Alright guys,
I want to build a fixie, meaning I want to put this together myself. Obviously there are some installations I simply can't do (headset, BB, cranks?), but in general I want this to be a project of mine. I am strongly considering a leader 725 frame, so that would be a solid starting point (not sure what fork to get though). My budget is around $1000. I am taking all suggestions. I already have a rear wheel (Velocity Chukker w/ all-city hub). What'ya got BF?

leaders are well loved here. And having a wheel is a good start, you're going to need another one though. Headset and bb are about all you'll beed a shop for, everything else is like an erector set.

Do you have any specific questions? Perhaps specific parts in mind?

The new Leader I06TR carbon/aluminum fork is nice.

So you have a very beefy polo wheel already built for your rear wheel?

My suggestion is to find a matching one, if you intend to do polo, dick around town or FGFS riding, but then you wouldn't want a Leader 722 frame. I'm assuming the 722 is more of a traditional track frame, and not going to put up with FGFS style riding. I may be wrong.

Velomine offers the best deal on wheels, where you can pick up a set of these for $129.

Frame is where you're going to have to invest some money, imho. If I was building up something with $1k and I've already thrown $150 (129+shipping roughly) at the wheels, I'd buy one of these for $275.

Just a cheap crank, such as this, works.

Hell, that leaves you just about $500 for your brakes, stem, BB, seatpost, saddle, chain, bars, bar tape. Hell, you could make some sweet choices (like a Phil Wood BB) and still have $250 for the above components.

Actually, what would help me is determining the difference between the leader frames. More importantly, the difference between the 725 and the 721, and whether the upgrade is worth the extra $100.

For a front wheel, I imagined the matching wheel, which is this: Handspun Wheel
I have no idea besides that... what brands would you recommend for headset/bb?

Chris King headset/BB if you're going fancy-smancy.

Cane Creek 10/UN-55 if you're going cheap.

He's not talking about the 722TS.

The 721 and 725 are identical aside from the 725 having smoothed out welds and an aero seat tube. Geo and construction are exactly the same. The 721 is actually a little bit lighter.

Leader aluminum frames require a zero stack headset, like the FSA ZS3.

Choosing a bottom bracket will be determined by what crankset you'll be using. Don't pick out a BB beforehand.

alright, spent a bit of time at retrogression, found these:
Leader 721 frame 55cm - $235
Leader 106tr carbon fork - $195
fxyation bullhorns - $32
SRAM S300 cranks - $115

Comes out to like 577.xx. Good start?

If I was to order my frame from retro, would you guys be able to use my UPS account to ship?

I don't understand how that would be any easier than using ours.

It's not easier or harder, but it costs you nothing to ship it, and I get charged a discounted rate.

So all you have is a rear wheel right now? you'll probably scoff at this, but a buying a built bike with additional upgrades then selling the take off OEM parts might be a good option. At least you'll have something ridable while you customize it.

I've definitely considered it, but I have my mind set on a leader frame and I can't find a pre-built bikes that use them.
Here's what I've put together so far:
Velocity Chukker front wheel - $100-155
Leader 721 frame - $235
Leader 106TR fork - $195
SRAM S300 cranks - $115
KMC Chain - $14
FSA ZS3 Headset - $48
Dropbars - $24
Deda stem - $34

Still looking for brakes, pedals, and grips. Am I missing anything otherwise?

you can do all installs yourself i had never built a bike and put my fixie together in less than 1hr. ps for 1000 get someting better than a leader like a bianchi or a cinelli check ebay theres a cheep new vigorelli i was thinkin about getting thats only like 550 or something

I don't have the tools to install a headset or BB (they do require special tools right?) and yeah I see that Cinelli, it's an auction only at $549, with more than a day left. Would be surprised if that jumps up to store price tomorrow. Leaders are also inconspicuous, good for city riding.

no tools really needed for hedset or external bb, but the old internal bb you can go down to the LBS and pick up a $4 tool, its worth it to have for maintenance or whatever

How are you facing the headtube and pressing the cups?

Rubber mallet and 2x4 apparently.

^^ +1 but most new frames like the leader and bianchi and cinelli use integraded whitch are just drop in, only oldschool frames use cups also if you get a frameset its all put together for you

This makes very little sense. Would any other online retailer let you use your own UPS account? If you want to buy from us, feel free. If not, buy somewhere else.

Let me elaborate. When you use my ups account vs your own, my ups account gets charged for the shipping fee, and yours doesn't get charged at all. However the fees I get charged are most likely going to be significantly less than what retro would charge me through the normal checkout. Would it be easier to call in and order and explain what I'm talking about over the phone?

I understand exactly what you're saying.

Buying stuff on the internet has become very easy. You click on it, you pay for it, it arrives at your door. Why add extra steps?

and why are you worried about a savings of maybe $5 when you're looking to drop a grand once the dust settles? Choose your battles man.

We're probably talking more like $30-$40. The shipping costs from retro for the items I am looking to order was approx. $80, and using my UPS account would significantly reduce that. Not to mention it will generally arrive a day earlier, and it helps our "rating" with UPS. If you're not willing to use my account I will find someone who will, I was just hoping to give a company I know my business.

Good plan dude. Strongarm tactics never backfire.

For the record, we wouldn't ship all that stuff in one box.

The world isn't like Burger King. You can't always have it your way.