RALEIGH-first fixed/ss. what do you think?
 

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this bike has been completely overhauled everything from the fork to the bb, the hubs and even the freewheel and rims. it has a 52/18 ratio. the backwheel is an alex da16 with a acs claws cromoly freewheel. and avenir cog. kenda dual grip 700 tires.nitto track bars. they were professionally wrapped with bontrager wraps. the frame is in excellent condition. it has been recently aligned to accommodate riding fix/ss. dragonfly terry saddle.

think you can do better on those tires. Gearing feels a bit high...otherwise not bad.

needs more blue

The frame looks too big for you. Raise that seat for the aggressive look. Looks like a fun bike, and pretty clean too.

Partially wrapped track drops on a road conversion look out of place and tacky. You don't seriously ride around all day in the drop position, scraping your nose on the front tire, do you? Swap them out for some properly wrapped road bars and install a front brake. Otherwise, looks like a great riding bike. I converted a similar old Technium for a friend....very interesting frame.

Also, spend $5 on some singlespeed chainring bolts and loose the inner ring. How's your chainline?

Not if that's where the seat should be for how long your legs are. I prefer "too large" road frames because then the drops aren't super low. Of course, I could just get a really tall stem but I think those are ugly...

Before I get off on a tangent, cool bike. I also dislike the tires, and the lack of a brake especially if you're riding it SS.

The uber low seat just looks out of place because the whole build looks like its going for that track look..

I concur Squee.

Wait a second... so you have "professionally wrapped track bars" on a SS conversion, brakeless, with no foot retention (not that it would matter running SS), with like cyclocross? tires.

Get rid of the track drops, get road drops with hoods, moustache bars, risers, something more practical. Then get front and rear brakes.

I'm really confused...singlespeed...no brakes

Sounds like a fun bike, if you think those Toyota's with the sticky accelerators are fun cars!!

I like the frame set, that's about it, everything seem out of place like everyone said.

Not too shabby for a first build; looks like a diamond in the rough; just follow the suggestions up above and perhaps down below aswell. ;)

I like it

to clarify, the ride is fine, and you two are

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I like it. I can't believe you can pedal that ratio though...

haha ratio and wheels are fail. seat is too low and no break on an ss? what a train wreck.

The ratio (52/18) isn't really all that high. It also looks like its on the FG side. Also, since he just put the bike together, did you consider the possibility that saddle hight has not been adjusted correctly yet? Not only do you fail, but you are an ass. Your condescending criticism isn't even original...you just repeated what was already said. Your avatar is dumb too. 5 posts!...lol noob.

Just saw you're avatar. Maybe you'll grow up one day and realize derogatory insults such as "you're a ******" aren't funny or cool after about the age of 12.

hahahah well thanks for the advice guys.
-the gear ratio is what i like the most about this bike. i play soccer and run everyday i was actually thinking of recuding the teeth on the back cog 17?16? its really not that bad on start ups
-the more I ride the bike, the more I realize i should raise the seat, my legs should be extending a little more.
-i like the BARS and how their wrapped too when im cruisin along i just rest my hands on top of the bars. I find it more comfortable on my hands riding these track drops. their smoother then the regular road bars that have harsher angles.
-SINGLE-SPEED-i might take that off, im never going to use it.i might be able to put another fixed cog on that side maybe 17t
-TIRES are great because im not always riding on smooth pavement. i ride everywhere and those tires give me xtra grip when im on dirt.
-chainline?? do you mean the tension? the chain has been tightened as much as possible without causing any binding.
-would it be possible to have a fixed cog on both sides? or do i need a special hub for that?

You should really give road drops and hoods a try, I can almost guarantee they will be more comfortable on any ride longer than about a mile. But do what you want, though I'd strongly recommend a front brake.

The tires don't match up with the brakeless. Fixed gears can be a lot of fun off-road, but you really want a front brake then.

Also, you should learn how to wrap your own handlebars, I'll cut you some slack because this is your first, but next time I want to see your hands dirty.

The trickiest part of a conversion such as your is usually getting the cog and chainring in the same plane so that your chain tracks in a straight line. On a deraileured bike this isn't so important, but SS chains aren't designed to work well with a crooked chainline and there is no deraileur present to pull the chain into alignment with the cog. Having a straight chainline will increase the longevity of your drive chain, run more efficiently and quietly, and minimize chance of derailment. Its OK for it to be off a few mm, but not much more.

Its worth reading this...http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.html

yea i had a mechanic show me how to adjust both cog and chainrnig so they spin parallel on the same plane.
would centerpull brakes fit on this frame? originally they where side pull dura ace brakes? it does have drilled holes on the frame for brake housing i might just try it and see if it works i have
a lot of overhauled centerpulls.
although i have been getting around fine without brakes i would much rather ride knowing i have them.
reading the sheldonbrown forum helped a lot. riding fixed is great i love how simple the bike is now and how much better it rides.