Sorry we didn't catch that you ordered Nitto risers and a Dirt harry lever. When people order a combination of stuff that isn't compatible, we will usually send an e-mail. Feel free to send back the lever for a refund if you're not going to use it.

About the grips, Ourys will stretch to 24mm without any trouble.

Aside from something custom, is Phil Wood the only manufacturer of low flange rear track hubs in black? My poor Internet search skills haven't brought up much else, figured you've maybe seen another, possibly more economic, solution out there.

Thanks, man. I'll return the lever.

so it is most likely the shop who put them together to blame? seeing as i havent touched either of the hubs cogs or lock rings in installation?

You do know that when installing a new cog and lockring you should re-check it after the first couple of rides, right?

In my opinion, everyone riding fixed should at least own a chainwhip, lockring tool and know how to use them.

Mack and Victoire make low-flange rear track hubs too (but neither one will cost less than a Phil).

While I would hope that the shop has enough sense to really tighten down my cog and lockring (if I were lazy enough to pay someone to actually do that), you should still always double check.
And, as scrod says, you're gonna need to check it after the first couple of rides, my first bike had a bit of slippage after a few rides, and it can lead to a crash.

Ok Scrod, here's one for you:

A while ago my grandfather passed and left each of his grandkids an inheritance. I'd like to use some of that to get something for my bike in his memory. Something classy, possibly vintage or at least evocative of an earlier time. Last year I got a Brooks Swift (in antique brown) from your online shop and have really been enjoying that so one possibility that came to mind was to get the same saddle in black. So anyway, I tell you all of that just to give you the background for my question:

Can you think of other saddles that might be suitable to what I am looking for? I was looking at the Brooks Swallow, but as far as I can tell I can only get one with copper rivets if I get the Select model and that doesn't come in black? I have other copper accents on my bike which is why I wanted that. Also, I don't know much about other vintage saddle brands, so I wouldn't even know what to search for on ebay, etc. This is a bit of a wild goose chase, I admit and don't worry, I'm not hanging this all on you. I just figured I'd post it this thread so that I'd get at least one legit response.

Is this intentional or just an eerie coincidence?

He's risen !

Surprisingly, it was a coincidence. Matt Lingo took that photo at the Velodrome a couple of weeks ago and quite a few people have pointed out that it looks like that pic of Sheldon. I've got a little toy gorilla I've been considering sticking to the top of my helmet too.

If you like your Swift, you may also really like the Team Pro. I've used both and like them equally.

Is that the Bern Allston you are wearing in your new avatar? If so how do you like it? I've been wanting something that blends a little better to a guy who wears nothing but t-shirts and jean shorts and yet still has reasonable venting.

It is the Allston. I needed to get a new helmet when I cut my dreads off because my XXXL Brentwood no longer fit.

I love the hell out of that thing.

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll have to look into that

I propose that you are a worthy candidate to carry on his legacy; like him you are a great mechanic that shares his knowledge on line. You also have a great sense of humor and even often chose an eclectic look for your internet persona. I am sure I am forgetting something else but that s enough for now.

He's also a heretic, something Sheldon shared.

is there any danger in installing a miche carrier and cog on a formula hub but with a lockring that does not fully cover the splined area?

Not answering your question, that's Scrod's job. What exactly are you asking? I can think of a couple of scenarios that might be described this way. Do you mean the locking ring is low and doesn't extend very far up the side of the carrier, not covering the splined area? A photo would help.

the lockring i have covers most of the spline teeth on the cog but does not extend further - coming just short of the main body of the cog. here is a little mock up


it seems solid enough installed, but im worried the minimal contact would be a weak and potentially dangerous liability

You'll be fine.

Once the cog is installed on the carrier, it essentially becomes the same as any other threaded cog and the only way for it to come loose from the cog is to be threaded off.

Thoughts on this vs a star-nut?
Nashbar Expanding Fork Plug

Expander plugs are typically for use on carbon steeerers, as inserting a starnut will damage the carbon. There's no real need to use one on a steel or aluminum steerer.

Bought Origin 8 risers that are 25.4 in clamp diameter. Are the bar end sizing on for the levers all universal? Don't know if I need 22.2 or 24mm levers.

Nitto risers are 24mm. Just about all others are 22.2mm.