Alright so I’m a garage framebuilder starting on a single speed/fixed gear frame and would like some input from the collective. The frame is going to be lugged Dedacciai ZeroUno steel. I’m going to use it for puttering about with my kid and some lunch time training work.

I’ve got my road geometry pretty well dialed in but don’t know how, if at all, a single speed/fixed gear bike should differ. I know that track frames use high bottom brackets and quick steering but this frame will never see a track so I’m thinking about just building a road frame w/o all the brazeons. Is this the right approach? To be specific, what’s a realistic amount of bottom bracket drop to ward off pedal strikes? And is there a real value to adding a handlebar strike pad on the top tube?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks.

Yes.

Pedal strikes are not really a big deal on my (standardly bb dropped, 170 mm cranked) road frame. SPDs rather than clips+straps helps a lot. You have to keep pedal strike on your mind in the corners but as long as you do youll be fine. I think it would only really become an issue in the most aggressive urban riding, e.g. crit style. I've only actually struck once and it was more of a gentle smooch.

I've kicked the ground pretty hard and never have gone down. I'm talking lifting my wheel off the ground on an off camber corner hard. It's suprising but not too big of a deal, that's on a road conversion w/ 170s.

just my experience, but on my old fuji conversion (road frame) i used to hit the pedals now and then, almost wiping out a couple times. when i got my pake i have yet to strike anything, same exact cranks and pedals

so it might not hurt to bump up the bottom bracket a smidge... other than that i would keep it very road geometry. while track bikes have a much more agressive geometry it doesn't lend itself terribly well for what you seem to want your bike for.

you could also curve the seat stays in towards the bottom bracket to absorb some of the road vibrations.

oh and fender/rack brazeons, never know what you'll use it for...

You'd be better off asking at frameforums.net

That place - it's like having a question about your physics homework and having Stephen Hawking help you out.

just map out a tight road frame you like raise the bb 2-3cm make it lugged and rock n roll

dude do I get a discount if I ad pertinant information???

Make sure you have super-sized cup holders.

+gototheexperts. The folks there know how to build frames, we (pretend to) know how to ride them. That's how it works.

I'm gonna go against the flow here and say push the geometry specs a little, just to see what you really can get. Less BB drop is always a good thing on a fixed gear. I've found that in practice, you never feel a higher BB, but never having to worry about pedal stikes is a huge bonus. Also, steep head angles and low trail numbers are GREAT for a fixed bike- your'e not gonna be bombing any downhills at 50mph and the quick steering is great.
Besides, if you decide you hate it, you have an excuse to build another frame!

High BB wouldn't hurt but I really don't like bikes with fast steering.

Regarding an excuse to build another frame, building a fixed frame IS my excuse since I don't have one.


thanks for the input from everyone.