Originally Posted by NYCpistarider
Now that I am hooked on fixed riding I want to try building my own bike (I ride a new Bianchi Pista, which is OK but would love to build up a cool '70s or '80s lugged frame). Where should I start? What frames would folks recommend? It doesn't have to be a track frame, in fact I would prefer a solid road frame to a track frame so I can put fenders on it (I ride rain or shine). What components should I spend the most money on? Which are least important? I am just starting, but I would like to have a full bike built by fall. I plan to sell the Pista as a complete bike, so other than the parts I have changed (pedals, brooks saddle, bullhorn bars) I am starting from scratch.
The manufacturer of the frame isn't as important as the frame material and geometry. Look for Reynolds 531, Columbus SP or SL, Ishiwata 019 or 022, maybe Tange 900, #1 or #2. You =could= get something with hi-ten steel and still have it ridable as a fixed, but it won't likely cost much less than a better frame and it would weigh a lot more. The old Trek frames from the 70s have no braze-ons for cables or water bottles so they have those clean lines fixed riders like so much. (Water bottles can be mounted with bands around the tubes. The bands are still available from places like loosescrews.com.) They also have enough spacing for fenders and they have fender mounts on the dropouts.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you want to have to scrounge for French parts. There are some really nice old French bikes from the likes of Peugeot, Gitane, Motobecane et. al. but they used different threadings and sizes for many parts so locating replacements can be iffy.