Lewis Butler

So the time has finally come to unveil the bike I've been dreaming about for the last year or so. Taking LittlePixel's idea, I've cooked up my own version of a fixed-wheel Brompton.

Starting with a 2009 S1E Brompton in clear laquer, I built a wheelset around Velocity Aerohead rims with a Phil Wood hub at the rear and a Pantour suspension hub at the front. I'm running on slick Schwalbe Stelvio tyres.

I'm running a cut-down Soma Noah's Arc bar, clad in Velo Orange elkhide leather sleeves matched up with a Brooks Team Pro Classic saddle.





I went with the standard Brompton 54T crankset and a Soma 12T track cog which gives about 70" with my ISO 349 wheels. I'm running a gold coloured YBN half-link chain which allows me to get chain tension and I've modified the Brompton chain tensioner's parts & placement somewhat to make it all work under back-pedalling loads.

I have detachable MKS MM-Cube EZY clipless pedals and a slightly modified Planet Bike Stealth Superflash rear light (attached with a Vistalite Cue light quick-release mount) to finish off. I'm running just a single brake with the addition of Kool Stop salmon pads.

PDR

That looks interesting, certainly the best colour
Can we please have some photos of the whole bike?

bykerouac

Beautiful! How do the Eneloops fare in the SuperFlash? If I may make a suggestion, add a V-brake noodle to the brake line to enhance braking a bit.
Great job!

Lewis Butler

Seem to be working just fine.

ChiapasFixed

more pics plz!

Joako

Very nice. How is the chainline?

ddez

Yes me too.I would really like to see that cut down bar,im looking for a different bar for my S1E.

LittlePixel

YES! This is fantastic work... How's the ride?

mup24

As a fixed gear Tikit owner and lover I have to say this bike is super cool. Great work. As Chiapas said, more pics please!

Lewis Butler

Update with some photos:


One unexpected result of running Stelvios & no mudguards is that when the bike is parked it can be pushed along on it's wheels:


Maybe I could use a V-brake noodle:


The cut down bar, covered with leather:


Rear hub, spaced 3mm out so that the fixie lockring doesn't foul the chain tensioner:

Lewis Butler

Seems to be straight enough, I haven't had any chain-drops whilst riding.

Fast and fun. Given it's winter here in Melbourne I'm getting wet on my commute :-(

LittlePixel

Thanks for the detail shots!
A noodle goes great there - I did it before I changed to Campag brakes w. drop bolts.
What Phil Wood hub is that? looks like a flip-flop. Mine is a Kierin Japanese track spec on with threading on one side only (I thought it was the only hub that would fit the 120mm dropouts. Does that mean your wheel is dished or not?
Great bike - nice in raw lacquer too..

LittlePixel

oh yeah - i also meant to ask how you fixed the interface with the phil allen head bolt and the recess in the chain tensioner... i got a part made - but maybe you just used spacer washers?...

ChiapasFixed

hmm, I thought most, if not all track hubs were spaced 120mm, even if they are flip-flop?
Once again Lewis, that is a really nice ride, thanks for the pics!

LittlePixel

My Brompton's rear spacing is actually 110mm (ignore my earlier post - dimension mistake ahoy!) which is why I didn't consider more easily available 'usual' 120mm hubs and went for a 110 Keirin hub. I guess the original poster did a bit of cold setting? Am I right?

stevegor

Very nice bike, well done.

Nice to see another Aussie who has the SWB bug.

PS: Drops would look nice IMHO.

Lewis Butler

Hi Pixel, I'm using at 110mm spaced hub too so no cold setting here. After reading your comments about having to dish your wheel I thought I'd try to avoid that.

The beautiful thing about Phil Wood is that they'll pretty much sell you anything you want (at a price), I have an AVL412 in case anyone is curious, I'm pretty sure that Pixel is using an AVL411.

After reading about your issues with this I was a little afraid but it was really easy. .. The knurled washer that the allen bolt goes through fitted really snugly in the Brompton chain tensioner, I think I might have needed a 3mm axle spacer to pad it out and then I used a standard Brompton washer before the allen bolt went through the lot.

ChiapasFixed

so, can you skid with this settup? how does backpedaling feel? how is the tensioner holding up?

Sammyboy

I like this very, very much.

Lewis Butler

I haven't tried skidding, being new to fixed it just seems like a way to trash tyres and look cool doing it. am I wrong?

Backpedaling feels good, I have been learning to ride backwards :-)

There is a small amount of take up in the chain tensioner and it seems to be holding up OK under the punishment I'm giving it.

>>ECB<<

Something I'm curious about--what's that cut-down-circle, galvanized-steel-looking thing on the left stay, with the screw through the middle? A generator mount, maybe?

ECB

Lewis Butler

Interesting you ask, ECB. These parts were floating around on the bottom of my bike box when I took delivery of it. I e-mailed Brompton tech support as I wasn't sure, here is their response:

"This disc is fitted to E-Type (bikes with no mudguards) bikes to stop the front brake cable contacting the tyre when the bars are turned."

ChiapasFixed

skidding is a good way to stop a fixie fast when you have to... I recommend learning how to do it. Then again, the front brake is usually sufficient, and will stop you faster.

ddez

I was getting a squeaking sound when turning to the right all the time.Turns out it was my brake cable rubbing on that little disc.Was hard to find actually,who would of thought that would cause a loud squeak?I rubbed a tiny bit of grease on disc,very thin it cured problem.

griftereck

Im thinking of welding cable stops to the top and bottom of my folding bikes handle post.
so theres not so much cable outer flapping about. Would use steel tube from bars to stops instead of the cable outer.
will do it when Ive got more practice welding.

would be a good thing to put cable stops on this Brompton. Seems like the cable would rub on the main tube and the tyre as it is