A stupid noobie question, please - I see SS wheel sets on flea-bay for under $100. Are they worth the $$ or should I spend an extra $50 to $100 to get name-brand rims and sealed-bearing hubs?

I plan to keep the bike, but at the upper end of wheel set prices, I can buy an entire fixed-gear bike for the same price. Of course, I'm aware that sometimes you get what you pay for...

Where is the best value to price ratio in buying single-speed / fixed-gear wheels/bikes?

A few of the slate colored ones I've seen have faded a little but nothing major. My black one only has about six miles on it at this point so I can't really share any personal experience with how the color will hold up.

C17. It feels just like my Team Pro.

Cheap wheelsets are just that. If you want to keep the wheels around for a while, spend the money on some better ones.

There are plenty of very good wheelsets on the market in the $150-250 range.

Thanks - and particularly thanks for the price range where I should be looking! At that price, I see name-brand rims and sealed-bearing hubs. Anything else I should look for?

Scrod, is there a reason no one in the US seems to carry low-flange Gran Compe Hubs? Can you get them?

edit: OK Factory Five has them.

scrod can you recommend me an inexpensive seat post with a mild setback, all black in 27.2? I say inexpensive but im not asking for uber cheap bs. just something I dont have to cough up 60 to 100 for.

thanks!

cant remember if I said it so ill say it again lol since I dont run stickers i rock your retro sticker on the back of my phone

protip: factory 5 is a buncha white dudes in china

Makes sense.

Deda RSX01 or FSA SL280 are both good options.

For some reason no US distributors stock them, even the few that do carry the standard high flange and high flange NJS hubs.

Shame, they look fantastic.

Thanks for the input!

I'm pretty sure they were originally manufactured exclusively for Blue Lug in Japan. Chari & Co got some after-the-fact but I don't know if they have still have them in stock.

Just get Phil Woods!

Yeah that's my plan.

Scrod,

What bell do you have on your Bare Knuckle? Where did you get it?

Ride Safe.

Joe

It looks like a brass Crane Suzu
My wife has one on her bike.

You can conviently get one here:
Crane Suzu Mini headset spacer-mount bell | Retrogression

if you had 80$ to spend on hubs which set would you get?

I just bought the crane suzu in brass (although I'm thinking now that copper might get a really attractive patina after a while; oh well). I really like it. I think Scrod's pedalroom page on the bike says its Velo Orange.

Novatec.

Yeah, mine is an older VO bell. I don't think they sell them anymore. The Crane bells are pretty much the same, though.

Your shiny new brass bell will develop a nice brownish patina over time. If you want to speed up the process, read this (the egg method is my favorite).

Thanks for the suggestion. I do think it looks great as it is, so no rush.

Portland Design Works also makes one called the Alexander Graham Bell and I know at least as of two weeks ago J&B Importers had some in stock and I know PDW is getting more in February. So if your shop has account with J&B they hopefully could order you one or you can wait till Feb or find one of the Suzu Crane Bells

Should I move to San Diego?
*Have BA degree (Lived in Boston for school)
*Looking for lifestyle, then career.
*Money saved, though frugal and looking for an affordable city (well more so than nyc, la, boston ect).
*No "career" at the moment but decent job experience across many fields.
*Don't know a soul out there, currently living in upstate new york.

I'm mostly curious as you were a m******* for sometime as well and I feel as though we share a similar outlook on life. I love the charm and aesthetics of new england/boston but I have to think the weather alone would be good enough reason to make the move out there.

Thanks scrod

Do it while you're still young (assuming you are). Once you get a secure job and become more settled it gets harder and harder. I had an opportunity to move out there which did not come to fruition, but I still might try.

Sigh I hear you brother, I've been camped up back home for the past 3 years to avoid getting settled anywhere. In retrospect it was a mistake, but one which I will hopefully render with some sweet new digs in the sweet socal sun someday