please please please don't rig the rear wheel. do it right, not right now. if you get new wheels, just get some salmon colored kool-stop pads. you shouldn't have to replace the brakes, unless you get some 700c wheels for it. are they the center pull type? those work great with decent pads. my first fixie was a peugeot. i had some 27" wheels built for it. i still have it, still ride it, and never plan to get rid of it. i also love french bikes.