jped1981

After a couple months riding a cheaper "fixie", I decided to build a pake rumrunner frame, it has Andel standard crankset, shimano BB, KMC710SL chain, tektro front brake lever (courtesy of Retrogression), H plus son tb14 wheels to origin8 hubs, All city 17 tooth cog and lock ring, MKS sylvan pedals, Allcity nylon clips, (Courtesy of Citygrounds), Pake frame (straight gauge) with pake fork, kalloy uno seatpost, no name seats, no name stem, no name road drop handlebars (courtesy of SGV bicycles). So far I really enjoy the bike the way it is set up, it rides very smooth and the gearing gives me some pretty quick acceleration.

Recently, I have seen on Retrogression's website that the new Pake Rumrunner is now double butted. I have the itch to upgrade the frame, however I wonder if the upgrade is worth it? Does the double butting save that much weight? Is the ride feel more compliant?

Originally my Pake frame was outfitted with leftovers from a "fixie" that I had started with. When I installed the Andel crankset, bottom bracket, new chain, and the new wheels, the difference was night and day! Thanks Retrogression and City grounds!

ufbeans

I own a newer Pake rum runner and I also run TB14's so it's almost apples to apples.

My bike can weigh under 20lbs depending on what tires I'm running. I also have some heavier MKS GR-10 pedals on there so I could even get it lighter if I really wanted.

I think 20lbs is the sweet spot for an urban city fixie. You want to be light for all the quick accelerations from stop lights but you want to pack a few pounds/stiff OS tubes for all the locking up against bike racks and rough roads etc... I love my RR by the way. It does have an exceptionally smooth ride pared with a retrogression straight blade fork. Night and day coming from a purefix which I owned for all of a week before I craigslisted it.

I think a tig welded chromo frame that's double butted is all one needs to have an excellent city fixie. Anything else is just vanity IMHO.

Check my ride Black/White Pake Rum Runner - Pedal Room

jped1981

Thanks uf beans! I had a cheapie hi ten no name brand as well. I have the pake straight blade fork, and have an issue with toe overlap. How do you feel about the retrogression fork? Nice bike by the way!

Wspsux

I'm speaking with no experience of either RR frame but I can't get my head around replacing a rum runner with a rum runner. Variety is the spice of life! If you're gonna change your frame CHANGE your frame. Y'no?

Just my two cents.

pizzamania

Given what you've said here, other than being able to say "I have a double butted frame," will there be any material benefit for you? Will double butted tubes make you have more fun riding a bike? Will the possible minor weight savings (probably equivalent to the weight savings of you taking a dump before riding) help you get where you are going faster?

To me, if you already have a frame set up that you like and fits your needs, spending the time, money, and effort wouldn't be justified. If there was another variable like tire clearance, or geometry, or for some reason you were unhappy with your current frame, it would be a different story, but as it stands I would recommend to "love the one you're with".

JohnDThompson 

I could send you a double butted tubing sticker. Would that help?

jped1981

Thanks for all the replies, i was just wondering if there was any difference in the different models kinda like upgrading cars you have one model year car and wonder what the difference is in the newer model year. Whats wrong with curiosity? It seems like the vast majority report no major difference and to wait for a major upgrade thanks again for your input.

ufbeans

Yes there is a difference beyond weight. I can't quantify it but I think a butted tube feels different than a straight gauge tube. It has a spring to it. I felt a huge huge difference like I said coming from the purefix. Like I said a double butted tig welded chromoly steel frame is all you need. You could go for the heat treated tubes of the Rush but to me that's more about frame weight than anything else and really that weight savings is going to cost you in durability when you bang that thing against racks. I like the geo of the pake compared to a lot of other frames out there. If I was going to spend more for a street fixie it would be for something with Lugs and it would again just be about aesthetics. If I wanted something really light and pretty which is more of a show bike than a work horse then by all means go aluminum.

ufbeans

Regarding the fork. The retrogression fork is lugged which pretty much is universally viewed as a better aesthetic. Aside from that it also has a little more rake which would be slightly less toe overlap I think but you are talking about a track bike here. They mostly all have some overlap. If you have serious issues with it get some shorter toe clips. That helps.

Scrodzilla

Comparing a hi-ten steel Pure Fix to any double butted cro-mo frame is apples to watermelons.

The OP is asking if his Rum Runner will be different from a newer one, to which my short answer is no.

ufbeans

Well i'll defer to the man who has ridden more bikes than I ever will but I think lots of people would say that butted tubing feels different; has a different resonance if you will. Might just be bullsheet like most bike marketing.

tFUnK

There will be a noticeable difference in weight and ride quality between the two frames.

nightfly

Get a Rush with nicer Tange Prestige tubing if you're going to the bother of trading up and want a similar frame. They ride beautifully.

Scrodzilla

In the rider's head, of course there will.

jped1981

Scrod thanks for being an honest buisnessman and not trying to sell me a similar frame. I guess my next question is about that bareknuckle frame. Does that one have more "springiness" to it? How about the weight difference on it? By the the chain and andel crankset you sold me definitely made a world of difference. The bike seems a lot more quiet easier to pedal. Granted this is coming from a lasco crankset. But I was pretty amazed at how it had completely changed the bikes feel. But then again, I am fairly new to the game and it may just be in my head....

jped1981

Nightfly - you recommend the soma rush have you ridden both bikes?

seau grateau

It's easy to get distracted by all the "upgrade" options out there. You might be better off if you just keep riding and get to know what you like and don't like about the bike you have now. When you can identify something about the ride that bothers you, change it. Otherwise, if it works for you, no problem.

It might also be the case that you see a frame that is absolutely sweet and you have to have it. If that's the case, go for it. Just don't go looking for upgrades to solve problems that you don't have yet. My two cents anyway.

nightfly

Never ridden a Pake but I own a Rush.