The fender almost looks like a superhero's cape...

Up here it is Thanksgiving. Time to practice our deboning techniques. Turkey, ham etc.

Yeah, I like to pretend it's like the crunk chalice of fenders. No bosses on the frame, it was only one i could find that hooked to the seat post. Looking forward to the first ride tomorrow.

This is the Nishiki Cresta I found at a second hand shop on the outskirts of town. Twenty-two bucks for the bike and thirteen bucks for a tire, two powerlinks, and some bearing grease. George from Pedal & Tour got the rear wheel true and I managed to get the front pretty close to normal. It has a touring triple so I decided to use the 40T chainring and the 16T cog for the time being. Reinstalled the front brake, cleaned and repacked the hub bearings cleaned the chain (kinda), shortened it to fit those selected gears and away I went! Took about a week to really get it clean and to find the bare minimum to get her going again.

don't you think you should have two brakes on that singlespeed?

I think I can get v-brakes on the back. (We checked it because that rim is a 700c and the front is a 27".) In your opinion, with a better brake on the rear would you dispense with the front brake completely?

The centerpull brakes on the rear were pretty shot so I had to scrap them but I anticipate having a rear brake before it gets comissioned for full singlespeed commuter status.

Finally took a few pics of the new Johnny Coast frame:




Johnny used Henry James lugs and mixed tubing. Its a no nonsense frame with no tricked out detailing. I just asked for a stiff frame.

The paint used is House of Kolors brand of automotive paints. This specific color is a "blueberry" dry pearl. Its not opaque. Its dry flakes of color which float in the intercoat clear. The final color is dependent on the base paint color. In this case its white, and it works more as a glaze. Its hard to tell in the photos, but the lugs are highlighted by the distressed edges caused by the drying of the paint. It gives the frame a nice ceramic quality.

The frame is best viewed under direct sunlight, in order to see the pearlescent *pop* of the paint.

I will post more pics when its built up.

i only run a front brake. front brakes stop better than back breaks, b/c the won't pop into a skid. for those who have never done this, it sounded crazy to me at first too (can't you flip over the bars? no.) but i was being told this by a much older and much more travelled bike enthusiast than i. well, he was right. when i really need a brake bad... i can stop on a dime. a reliable front brake is all you need.

Well, I thought this would make for a good first post. So nice to meet you all, I'm Jon.

I got this old Schwinn Varsity out of my buddy's garage that had been left behind by a previous renter. He had no need for it, and I had rencently decided to build a fixie, so I gladly took it off his hands for the low, low price of a handshake.

So I stripped it down to the basics, and have started building it back up. I got myself a flip flop hub, some new wheels and am now looking for a proper seat and a new neck, as my current one's wedge is stripped. And I need to learn how to put back on my brakes, or at least the fronts...

Here are some photos of from my process so far...

http://oregonstate.edu/~tudorj/bike/Day%201/1.jpg

http://oregonstate.edu/~tudorj/bike/Day%202/1.jpg

http://oregonstate.edu/~tudorj/bike/Day%203/3.jpg

http://oregonstate.edu/~tudorj/bike/Day%203/4.jpg

http://oregonstate.edu/~tudorj/bike/Day%203/1.jpg

Oh, and that poster in the background is just a piece of design I did for school, since i've had some odd responses as to why I have such a document on my wall... Design Piece

*** development update and account on my Zic Zac 650C track bike


The Particulars (as presented in my usual camp advertising vernacular):

This one-of-a-kind 650C track bike was specifically created to suit the needs of a well respected bike courier in San Francisco by Zic Zac designs. An unconventional bicycle with abilities that are best realized within an urban environment. The Zic Zac's inherent ability to negotiate metro congestion with surgical precision is intoxicating.

This 56cm ctc frameset was hand made to exacting measures utilizing Dedacciai Zero Uno steel tubing and finished in vintage orange. A-list components include: a Cinelli 2A track quill, a Cinelli bull-horn, a Mavic 165/144BCD crankset (Mavic headset and seatpost arriving soon), a set of Phil Wood HF track hubs, heavy gauge spokes (radial laced front), a set of 650C Velocity rims (32H/clincher), a set of Michelin Pro slicks, and a Selle Italia Flite Ti saddle.

Zic Zac's innovate culture and dedication to simplistic engineering is unique. A fresh alternative for those seeking relief from cycling cookie-cutter industry.

Perhaps the ultimate solution for concrete arenas.



*Note:

Okay now old on, there's a simple explanation for this. Well, I plan on getting up early for a regular mass ride tomorrow. The mostly elite group are beginning to warm up to the idea of a fg buzzing around. I'm sure my world class abilities contribute as well-LOL. However, at this time they made it quite clear that fg with brake(s) are welcomed; more like tolerated. So, if it takes me two minutes to attach my ticket in - then so be it. Hence, the sacrilegious representation clearly depicted in this photo. I ask that you understand this action for what it is - appeasement. I'm feeling dirty and cheap, like a common wh@re... I have to go and shower now.

That varsity came out sweet man. Great looking conversion. As for the Johnny Coast, hot f-ing damn that's a gorgeous color. I didn't know he did decals. What are you gonna put on it? Ride in health.

While that's true you'll almost certainly want a rear brake just for that extra smidgen of brake power in an emergency and/or use as a bakcup in case your front fails.

the way i see it... the only times i use the front brake is when i can't seem to get myself to a stop with my feet fast enough (fixed gear), or when something split-second happens and i need to come to a stop as quickly as possible. i really rarely ever use the brake as my first intuition is to use my feet, and it gets the job done most of the time. generally when the brake comes into play i'm already putting a lot of back pressure on the pedals anyway, so it's kind of like i do have 2 brakes.
anyhow, like i said before... with the front brake i can stop on a dime so i figure i'm pretty safe. safer than most fixed riders anyway. i have been using only a front brake for about 6 years had i have never been in a situation where i needed anything more.

damn that coast is beautiful. lugs look perfect, so much nicer than the baroque stuff people seem to be getting into. any pics of the headtube badge? definitely will be looking out for that paintjob in the sunlight..

The graphics were my idea. I encouraged Johnny to start putting his name on his frames. He also just got his headbage design finished as well.

I'm going to build up the bike with some of the parts from my Andante.


I'm ambivalent about the design. I like the idea, but something about it... I might decide to revise the design myself and redo it.

That varsity is one of the nicest-looking bikes i've seen on here. That thing loks like it is in perfect condition, unlike the typical schwinns that you see that look like they have been left outside for the last 30 years. How did you get a varsity in such good shape?

The way each tube flows into the other tubes.. mmn..

If that were my bike, I would ditch the fugly saddle, and get a 3 piece crank on there. And a front brake.

Are those the stock handlebars, or track drops?

Gravity, nice zig-zac.

Weren't you just selling that on craigslist a few weeks ago?

Jonny:

I like the varsity. I have a green one just like that , in really good condition. I'm considering converting it to fixed for the winter, but it's in such good condition I can't bear to strip it down. Seeing yours, however, is making me reconsider.

so its a decal on the headtube, yeah? looked like a badge from the first picks. I'd agree its nice but missing something. what's up with the water tower? they only go on buildings more then 6 stories or so, they really are more of a manhattan thing than brooklyn..

that varsity is such a nice color!

This thread will hit 5000 posts this week. That's banannas.

That coast is amazing, I always thought his frames were a little too plain for my tastes, but your frame, Jose, and the one in trackstar proves me wrong. Johnny coast is now on the top of my list if and when I get money for a custom.

Hey, thanks guys! The paint is actually original too. The handlebars, to my knowledge, are stock, and have never been changed. And as for the horrid saddle, I will be replacing it as soon as I can afford to. The wheel and hub setup set me back a bit...

BostonFixed----

Thanks for support - it's appreciated.

Yeah I was going to sell the Zic Zac to help finance a custom 650C track build. I was pretty pumped about it as you might imagine. I mean, since I was kid nearly all my surfboards have been custom shaped. This is my first experience ever putting down on paper, what it is that I want from a bike against what I can afford. As you can imagine, creating your dream bike and compromising is a struggle.

What I came away with was this, I really don't want the bike I can afford. Not after putting some real thought down on paper just what it is I want. It's become too real - it's haunting me - LOL.

Anyway, with a So Cal mortgage, child support, Visa bill, ga$, and a 1970 240Z (it's always something $ with that car) on a FF salary. I thought about pimping out my girlfriend, but was afraid she would enjoy it. So, I started a custom build kitty. A few magnets frame my custom order form on the fridge. I'm two weeks into my projected one and half year maturity.

Man, I wish I had me some real dough.

Been drooling over the fixies here, at FGG, and around town for several months now. Finally got up some cash and started seriously scouring craigslist etc for an old 10-speed frame for a conversion, but Jon at http://www.grinderbikes.com had really great builds up on his site and was super-nice in email.

He hooked me up with this nishiki conversion. It's a 57cm frame with 27" wheels, a new powdercoat paintjob, shimano SPDs at the end of sugino cranks pushing 52x18, a sweet oldschool rack that Jon had and a kickstand I had lying around.. I imagine some people will no doubt reject the accessories as contra the purist aesthetic, but I need this bike to work for me, which means 20 commuter miles a day plus trips around town.

http://explosive.net/albums/biking/0..._002.sized.jpg

http://explosive.net/albums/biking/0..._001.sized.jpg

http://explosive.net/albums/biking/0..._001.sized.jpg

big pix at http://explosive.net/gallery/biking