SD Fixed

Build or buy, more of a conversation than anything.

I started the fixed ideal on a recommendation from someone here. Keep it cheap.. see if I like it. Got a cheap frame 15 dollars, 100 dollar wheel, 50 bucks in misc parts. I like it. Frame is small. Find different frame, 65 dollars. Cross over parts, add items to make bike "work" 60 bucks. Outfit bike to make it legal for base use.. 50 more dollars. Tires 30 dollars. So, roughly 370 dollars over the last few months on the bike. I'm not poor, and it's been over a few months, so it's acceptable.

Last night, I go for repairing the bottom bracket after it loosened up on me. New bearings, grease. Putting it back, you can see that the cup is loose in the BB. This doesn't bode well for the future of the bike. So, I'm now kinda keeping' an eye out for a new frame.

But honestly, for the dollars, it seems to be a band aid. I could buy a Bianchi Pista, or Fuji for around 500 dollars, throw on some parts (that I have already now) and be done, and there'd be no issues. And it'd be new, so less likely to have problems like I'm going through.

So, I'm kind of caught.. Build.. or buy..

Opinions, thoughts?

pitboss

hmm...

SD Fixed

Pendantic Coaster....

SipperPhoto

if you like your setup and can get a good frame at a decent price.. then go fo it.. or just buy an all new one, and use your parts on another beater frame...

BTW.. what do you have to do to make it "base legal ?"

Jeff

bombusben

Aren't Bianchi Pistas and Fuji's usually sold as complete bikes?
If you've already got the parts, why not spend the $ on a nicer track frame and build it up. A DeBernardi, Cinelli, Gan Well Pro, Waterford....

roadfix

Definitely build. Like no other bike, a fixie is an extention of yourself. I think the way you put it together and the final product represents your character, somewhat.

George

SD Fixed

Base legal is lights and/or reflectors. That's money spent.

Bombusben, I've got the parts.. they just aren't great..

I'm just balancing if the frame fails, it would seem that replacing it is logical.. but, then follows that the inexpensive parts I got.. will need to be replaced.. and with that the dollar investment exceeds a new bike. But I'm not sure.. and am thinking about options.

familyman

Seems to me that you have a garage sale frame with cheap parts hung on it. Right?
If you buy a Pista then you will have a new (but still cheap) frame with pretty cheap, though new and cheap, parts hung on it. At some point, sooner or later, you'll decide you want to replace things like the cheap wheels and the cheap BB and maybe the cheap crankset with nice parts. This will leave you with your Pista frame with nice stuff hung on it.
Seems to me that ideally you'd just knuckle up for a nicer frame right now and hang the cheap parts you already have on it. That way, when you replace your cheap parts with good parts you end up with a really nice bike that you love and everything is hand selected by you.

Schiek

Quick...take that man's dictionary away.

SD Fixed

Hmmm..

Options options options.

Schiek

I guess I should have worded that differently....

Quick...GIVE that man a dictionary.

You can't misspell pedantic, William. It's...well..it's almost ironic (shudder).

Or have you become so clever, clever, that you knew it was misspelled?

Guh. Head hurts. Must go drink beer and watch hockey.

SD Fixed

That was the punch line's punch line.

Not clever, just at peace. But, I'll have a special battery shot just for you!

jeff williams

build- now that you've done x-work on acquiring parts, it would seem a waste of effort and money- I would think a neat old racing frame shoud be easy to come by- and then you get to assemble again.

Rev.Chuck

Get a Surly SteamRoller and stick your old parts on it. Then, as they break(and they will) you can put new good stuff on your frame.
The Surly is not as special as a track frame but IMO* a better frame for a daily commuter, more relaxed geometry, less toe overlap, beefy, not to exspensive.
* First time I ever used that acronym

pitboss

Eat this, squid...

Dorf411

William,

Actually, you would probably be surprised just how long that bottom bracket will last just like it is. Next time you ride around just take a gander at all of the super old beater bikes that are still running just fine that are no where near as well maintained as yours. However, I am just like you, if I find a potential problem it will drive me nuts till I fix it right even if it can be ridden for a long time just as it is. So I would say you acutally have three worthwhile options:

1. Continue to ride the Bianchi beater as it is and see just how many miles you can get out of it. Provided you don't take it on any epic rides away from possible busses or trollys you should be just fine if something really serious happens to it mechanically.

2. Buy a Bianchi Pista or Fuji Track and be surprised at just how decent these bikes can be. I bought a Trek 1200 bonded aluminum bike for around $600 in 92/93 with RX100 components and rode that bike and components till this past summer. I easily put in excess of 15,000 miles using the same bottom bracket, headset, brakes/pads everything was original except wheels/hubs and tires. Don't under estimate how long this junk will actually last (except the wheels).

3. Buy a nice frame as was suggested, however, keep in mind that most of your current "beater bike parts" likely won't be compatible. For example seatpost, stem quill vs threadless, headset threaded vs threadless, rear wheel 120mm vs 126/130mm. And seriously would anyone in their right mind put old beater parts on a $600+ frame? I sure hope not.

The cool thing about the Pista or Fuji track is that they are nice enough to provide some sort of satisfaction with your ride but yet not so nice that you are afraid to acutally use it. My vote is try to get the Bianchi through the winter rain season then next spring get one of the low end track bikes. But if the bottom bracket becomes a daily pita scrap it and get a new one and try to recover some of your investment on ebay or save the parts for emergency spares for yourself or friends.

Good Luck

tommasini

Look over a hundred or so fixies at fixedgeargallery.com...afterwards you will (maybe ) know for sure what you prefer...old road bike conversion, new fujianchi, built up Surley, etc. All are good bikes, it is more a matter of preference than anything....though personally I think bikes built from a nice old road frame have more "soul"...

biff

I assume you're talking about the adjustable cup. I had the same problem. Although, I don't understand why it was happening. Inspected the threads, on both the cup and the bracket, they were both fine. Cleaned, re-packed, re-greased, noticed the same problem on assembly.

Then I figured I would draw upon my ghetto Naval fixes of the past (as I'm sure you're experienced with William). I put ONE layer of Teflon tape on the inside of the cup. Grease on the outer portion. It threaded on perfectly....and no longer moved within the bottom bracket.

I thought the movement was causing a metal-on-metal sound when I pedaled. It ended up being chainring bolts.

I don't know if this is a solid fix. My little book-o-bike repair says that they usually use Teflon tape on Titanium bottom brackets. It's worked like a champ on my steel Tommasini.

dobber

Which would you rather do, ride or tinker? I too sat upon the horns of that enema ( what movie is that quote from? ). Could have had a Fuji for 4 bills. Got strangled in my underwear getting all worried about component quality. I mean really, how many components are there. And how easily can most be replaced over time.

And lets face it, these "low grade" components aren't going to grenade themselves the first (hundredth) time you ride the bike. I agree with the poster who referred to the plethora (..The Three Amigos..) of low end bikes currently circling the planet. It's not like the majority of us are riding these machines at the extreme edge....well maybe Mayo, but he's my pick for Fixed Gear Extreme Poster Child.

If its a decent frame and the whole thing is a decent price, I'd buy it. Then you've got a great foundation to build up off of over time.

Me, I wound up with a GTB. Decent quality components, great frame.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...748#post376748

I still lust for the higher end GT Pulse.... you will be mine, oh yes you will. And someday I'd like to build up a MTB fixer.

lotek 

If I recall correctly Mayo is riding a converted Masi, not exactly low end . . .

Marty

dobber

Never implied Mayo's rig was low end. My comment was with regards to the fact that the majority of riders probably would never ever push a "high end" ride to the edge of thier performance envelope.

The advent of reasonably priced singles and fixes from manufacturers provides ease of entry into the sport. You know everything works. Some research prior to buying might reveal weaknesses, or what you might expect to upgrade (Fuji's chainring seems to be kinda lame, for example).

And not everyone has easy access to frames, sources, etc. I bet in my county, I've spoken to both of the other two fixed gear riders.




__________

Now I wasn’t, uh, knee-crawlin’, slip-slidin’, reggy-youngin’, commode-huggin’ drunk, I was God’s Own Drunk, and a fearless man

And that’s when I first saw the bear.

SD Fixed

That's it fly boy.. it's time to go bowlistic on your @$$.

SD Fixed

Both. My biggest concern about a new ride is theft at work (it'll soon be locked up outside) which is why I like my older bianchi.. Doesn't look like much. Of course, with the tweaked BB.. it may not be much!

I'll ride it till it dies. I've been search on Ebay for bianchi frames, but they end up costing toooo much for my taste.

dobber

I got a guy up in Potsdam who has a bunch of track frames and bikes. I'll get his current list and see what he has.

SD Fixed

If you could either post or pm me a link for what's around.. that'd be nice. Or for him, either way.

I just lost my two ebay bids on bianchi's.