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Advice on first singlespeed build

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Advice on first singlespeed build

Old 05-12-09, 03:58 PM
  #1  
robo-friend
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Advice on first singlespeed build

So I've been using the same Specialized mtb to get around for the past 7 or 8 years. It's heavy, creaky, ugly, too small and I'm ready for a change. Went down to my LBS the other day and tested out a road bike for the first time; it was a Trek 1.2. What a dream riding that was compared to what I was used to!

Since I'm all about diy, I want to build a bike from the ground up and I want to go singlespeed as I live in a pretty flat area and it will be cheaper and simpler for a first-timer. This bike will be my primary form of transportation and will also be used for exercise. It won't be the most "pure" ss as I want to go freewheel with f/r brakes for practicality, safety and I don't think I could handle not being able to coast. I'm an artist and want something aesthetically pleasing too, both form and color-wise, but I'm also pretty poor so this absotively posolutely has to come in under a grand.

The color scheme I'm imagining is a pretty simple white, black and red. White frameset with black seatpost, headset, stem, handlebars, brake levers, calipers, crankset, pedals and red saddle, bar tape, chain and rims.

The frameset I'm pretty set on is a 53cm Kilo TT from bikeisland. I have no idea when they'll have that size in white in stock again though. If there are any others around $200 I can get in white, I'm open to suggestions.

The seatpost I'm clueless about but I think the Kilo needs a 26.8mm dia. Headsets also baffle me so I'll need help there too but it should be 1" threadless. I need stem advice as well but it will need to be able to work with the Profile Air Wing bullhorns I'm looking at with a dia of 26.0mm. Brake levers will probably be the Cane Creek 200TT and calipers the Tektro R530. The black Origin-8 crankset w/ chainring seems fine but I haven't looked around a whole lot. No clue on pedals but toe clips would be nice as I will be wearing normal shoes when riding.

The only all red saddle I've seen is the Velo sold on eighthinch but if there are others, I'd like to see them. Red Cinelli cork tape looks good. There's red chains on eighthinch as well. Also on eighthinch are Velocity and Weinmann Deep-Vs in red but why are the Velocity's almost $100 more expensive?

Decent and somewhat treaded tires will be needed too. I think I heard the Kilo TT frame fits up to 28c. I'll also need a freewheel and bottom bracket.

Anyway, if you guys could help me put together a complete inventory list, I'd be super grateful! I'm very much a noob to all this but I learn quick.
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Old 05-13-09, 05:55 PM
  #2  
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No input yet? I guess that was a rather daunting post.

Anyway, the Leader 725TR frame has caught my eye. I like the stretched out aero tubing and overall style. Would be over $100 more than the Kilo including fork but it's really tempting.

I'm also thinking black rims and red striped tires might look better than my previous idea.

edit: And a more practical question. How does one run cables to a rear brake on a frame that doesn't have those little guide holes on the frame?
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Old 05-13-09, 06:43 PM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by r0br0
No input yet? I guess that was a rather daunting post.

Anyway, the Leader 725TR frame has caught my eye. I like the stretched out aero tubing and overall style. Would be over $100 more than the Kilo including fork but it's really tempting.

I'm also thinking black rims and red striped tires might look better than my previous idea.

edit: And a more practical question. How does one run cables to a rear brake on a frame that doesn't have those little guide holes on the frame?
Use cable ties or find some 'oldschool cable clamps from a bike co-op, most likely.

Try https://www.bikesdirect.com and check out any of the 3-400.00 singlespeed/fixies there FIRST. Then decide whether or not you want to do a DIY build. Even a thrift store find properly converted can run over 200.00 for good components. But if you're insistant on doing your own build I'll give you a list of the stuff I used, including the frame.

Frameset: 1983 Fuji Del Rey Valulite 12 sp(25.00 from thriftstore 10 years ago)
Sandblast/powdercoat: 75.00(got a deal...he was doing a big part run for another client in black sparkle and slipped my stuff in, too.)
Rims: Sun CR-18 36h rr, 32h frt(46.00 from https://www.bikepartsusa.com)
Hubs: Schwinn Freewheel 36h, Shimano RSX frt 32h(parts bin)
Spokes: Dt Alpine3 4x rr, generic stainless steel frt(canabalized from other bikes)
Saddle: Specialized Ergo Split(late 90s...have had awhile, but it was 45.00 new, so I'll count it @ 20.00)
BB: Sugino 103mm 30.00 from https://www.universalcycles.com
Cranks: Bulletproof 170mm(bikepartsusa 33.00)
Chainring: Rocket Ring 46t(bpusa 16.00)
Chain: KMC 1/8"(bpusa 11.00)
Freewheel: Acera 16t(bpusa 18.00)
Brakes: Calipers, levers, cables, housings from https://www.bikeisland.com for 40.00
Tubes: Michlein Race w/33mm valve stem 3 @ 5.00 ea from https://www.biketiresdirect.com
Tires: 700x25mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus @ 35.00 ea from BTD.com
HB tape: 2 sets one white, one black from https://www.nashbar.com for 'harlequin wrap' @ 14.00 for both.
Pedals: Wellgo mtb dual-sided clipless from bikeisland for 40.00.

Not including shipping my parts total is over 450.00. I learned alot as I built my own wheelsets and did all my own work except the handlebar wrap...the Harlequin wrap is very trickey and a friend did it over beers and conversation. If I had it to do over again I'd get the Motobecane Messenger, assemble it when it arrived and go for a ride.
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Old 05-14-09, 05:07 AM
  #4  
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Yes I'm sure I want to build this bike. I've owned a bunch of cheap entry level bikes of various types over the years and I want something nicer and more personal. I decided I'm going to make this build fixed brakeless for simplicity and cost. Might add brakes down the road, but I want to have fun with a pure fixie for a little while. I added up the cost of all the parts I picked out and it amazingly came to EXACTLY $1,000. Then I remembered I'd forgotten tires, tubes and rim tape. Ah well anyway here's the list:

Frame - Leader 725TR Track Frame, 55cm, Super Gloss White
Fork - Leader I802CA Straight Carbon Aluminum Fork, Super Gloss White
Headset - FSA ZS3 Carbon Headset
Stem - Traitor Poser Stem, White
Bars - Profile Design Air Wing, 40cm, Black
Tape - Arundel Gecko, Red
Saddle - Traitor Diamond Stitch Saddle, White
Seatpost - Miche Supertype, Black
Bottom Bracket - Tange Bottom Bracket, 68x113mm
Crankset - Andel Crankset, 165mm, 46T, Black
Pedals - Origin8 Track Pedals, White
Chain - KMC Chain, 1/8", Red
Cog - Formula Cog, 16x1/8"
Lockring - Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Fix Lockring
Wheelset - Weinmann DP18 Deep-V Wheelset, Black
Rim Tape - Velox Rim Tape, 17mm
Tubes - Continental Race Presta Tubes, 700c, 60mm valve length
Tires - CST HP Tires, 700x23c, Red

Am I missing anything?
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Old 06-23-09, 10:29 PM
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Yes, you're missing pictures of your final build
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