop? What you are describing are people riding fixed gears...which has nothing to do with this thread.

Last edited by mihlbach; 08-09-08 at 06:23 AM.
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Old 08-09-08, 08:10 AM
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The SMP saddle just works for me. I'm not saying its the best saddle for everyone but for me its perfect. I've got 4 SMP saddles, one on each bike.
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Old 08-09-08, 09:20 AM
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VERY nice! I like the front rack and bag. Would be handy I think...
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Old 08-09-08, 09:33 AM
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I like being able to see what I'm hauling while riding, thus front racks for me.
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Old 08-09-08, 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by pathdoc
The SMP saddle just works for me. I'm not saying its the best saddle for everyone but for me its perfect. I've got 4 SMP saddles, one on each bike.
+1 for choosing function over a form....it is a commuter after all.

but when you're taking pics for the internet, throw a stunt saddle on there -- something like a selle san marco regal. a nicer bottle cage wouldn't hurt either. when you've got lugs that nice, everything else needs to measure up too!
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Old 08-09-08, 10:00 AM
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Hey what's wrong with my water bottle cage? Its a classic.
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Old 08-09-08, 10:57 AM
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It's a beauty! As a fellow SS rider I think it's a great combination of stuff. You are gonna love it.

Two small things: Look Keo pedals? Road pedals and shoes? On that bike?

IMHO, the frame is beautiful, the lugs awesome, but Dan Walker needs serious logo/graphics help.

Enjoy! ride the wheels off the thing!
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