thugpipe

I recently decided I had too much money weighing me down and so started to build another bike.



I had a rim failure on my origin 8 bully a couple of months ago and so ended up building a new wheel set for it which left me with a perfectly good 406 disc brake front wheel, so I decided I wanted to make a light weight single speed and this is what I built. The bike has a respect cycles Cromo mini velo frame and a carbon disc brake fork I got off ebay (I pray it will not snap in half and kill me). the bike weighs in at 8.58 kg as you see it in the picture, I just got it together tonight and it still needs some adjustment and I need to cut down the steerer a bit. so far it feels pretty nice and is crazy light, I think its a keeper!

the parts:
Respect Cycles frame
no name ebay Carbon fork
Velocity Aeroheat rims (32h front, 36h rear)
Sram x.7 disc front hub
Kink Incite Cassette hub with 9t driver
Cane Creek 40 series headset
Shimano Zee Crankset with 36t chainring and Hollowtech II BB
ProMax C1 chain tensioners
Thomson Elite Stem
Origin8 Stash Bar 2 handle bars
BB7 disc brake with 160mm G2 clean sweep rotor
speed dial 7 lever
Schwalbe Kojak 20" x 1.35" tires
Charge Spoon Seat
Shimano Saint MX-80 Pedals

Joe Remi

I like it! I have a Bobbin Metric mini velo on the way which probably won't get upgraded quite that much, but who knows?!

thugpipe

here is a more straight on image from the side in daylight



I am discovering that the cheapo carbon fork has way too much flex and so the rotor scrapes against the pads alternately if you leave the saddle or peddle heavy enough, I may break down and order the more expensive Java fork from ebay Java 406 20" Carbon Rigid Fork Straight Fork for Minivelo Fold Bike Disc V Brake | eBay.

Abu Mahendra

looks good

ttakata73

Cool.
Can you compare the ride to your Silvertip or is it too different?
I assume the CRMO and carbon are much more comfortable but your alloy Silvertip feels more responsive?
I miss my Silvertip and think about getting another minivelo someday.

thugpipe

well I have been a little disappointed with the silvertip lately, don't get me wrong it is a very nice bike but in comparison to both this bike and my bully it feels sluggish and inefficient. This new bike is even lighter than the silvertip by about 4 pounds and feels very crisp and fast though I have not gotten to ride it too long yet and I am already planning to replace the front fork with a Java carbon fork this one bends and flexes noticeably under load and makes me nervous (it was a super cheapy like $65 shipped so Eh.) but power to the rear wheel is excellent and the drive train feels super solid between the Kink Cassette hub with its tiny 9t cog and the Shimano Zee crankset and its 36t ring I am getting about 73 gear inches which for the moment feels pretty good. I will deffinately give an update when I get the new fork in a couple of weeks.

this is the new fork I am picking up:
Java 406 20" Carbon Rigid Fork Straight Fork for Minivelo Fold Bike Disc V Brake | eBay

thugpipe

My new Java carbon fork apparently arrives today! Probably means I have to visit the post office tomorrow -_-

thugpipe

just got the new Java carbon minivelo fork today, the quality looks excellent, it looks worlds better than the last one. I will try to put in on tomorrow afterwork if I can.

jur

That looks good... I would love to know the dropout to crown dimension.

thugpipe

In the spec they say 320mm dropout to crown and 350mm steerer

canklecat

Interesting. I was tempted by the Respect with SRAM Automatix last year but got a full sized bike to get back into shape. Still kinda tempted by the notion of a lightweight bike with the Automatix, now that I'm in better shape -- but the 2-speed would be easier on my knees.

jur

That looks like a drop-in for the stock Swift with disc fittings as a bonus. I might go with that.

thugpipe

Well I installed the new fork and it is much better than the previous one.

street_sweeper

these have intrigued me.

Abu Mahendra

love the simple elegance of classic geometry.

thugpipe

Ok so small update: I changed out the front brake and replaced the Avid BB7 with a Magura MT2 hydraulic system

I have found the new fork to be much stronger and higher quality than the first one but still notice that the carbon fork is springier than a steel or alloy one and a 2 piston caliper is necessary to have adequate clearance for the disc when generating lateral force rocking the bike while pedaling. This is my first hydraulic brake and let me say this, I will never look back, holy crap it has so much better feel and modulation. I am converting my bully at the earliest possible convenience.

thugpipe

Well now since changing the brake to the magura I have been riding this thing all over. This is the first single speed bike I've had for like 20 something years and I am enjoying it, I sailed over the Williamsburg bridge at what felt like twice the speed I normally go on my speeded(sounds weird) bike. I am really liking it being so light and simple.

Azreal911

it's not weird at all. I use strava for all my hill climbing personal records are only held by my single speed bikes. Even my 14" single speed folder was faster than my Dahon Mu P8. gears somehow "feel" slower then hitting the hills I can't explain it because even for my full sized mtn bike vs my other single speed that are the exact same weight I was able to blow away the geared time.

thugpipe

Yea, it feels like staying in the taller gear is fine, as long as you keep up speed on the hill the pressure to maintain speed isnt all that great. That being said I am sure past a certain grade you absolutely need more mechanical advantage but for the bridges in NY it seems to work just dandy.

smallwheeler

excellent build, thugpipe. you've inspired me.

thugpipe

Thanks, man.

14R 

I got a Respect Mini-Velo full of intentions, but ended up quite frustrated with it after mistakenly comparing to the Tokyo Bikes Minis. Sold for about $50 less than what I paid.

Still looking for something that rides better than a Brompton, yet gives me the ability to not only come and go in NYC, but avoid theft...

I guess the search will continue...but now I believe, based on your bike (OP), that this frame has much potential...great job.

Here is one of the last pictures I took of my Respect bike.

https://www.instagram.com/p/7mBBySGl...natomist&hl=en

mconlonx

That's a sweet build, looks great. You got a sense of style, for sure. +1 on hydro brake vs. cable, even though the BB7 is an excellent brake.

So you're running a freewheel out back, but no brake? I saw on ebay some minivelo frames/framesets with set up for rear disk brake... and now your build really has me thinkin'...

thugpipe

yea the stock bike I though was fun but missed the mark for me especially with the gearing so low forcing you to spin like a lunatic. With the mods I made I am really loving it, I didn't specifically try to make it super light but I managed to shave off at least 2lbs and I am surprised how fast it feels.


thanks, I am glad you all are in enjoying it.

well it is a BMX cassette hub not a traditional freewheel so that I have a 9t cog in the rear. I had bought just a frame and a rear wheel but the wheel they sent me had a 18t freewheel which was no workable for getting above 70 gear inches without a ridiculous chain-ring, I'm running a 74 GI(36f/9r) right now. I was contemplating adding a rear caliper brake but I kinda like the simplicity of the front only disc brake system while recognizing the risks it is very effective and the bike stops as fast as you can handle.

If you are referring to the java frame-sets up on eBay now, they have also peaked my interest and I may pick one up for my next project.

Blue78

Very nice! I like it a lot; I keep coming back to look at it. I have one of those F&Fs also (have yet to build it). The carbon fork looks to have a slightly longer axle-to-crown than the stock fork, did you notice any difference in the ride/handling characteristics?