Spudmeister

So, here's my new ride - a 54cm Bareknuckle. The frame was purchased with my tax refund, while the parts were mostly from my garage. I've built other fixed gears, but this is the first track frame & it is certainly different.

The Good - Its stiff, easily the stiffest frame I've ridden in 20 years of cycling. You push on the pedals & the bike goes right away. No flex while climbing. No flex period. Its seriously nimble too. I've always been sluggish in the corners, but with this frame I'm average. Hurray!

The Bad - The paint job is weak. Some seed defects, which is to be expected in this price range, but there are a couple small spots where the primer is exposed. There was a small amount of flaking when I pressed in the headset cups (yes, the headtube was faced).

Other - I'm really pleased with the Shimano Tiagra Crankset. I'd gotten it new off eBay for around $30. The finish isn't silky like higher end stuff, but its shiny enough. Its not light, either. I didn't weigh it, but its noticeably heavier than other cranks I've used. Still, it does not feel wimpy under my 200 (or so) pounds of muscle & flab. Tire clearance is fairly tight. My 700x25 tires nearly rub the chainstays, even when pulled all the way back in the ends. Finally, the measurements match those on the charts, yet the frame seems bigger.

Ultimately, I really like it. The poor paint job is disappointing, but I won't cry when it gets scratched. Though I still suck, I feel like a better rider on it. Its so stiff that I won't be riding centuries with it, but its fun to ride for everything else.

See more - https://www.flickr.com/photos/spudmei...7600028492280/

Discuss...

yellowjeep

i like the waterbottle holder... um it would be sweet with a really long straw.

dutret

you mean like this?

yellowjeep

yes sorta but but i was thinking longer straw because of the lack of areo bars. and i was thinking like a crazy straw because it would just look cool

kyle!

aero drink hahah.

Shiznaz

Now you need a pink aerodrink!

edit: beaten by everyone.

kyle!

bareknuckles r kewl.



(but no, seriously, i want one)

Igneous Faction

Chucksbikes has some 105 cranks for $30.00 as well, for future reference. I'm not sure how much difference you'd see between those and Tiagra, but they cost the same.

barba

175mm only, though.

cc700

i was thinking something like this...

pirate

I like how this thread immediately went from bareknuckles to bendy straws.

ahayter

can someone please give me the pros and cons between bareknuckles and crazy straws? how much milkshake can you move through the bareknuckle as opposed to the crazy straw?

dutret

F = DP p r 4 / 8 h l.

goldener

cut your mother****ing front brake cable..that **** is like 3x too long!

BuddyMike

I'll probably be getting the bareknuckle with my tax return as well.

don't underestimate the beer helmet

but I dig the cup holder.

yellowjeep

im thinking the BK wins the milkshake test simply on the grounds that it has larger tube, BUT you are likely to have way more fun with a crazy straw so these cancel each other out, so beer helmet FTW (but only if it has custom crazy straws and/or is pink or carrying a strawberry shake)!

Hocam

Thats F = DP p r 4 / 9 h l.

After integrating the change in radius of the bendy straw with respect to 80s nostalgia, you end up with a log function that after taking it to the power of e reduces to 4/9's not 4/8s. A common mistake.

Momentum

I found this funny - I think I've been at work for too long!

It's nice to see a mini review of the new bike.

Spudmeister

No f***ing way.

The cable exits the handlebar tape at the turn of the handlebars, not the center. The cable didn't move smoothly if I kept it on the bar all the way to the stem.

mihlbach

I have the exact same bar tape on one of my fixies. I got mine from Nashbar.

Spudmeister

Me too - $4.99 close-out

kyle!

i think i just told myself i'm gonna sell my volpe and get a bk frame. i think.





good idea/bad idea gah.

ImOnCrank

Bareknuckles are the ****, but only when they're magical unicorns.

dutret

well one is a multi purpose cross/touring/commuting/ss/fg/geared/do anything bike. The other is a track bike. Which one is going to fulfill your bike needs better.

kyle!

the volpe's too small. i'm gonna give the idea time. it's not that i don't want a bike like the volpe. i'm just thinking of other things right now. since i got the rush hour, riding the volpe is strange. but before i make any rash decisions i'm gonna get some cross tires and see if i like trails before the volpe is completely out of the picture.


and i'm actually gonna start track classes soon, so if i end up liking it a lot, the bk will be great.


ps this is all roaming thoughts and only time will tell what's going to happen.