Thanks Velognome. I guess it is a little early for nostalgia, but I realized you don't see many conversions around now that "track" bikes are so readily available. Also just to be clear I don't drink PBR and never have! Brandy and Scotch for me.

Very nice. The majority of my annual mileage is on single speeds.

My deepest apologies, I should have know the PBR was outa character, you got a front brake on it after all!

WHAT? No deep V's or mis-matched front aero-spoker wheel?
You are letting down the side!
I hate straight blade forks on anything "road", but that's cause I'm prehistoric (apparently) but you have to love a Gardin (Italian-Canadian, no?) made with that exotic Excell French tubing, and with TA cranks and Ideale saddle...you have to.

I've cracked one using it fixed. I also found my partner was riding a cracked stronglight that was on here fixed gear (same style of crank). I don't recommend these vintage cranks for fixed. I believe the alloy is brittle and there is not enough material on the non-drive cranks around the spindle. They both cracked from the corner of the taper out. In my case I heard it pop climbing a hill out of the saddle and checked when I got home. In her case she hadn't cracked it all the way through and was riding it unknown. I replaced it with a sugino mighty.

My thoughts exactly, love the colour, love the straight blades. This is a great frame for the conversion. Love it!

I assume you have yet to put clips and straps on right? Won't be doing much skidding without. Skidding is easiest when you unweight the rear wheel, lock and then bring the weight back a bit. It's easier with hoods or moustache bars.

I road for years with brakes and was always super fast. I will also point out that you can stop way quicker and conserve more energy with a rear brake, it is way more effective. I have also ridden brakeless in the summer for a more casual style of riding. Brakes are safer and faster I agree. I'd ride fixed now, but the place I live is small and when I commute I usually want cargo capacity. It's unfortunate. I still have a hankering and might put mine back together at some point.

I gave up beer late last year. Can't stomach it, but will still enjoy a good fresh micro brew on vacation. Brandy and Scotch are my preferred drinks as well.

Me circa 2006 at a critical mass with my nishiki comp II conversion.

LOL - if I had an aerospoke I would've thrown it on for good measure. I'm actually liking this bike more and more, it's a shame my camera can't capture the deep purple colour it actually is.

Great picture and a very nice conversion as well! I like the bars very much. I don't think I'll end up putting clips and straps on this one, I always found them a bit of a pain in the city on a fixed gear, and the brake eliminates the need for skidding.

Bingo!