I know that Grant responded to many requests for a single speed/fg version of the various Rivendell models that he produces, and he said as much in his reader. He decided to make the Quickbeam as a response to the various requests about that type of bike from all the people who asked. If that is not responding to the (wave of fixed gear) that is sweeping the land I guess I don't know what is. Not that there is anything wrong with responding to requests, but in this instance I think, as I stated, he over engineered it by using the 2 front chain rings and not providing a track hub on the rear. By providing a track hub with lockring ability he could have used it for either fixed gear, with or without lockring as desired or just thread on a free wheel. the 2 front chain rings are just silly, IMHO. I think that the angled rear ends are a good solution of brake adjustability, if you run a rear brake. That is about the only thing of interest as far as design goes on the bike, other than nice lug work which is already his halmark.

fixedgearhead