Apologies in advance for the shoddy cellphone pic. A while ago I built my son a fixed-gear bike using a Motobecane mixte frame I had kicking around (which can be seen leaning against the wall in the pic below.) I just came into this Bianchi Strada LX frame which fits him better, so I upgraded him.



The wheels, pedals, and stem are from my Kilo TT; the saddle is from Nashbar; the cranks are Sugino and it's running 42/16; the bars are some NOS SR randonneur bars.

So. Whadda ya think?

EDIT: Neither the saddle nor bars are adjusted for him yet, and no, the bike is not clamped on the frame.

I wish my dad had given me something like that, very cool.

definite upgrade

neat, just wrap them bars. I think a brake is probably a good idea too, and maybe a helmet.

The bars will be wrapped. He won't run a brake; I threatened to put one on, he told me he'll just take it off. He's 18 now (just turned on 02/18, this is a part of his b-day present) so I can't *make* him run a brake.

Tell him you gave him life and you can take it away. Then put the brake on and tell him he has to use it.

But seriously, very cool. And I envy your bike stand.

I don't mean to turn this into a flame-thread but I just need to say that, if he lives in your house or is under your insurance plan, you really should insist on a brake. I have a feeling a lot of the kids get away with no brakes because parents don't monitor their children and don't know any better.

I'm 19 but still live at home and what mom's word says, goes.

not even a long throw front brake? i mean. . . : < . . . i guess it depends on where you're riding, but here in atlanta, you're soooo asking for it if you don't have an e-brake

That bike stand is the greatest effing thing in the entire effing world. I don't know how I worked on bikes before I had it.

Anyway, I'm going to install the brake. What he does from there, well, he's an adult now.

Thanks for rubbing some more salt in the wound. I'm going to go work on my bike on the floor now

If you install a cyclocross brake lever without a hinge clamp and wrap the bars, he'll probably be too lazy to take it off.

Ah, you've met my son.

Just use some kind of proprietary key'd bolt to bolt the brake onto the fork. They are pretty easy to come by, and your kid probably won't have the desire to search for the right tool to be able to take it off.

That, or fill the allen wrench hole in with 2 part epoxy.

^^^

smart. but if he really wanted, just take off bar and brake overall lol

The kid is 18....leave him alone

You just wanted to upgrade your wheels, pedals, and stem--ADMIT IT!

EDIT: I guess your upgrade would have come when you built his mixte, but still...

Sorry if it's off topic a little, but why would it be bad if it was clamped to the frame (the rack)?

Beautiful bike. Sounds like you're doing right on the brake issue. Wish him a happy birthday from anonymous internet stranger...

Great gift. And, like everyone's said here before, he needs a brake. I'm a strong rider and still run a brake. I rarely use it, but those just-in-case moments are all too common.

Great bike to gift. Nice job. +1 on the brake issue. Front Brakes are cool.

Because seatposts are much thicker/stronger than the frame, so if you or somebody else bumps into it while it's on the stand, or decides to torque something down, there's minimal chance of bending anything, whereas sub 1mm tubing isn't designed to take much twisting from unusual angles.


OP - +1 on installing the brake. Brakeless is cool and all until your chain snaps while you're doing a skid stop, at which point a backup plan becomes very nice indeed.

+1 on front brake. looks great!

The bike is not for me but I think you're a kickass dad

Very decent of you iamtim! Great build/upgarade too!

Carlovahnsexron, heres something that will fry your noodle, we gave each one of our 2 daughters a car when they turned 18, the oldest got a 1997 Chevy Cavalier, the youngest got a 2000 VW Beetle, they both said, "Thanks, I appreciate it, but I dont want a car"! To this day neither one of them drives!

Is this post for real