NserUame

I'm looking to build up a bike out of premium/nice parts as a fixed gear.

I'm looking for suggestions on ANY parts that are 'simply awesome'.. stuff that is just hella nice to use and handle. I'm already riding a bike I built from a Raleigh Grand Prix with average parts.

On the Retro-gression website I put together some builds with what I thought were really nice components and they were coming out at $1500-2000 (was using the EAI BareKnuckle frameset)

Will be used on the street in Sydney CBD

Some problems with my current bike:
1. It is heavy
2. It noticibly flexes, can actually feel the bike twisting
3. Chainline is like a 9/10 for straightness.. looking for a 10
4. Feels like it hates riding off the curb but that is probably my 23c tires
5. Seat is quite uncomfortable
6. I feel a little pressure above the knee when I ride it fixed gear brakeless, have tried many seating positions.. bike probably doesn't fit, I haven't measured (it was free)

Cheers!

Leukybear 

You're a bit far from the bay area to be using "hella" mate.
The bareknmuckle would make an excellent upgrade from what you have now.

4. Feels like it hates riding off the curb but that is probably my 23c tires

~I wouldn't ride off curbs with anything but a MTB or FSFG bike.

5. Seat is quite uncomfortable

~Get a better saddle in the meantime, you can swap it over when all the stuff has arrived.
As for the saddle, none of us can tell you what to get because it's ultimately each person's tush that speaks the last word.

6. I feel a little pressure above the knee when I ride it fixed gear brakeless, have tried many seating positions.. bike probably doesn't fit, I haven't measured (it was free)

~Try lowering your gear ratio before blaming geometry.

prooftheory

For some reason it really bugs me when a newbie makes a post about how they "need our help" but then don't actually ask any questions. What do you want us to do? Are we supposed to send you money to pay for your new BK or what?

lgp927

You can always send me money, I m sure i can find many different ways to spend it .

NserUame

Thanks for the feedback Leuky

Learn to read cranky-pants

ThermionicScott 

Could be the fact that you don't have brakes, but I'm just pulling that out of my ass.

rms13

any parts on Retro-gression are super awesome. the more expensive, the more awesome. end

Scrodzilla

Why are so many people concerned with riding off curbs? Is it really so much of an issue?

prooftheory

Do you mean "Why are people concerned about damaging their bike while riding off curbs?" or "Why are people worrying about riding off curbs when they can avoid doing so?"?

Scrodzilla

Both.

rms13

people are lazy. How about this : don't ride on the sidewalk

Huffandstuff

Brakeless doesn't cause knee issues when you run normal gearing.

hairnet

For the same reason some people have difficulty in gently fastening a bolt.

ThermionicScott 

That depends too much on the person, how they ride, and what constitutes "normal gearing" to apply globally.

seau grateau

Sugino chainring bolts are good. Get some of those, the rest of the bike will pretty much fall into place. Oh, get a Chris King top cap too.

NserUame

Freedom!

Nice bikes on Retro-gression, I was eyeing off that Gara since I'm 5"10. You work there?

Huffandstuff

Anything sub 70.GI is normal gearing and I have absolutely awful knees but only time I've ever had knee pain was due to an incorrect saddle position.

Scrodzilla

Thanks. I own Retrogression.

If you have any questions about my pink Gara, feel free to e-mail me through the contact page on the site.

europa

I don't mind you sending me money. Components are good too - at the moment I need a pair of 36h rims

europa

Right here, you run into the proverbial piece of string argument. Typically, you get what you pay for though there are traps, so stick to reputable shops and brands - yes, Retrogression fits in there.

Rather than getting wound up about particular parts, look at building a balanced unit. Part of this is visual of course, there's no point in your bike looking dreadful (yet so many do) but there's also no point in lacing Quando hubs (rubbish) into high quality rims.

So, decide the style you want - track bike or road bike. This helps you decide the frame so now you need to work out what size frame you need. Once you've decided on the frame, just work your way through the bits, remembering that sometimes later decisions may see you revisiting earlier ones. Have fun, but get most of it worked out before you buy anything, it's a bummer to buy bits only to find you're not going to use it.

The 'jumping off curbs' thing is a bit misleading, especially as riding on Sydney roads is harder on the bike anyway. Go steel my boy, go steel.

Leukybear 

What he means is, he's employee of the month every month.

ThermionicScott 

Yay for you? I've had different experiences.

Huffandstuff

And some people can't have lactose/gluten, it doesn't make it normal.

NserUame

Thanks for the great suggestions guys

I will look at a lower gear ratio and stick to a steel frame. Interesting that I am above the 'normal' Huff. I'll probably go from 46/16 to 44/45-17, which would be dropping from ~75 to ~68. I'd like to get a 17t rear cog and increase my skid patches while I'm at it. I am almost certain this will fix it, the tension seems to be in my quads at the very bottom of the quad and can look quite swollen, disappears when I flex.. I think it is muscular rather than the knee joint itself.

So at the moment I'm thinking:

Frameset: EAI BareKnuckles
Wheels: Phil Wood High Flange hubs, H+Sons deep machined rims, 32x32, 25c Vittoria tyres
Crankset: Was thinking Omnium with GXP BB, but that comes as 48t.. any recommendations for a nice quality black set?
Seat: San Marco Rolls brown
Seatpost: Miche Supertype black
Stem: ???
Bars: Nito B123-AA looks like a high quality traditional style. Leader Downtown Drops look amazing, maybe not practical though.
Headset: ???

BareKnuckles only fit up to 25c apparently, or I'd run 28c on the back..

Scrod, I guess you can help me w/ my chainline as I order, and help me order so it's straight?

Jared.

Doesn't make it abnormal either, as both knee pain and food sensitivities are pretty common.