jazzkat
Fixed wheel fanatic.
- Location
- The Cumbrian Riviera
Hi
I'm not sure where to post this, so, mods please move it to somewhere more appropriate!
I have never built a bike up from parts. I've pulled loads apart and then fettled and reassembled.
So I thought I'd share my experience.
I bought a Surly cross check as it ticked all the boxes for being usable as a winter hack/long distance comfortable bike that can be used fixed.
So having finally settled on the black one (easy to touch up scratches etc) I set about making my wish list of bits. Most of them came before my recent hol to the Alps and now I have returned I had planned to do a sort of mini blog, but I got carried away and just started bolting things on!
Anyway, this is how it went...........
Firstly, fit the headset cups to the frame. I read somewhere on Surlys site that it isn't necessary to face the head tube, so I went ahead (ha ha geddit!!) and fitted the cups to the frame using a length of threaded rod.
Once they were fitted the rest of the bearings and fork were fitted and an old stem put on to hold it all together until I get the spacers/correct length stem sorted later in the build.
I decided early on that fixed was the way to go but had a bit of thinking to do, as most frames designed to be used fixed don't have clearance for the big tyres I want to put on. Having sorted the frame I now have to sort chainline. I've gone for a velosolo disk hub that are converted for rear use and give a 46mm chainline allowing for a non dished (ie stronger) back wheel. I've put on a stronglight track crank and fitted a slightly longer bottom bracket than stronglight advise and it seems to have worked! yippee!
I like colour and so I decided early on that there would be some colour on the bike and as you can get quite a few bits in anodised red I decided to buy some red bolts to fill the holes and to mount some components.
The frame threads were all full of powdercoat and a quick zip down the hole with a tap had everything moving like new.
Bolts fitted
I really thought about leaving it there until my spokes arrive so I can build the wheels but it was going well so I decided to put the brakes on.
Cantilevers on!
So this is where it's up to. Spokes and a few other bits are on their way and should arrive within a day or two, as are tyres/tubes etc Mudguards and saddle. Once I've built the wheels I can have a play with the seat pins from my other bikes to see if I should go with a straight or offset post and then work out how long a stem I want. I'm going to go for a 'silver' coloured stem/bar/seat pin combo, with black saddle and bar tape.
So it's finished for the day and tools away.
thanks for looking!
I'm not sure where to post this, so, mods please move it to somewhere more appropriate!
I have never built a bike up from parts. I've pulled loads apart and then fettled and reassembled.
So I thought I'd share my experience.
I bought a Surly cross check as it ticked all the boxes for being usable as a winter hack/long distance comfortable bike that can be used fixed.
So having finally settled on the black one (easy to touch up scratches etc) I set about making my wish list of bits. Most of them came before my recent hol to the Alps and now I have returned I had planned to do a sort of mini blog, but I got carried away and just started bolting things on!
Anyway, this is how it went...........
Firstly, fit the headset cups to the frame. I read somewhere on Surlys site that it isn't necessary to face the head tube, so I went ahead (ha ha geddit!!) and fitted the cups to the frame using a length of threaded rod.
Once they were fitted the rest of the bearings and fork were fitted and an old stem put on to hold it all together until I get the spacers/correct length stem sorted later in the build.
I decided early on that fixed was the way to go but had a bit of thinking to do, as most frames designed to be used fixed don't have clearance for the big tyres I want to put on. Having sorted the frame I now have to sort chainline. I've gone for a velosolo disk hub that are converted for rear use and give a 46mm chainline allowing for a non dished (ie stronger) back wheel. I've put on a stronglight track crank and fitted a slightly longer bottom bracket than stronglight advise and it seems to have worked! yippee!
I like colour and so I decided early on that there would be some colour on the bike and as you can get quite a few bits in anodised red I decided to buy some red bolts to fill the holes and to mount some components.
The frame threads were all full of powdercoat and a quick zip down the hole with a tap had everything moving like new.
Bolts fitted
I really thought about leaving it there until my spokes arrive so I can build the wheels but it was going well so I decided to put the brakes on.
Cantilevers on!
So this is where it's up to. Spokes and a few other bits are on their way and should arrive within a day or two, as are tyres/tubes etc Mudguards and saddle. Once I've built the wheels I can have a play with the seat pins from my other bikes to see if I should go with a straight or offset post and then work out how long a stem I want. I'm going to go for a 'silver' coloured stem/bar/seat pin combo, with black saddle and bar tape.
So it's finished for the day and tools away.
thanks for looking!
