Shoot me now, I actually like it....Fixed Falcon
 

Bought this frame a few weeks ago for ten bucks, Reynolds 453 Falcon Harrier. I had the fork already, was a replacement fork that needed to be trimmed down. The wheels came from an old Raleigh, and the rear is a flip flop which may never get flopped. Dura ace 16T rear track sprocket, No name cranks with a SG 48 ring.. Wal Mart supplied the chain, hehe. Stem is a 130 Technomic with Nitto track bars. Nashbar levers from a previous purchase. The half wrap will probably get changed to full white wrap, and I may get a NICE set of wheels for it eventually. For now the steel wheels will do just fine.:thumb::p It's definitely a different experience, and I kind of like it. Not hooked by any means, but I like it for now. Bext of all nothing was chopped except three inches of steerer tube.:D,,,,BD



http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...alconfixie.jpg

looks nice, but give yerself a little slack on that chain....

Nice and simple, I like it a lot----now I want a red fixie.

Very nice. I agree chain looks a bit to tight. My rule: I should be able to see a hint of droop in the top of the chain. The fitter (4 time iron man finisher) at work who is in his mid 40s just converted a bianchi to fixed and now rides it to work every day, he was totally surprised by how much he enjoys it. Fixed is fun, it's true... i ride one too, a conversion with 2 brakes and fenders pretty much every day.

Those Serfa Secas are nice 27" tires, eh? I will have to get a set myself for my "rider" wheels for corky.

Also, do you live somewhere flat? That is a high gear! I run 45/17 and it is about perfect, used to run 42/16 but had the NOS 45 TA and 45/16 was to high for me.

Yeah it looks nice. You have a fixed gear bike, not it's dirty evil brother the fixey. Totally different!

They are such nice bikes... this is my friend's 531 Falcon.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/falcon1.jpg

What's with the levers? You only need one brake; ditch the aero levers and mount a BMX lever near the centre of your bars. It will work just as well, and look waaaaay cleaner.

Frame looks really good, though.

Used to riding on the hoods, levers are staying. It's also going to have a rear brake? I'm 41 and no longer feel like I'm going to live forever, lol. Chain is plenty slacked in my opinion? IS it supposed to visibly drooping? And yes, Houston is about as flat as it gets, hehe. 48/16 is about top speed for a vintage mtb, which I can ride to work and back without killing myself, usually in that gear combo or close.,,,,BD

If you went with bullhorns you could get the feel of riding on the hoods without the unnecessary rear brake lever.

Flop 'em and chop 'em...I'm a lil ol lady and I don't run a rear brake. You'll be fine, you'll see.

Chain slack = take the 15mm open end wrench you use on the rear wheel nuts. Put the chain into the open end halfway between the front ring and rear cog. The chain should have enough slack to flop between the two sides of the opening. Did this make sense?

Glad you're enjoying it! I don't see the need for a rear brake, but front brake is a must since it provides the most stopping power. Try it without the rear brake and with. Go with whatever makes you feel more comfortable.

Fixed gear riding is a whole different feeling and I'm glad that we got some C&Vers trying it.

that came out nice. i like it.

Aero levers are great... they offer great stopping power and a good climbing position.

ya i couldn't ride without them myself hilly as it is around here. even if i didn't run a rear brake, i'd still want the lever

Looks really good. I understand the brake hoods - did the same thing when I had a fg. I wound up putting the back brake on. I wasn't using aero levers and that looked truly silly.

I can't recommend the flop/chop approach. You won't get anything like the flat of an actual bullhorn, and you'll probably just wind up feeling like you trashed a perfectly good drop bar.

I'd put some clips and straps on there for sure.

I agree with Cyclotoine about the gearing. I live where it's pretty flat and always found 42 x 16 to be pretty perfect. Spinning is good.

Make the non-used lever operate a bell. Or install a rear brake.

Hey, if we shoot you and you can't ride anymore does that mean all of us on BF get to divy up those great bikes your have? ;)

I was wondering what the deal was when I woke up this morning and saw a pig flying past my window. I assume hell has also frozen over.

Have fun :)

Edit: this is my 666 post! I am not making this up!!

Yeah!! A bell or horn would be so so awesome!

+1 Now I'll probably waste a bunch of time trying to figure out how to do that.

OK...you probably shouldn't chop those nice Nitto track bars, mine were just generic alloy drops don't miss them at all...if anyone wants to see my fixie who hasn't...still a mystery frame...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=328913

Hope you have fun, Dued!

Y'all quit giving the Dued grief about his bars and brake levers! Mine's set up the same way, front brake only on the right hand lever a la Sheldon Brown. The way I see it, it's a road bike that happens to be fixed gear. I wouldn't want to be without my drops when the wind is up or I just feel like going fast.

And I'm 55 years old, btw. Dued, judging by that stem you're either long in the torso/arms or still pretty flexible.

BTW, my modest World Sport conversion is what got me interested in old steel. It's such a nice ride that I thought, hmm, maybe you C&Vers are on to something.

Yes, Sir...but tell him he probably doesn't need both brakes, M'K?

:)

Looks great. FWIW, it's good to have front and rear brakes for the times you flip it to the freewheel side. A long ride in the hills, you get tired and just feel like coasting down? You'll feel better having a rear brake. Plus, the lever won't chatter if it has a cable attached to it.