elemental

Background:

It's been over a year since my last semi-ill-advised SSFG bike build (a TomiCOG fixed rigid Rig with a 203mm XT hydro front brake . . . awesome, and I think documented on here somewhere), and it's about time to start another. This time, I'm going for a townie built around the very cool S2C hub. I've figured out what I want the end product to look like, and I've sourced the complicated bits (mostly consisting of finding someone good to build the rear wheel), but I need a canvas to apply all of this to. While I could build a bike from the ground up, it doesn't really seem worth it. For an around-town bike, I don't really care what kind of bottom bracket or headset or chain I'm riding on (as long as they don't fall off). Thus, the best deal will be to start with a complete bike and replace bits until I have my masterpiece. That is, assuming I can find the right bike to start with.


Actual question:

I'm looking for a complete fixed gear pedalcycle with/without the following:

• No/removable/minimal decals
• Comes in black (preferably) or white (maybe)
• Steel
• No cable stops or bottle mounts
• Chrome/silver components

If I can find something like this, it will save me time and hassle over Plan B, which is a Pake built up with cheap parts. I haven't really followed the industry for a few years, so my first thoughts were a Kilo Stripper from BD or an IRO complete. Unfortunately, the Kilo is sold out in every size/color that would work, and IRO is out of my size as well. Wabi is close, but I just don't like either of the colors the Classic comes in (when did black go out of style?).

Faced with this conundrum, I come to you, BFSSFG. What stone am I leaving unturned? What have I missed in the last few years? Do I have any other options?

TheBikeRollsOn 

Steamroller, but the new ones come with black components, maybe you can find a new old stock of a previous year that had silver components.

stillanimal

what about the windsor essex? already a townie, black with silver parts. $229 for the basic model.



https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/essex.htm

elemental

I did, but they're sold out of every men's size. Regardless, I like the look, at least with some of the superfluous accessories removed. When/if they come back in, I'll be tempted again. Good job with this one, Mike.

The secret agenda for this bike is to be a road ride for weird days: I could throw drop bars on it and head out with some of my less serious road rider friends for an easy 20-40 mile pedal and have more fun than I would soft pedaling my road bike. I'm not sure if that's going to be practical for a number of reasons, but it seems like it might be a good time. For this, I'd like to stay relatively light (not weight weenie by any stretch, though) and keep pretty aggressive geometry.

TheBikeRollsOn 

Whoa, I had no idea BD was offering mixte frame bikes, that's awesome. Especially at that price.

TheBikeRollsOn 

Also, the Windsor Essex deluxe has a 51cm left, but it's in blue.

rustybrown

tl;dr

Kilo

Dynocoaster 

This is a great deal https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...kilott_s3x.htm if you dont want to do fixed add a freewheel.

Bat56

hell yeah

rustybrown

^ Simply swap in the S2C, or rock the three-speed. ^

Sounds like you know what you want. But have you thought about the rat-rod cruiser bikes?

elemental

The Kilos with decals just aren't going to work, unfortunately. It's not vanity: I'd be just as unhappy with Colnago decals (and probably even more unhappy with the paintjob accompanying - it's just not that sort of bike), it's minimalism.

Tony got back to me this morning. Here's the word from IRO:

Gotta love the quick turnaround (and the good taste - glad I'm not the only one who thinks IRO + S2C = fun), especially from what I believe is still essentially a one-man operation that's swamped. Per the IRO site, the Mark V Pro and Angus are identical (materials, geometry) with the exception of the 1-1/8" threadless vs. 1" threaded headset/fork. There's just something about that quill stem and the black that are so very perfect. I think I'm going to see if i can get a date, and if it's too late looks like the white Pro is the next best option (with a black Pake frame running a distant third - too much effort).

The more I look at the white Pro, the more I think what I'm really seeing is the ugly black headset and seatpost clamp. Swap those for shiny, throw some retro wheels on there, a brown B-17, some North Roads (knockoffs, courtesy of Soma), and some shellacked cork and that could be a seriously retro townie. The threadless is unfortunate, but it would make the aforementioned bar swaps much easier, especially if I went with 31.8 drops for road riding. Swap the stem/bars, attach brakes to new lever, ride. Doesn't sound too bad, and much better than swapping with a quill stem. I hadn't thought of that. In fact, it would be terrible/impossible.

Hmm. I may be coming around.

elemental

Almost forgot the fenders (white painted - Honjos won't cut it on a white frame) and gumwalls. Yes, cutting will be necessary.

pylea

My friend rides one of these. I hate it, but it might work?

Hi-ten steel, bleh.

TheBikeRollsOn 

There are some sexy threadless stems out there:

See page 2 of this old thread for proof.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-my-work/page2

elemental

Yes! How could I forget Velo Orange, defenders of everything beautiful? Even better, this was the front page when I logged in: