I got everything I needed at Harris, then headed to a friends house to get to work. It too me far longer to do this than I figured it would; about 5 hours, looking back I still don't know why it took so long.
So; this is what I did:
- scrounged around to make one of these home-made Fixed cup BB extractors (Thank you Mr. Brown)
- Removed old cup-and-cone bottom bracket.
I feared this step the most, but in the end it was totally straight forward.
- Installed Shimano UG53 110mm bottom bracket.
I'm not sure I like this BB. The spindle doesn't really spin that freely. For example, after I installed the cranks I spun the whole thing and it would spin for only a couple seconds. In contract on my vintage Raleigh this same test leaves the cranks spinning for a minute or more. Also, the fixed cup is some type of plastic. Plastic in a BB? ... but then again, its only $25.
- Put Rocketring on the Bulletproof crank.
Again, this was more trouble than I thought it would be. Problem was that I had no way to hold the "nut" side still. I ended up using some random sheet metal that was bent in a way that I could grab the little groove.
- Installed cranks
- Checked chainline; exactly 42mm (Again, thank you Mr. Brown)
- Cut, installed, and oiled the chain
- Put some crummy pedals on (laying around)
- Floped-n-Choped the handlebars
I used a pipe cutter for this, if you are careful the cut will not "walk". However, the burr left on the inside is considerable. I had to use a power tool to grind it down enough so as to get the bar ends back in.
- Put on a crappy brake lever, and setup the front brake.
After all was said and done I took the thing out on the curb, got on, and set off. Too bad that I got a flat right as I went off that same exact curb. Yes, I got a flat directly in front of my apartment. So yah, back in for a new tube.
Then I took it for a good long ride. I hadn't ridden fixed for 8 months so I wasn't sure if I'd remember, but riding fixie is just like riding a bicycle; once you learn you never forget. However I had forgotten how fast riding fixed was compared to SS. I didn't have a speed measuring thing but a couple times I was flying and my legs felt no-where near their spin limit; I now firmly believe that 165mm cranks really are easier to spin with. Also, pedal strike doesn't seem to be an issue with them.
The brake sucks; I'm not going to blame the Dia Compe 500 because the brake pads are just standard black ones. Tomorrow I am going to get some sweet KOOLStops.
The bike itself rides extremely well, and I'm very happy with how it is turning out. I don't know why but I can almost trackstand this bike already. With my Langster I did more of a Track Wobble.
So; I'm really tired, but I'm going to finish off with a To Do:
Repack bearings in headset
Decide on front brake lever (BMX-ish lever or TT aero one)
Get new brake pads
Decide on which bullhorns
Find new seat post and seat
Find good Toe Clips/pedals
PS: Bike is now 22 lbs with all weight savings done except seat & seatpost