Can this fixie be built better?

Lobo Tommy

Surly Steamroller frame,
Suzue track hubs,
Profile bar and stem,
Michelin tires,
Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
Kalloy post,
Mavic MA3 rims,
Sugino crank (49T),
15t track cog,
and an RX100 front brake


Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Luke

In article <91177ef.0404241625.7b0acd6d@posting.google.com>, Lobo Tommy
<empbt6@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Surly Steamroller frame,
> Suzue track hubs,
> Profile bar and stem,
> Michelin tires,
> Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
> Kalloy post,
> Mavic MA3 rims,
> Sugino crank (49T),
> 15t track cog,
> and an RX100 front brake
>
>
> Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?


Better? I don't know. I suppose "more suitable" would be a more
accurate term. And that is contingent on your expectations, budget,
intended use of the bike, etc...

Here's my .02. The 49/15 chainring/cog combination may be hard on your
knees. I'd go for lower gearing. I live in a relatively flat city -
Toronto - and my chainring/cog setup is 48/17 with 165mm cranks. At
times this setup is a bit much: Once the drive train components wear
out they'll be replaced with a 47/18 setup (or thereabout).

From a maintenance standpoint, if you plan on extensively using the
fixie in snowy or rainy conditions (i.e as a commuter) you may want to
opt for hubs that utilize cartridge bearings. I use a set of Phils
(These are expensive!) but I believe Miche and others make cartridge
fixed gear hubs. Every Spring I just pop the old cartridge out... No
setting cones.

Regarding the crankset; bear in mind the BB height of your Steamroller.
The longer the arms the more the possibility you may grind a pedal
while cornering - especially over uneven terrain. Said grinding of
pedal may be followed by intimate contact with the blacktop - a painful
experience!

Bars, stem, saddle, seatpost etc... No comment. Let your sense of
aesthetics, budget and experience dictate these. I prefer threaded
headsets but this may not be an option with your flavour of forks.

As far as the MA3's. I'm riding on a pair of these now (36hole) and
once they wear out or crack they'll be replaced with your basic single
wall non anodized aluminum variety of rim. For my needs, there's
nothing in the performance of the Ma3s over less expensive options that
justifies the cost. And you should note; quality of wheelbuild is just
as important as wheel components in determining the strength and
durability of your wheels.


Happy riding
luke

Kinky Cowboy

On 24 Apr 2004 17:25:32 -0700, empbt6@yahoo.com (Lobo Tommy) wrote:

>Surly Steamroller frame,
>Suzue track hubs,
>Profile bar and stem,
>Michelin tires,
>Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
>Kalloy post,
>Mavic MA3 rims,
>Sugino crank (49T),
>15t track cog,
>and an RX100 front brake
>
>
>Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Surely the question should be "can you build a better fixie for this
money by not wasting a pile of cash on a Steamroller?" For my money,
the Fort 7005 Track is a better lightweight general purpose frame, and
the On-One Pompino is a better bomb-proof street bike, and they're
both cheaper than a Steamroller, by enough to allow an upgrade to
Miche hubs and cranks. Maybe this doesn't apply where you are. You're
running about the same spec level as my hack bike, so if that's what
you built it for you're probably close. 49x15 is pretty tall for a
hack bike, but they're your knees :-)


Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

Eric S. Sande

>Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

No, dog, that's the Jones.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>cwhitman@texastwr.utaustin.edu__________

Qui si parla Campagnolo

empbt6-<< Surly Steamroller frame,
Suzue track hubs,
Profile bar and stem,
Michelin tires,
Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
Kalloy post,
Mavic MA3 rims,
Sugino crank (49T),
15t track cog,
and an RX100 front brake >><BR><BR>
<< Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?
>><BR><BR>

whaddyamean 'better'? Sounds fine altho a 49/15 is a pretty tall gear( I use a
42/16). I wouldn't use MA-3 either, we have a bunch of eyelet pull outs. Either
Velocity Aeros or Ritchey trekking rims..both about $30.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo

Luke-<< From a maintenance standpoint, if you plan on extensively using the
fixie in snowy or rainy conditions (i.e as a commuter) you may want to
opt for hubs that utilize cartridge bearings >><BR><BR>

Suzue Promax are cart bearings..The 'basic' hubs are not. I agree, Phils are
the best, have them on both of my bikes..Fixie and road bike.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Zog The Undeniable

Lobo Tommy wrote:

> Surly Steamroller frame,
> Suzue track hubs,
> Profile bar and stem,
> Michelin tires,
> Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
> Kalloy post,
> Mavic MA3 rims,
> Sugino crank (49T),
> 15t track cog,
> and an RX100 front brake
>
>
> Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Jobst would use MA2s from his stockpile ;-)

Tom Ace

Peter Chisholm wrote:

> [...] I wouldn't use MA-3 either, we have a bunch of eyelet pull outs. Either
> Velocity Aeros or Ritchey trekking rims..both about $30.

Peter, you'd said good things about the MA-3 in the past.
E.g. on Nov 23, 2001, in a thread with the subject
'Building wheels for "heavier" riders', you wrote:

>When new, I listened to those that called the MA-3 a
>'dog(Jobst) and others that I think were more pissed
>about the MA-2 going away than the design of the MA-3.
>Now after a year or so of building dozens of these,
>I can say they are good rims, not expensive and make
>a GOOD wheelset...from my experience, not just looking
>at a picture on a web site(jobst again).

Has the MA-3 changed since then, or ... ?

Tom Ace

whitfit

Kinky Cowboy <user@domain.com> wrote in message
> by not wasting a pile of cash on a Steamroller?" For my money,
> the Fort 7005 Track is a better lightweight general purpose frame, and
> the On-One Pompino is a better bomb-proof street bike, and they're
> both cheaper than a Steamroller.


Umm... On which side of the pond?

Whitfit.

Luke

In article <435ad9f16a63a5e5f9ed44e31444d636@news.teranews.com>, Kinky
Cowboy <user@domain.com> wrote:

> On 24 Apr 2004 17:25:32 -0700, empbt6@yahoo.com (Lobo Tommy) wrote:
>
> >Surly Steamroller frame,
> >Suzue track hubs,
> >Profile bar and stem,
> >Michelin tires,
> >Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
> >Kalloy post,
> >Mavic MA3 rims,
> >Sugino crank (49T),
> >15t track cog,
> >and an RX100 front brake
> >
> >
> >Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?
>
> Surely the question should be "can you build a better fixie for this
> money by not wasting a pile of cash on a Steamroller?" For my money,
> the Fort 7005 Track is a better lightweight general purpose frame, and
> the On-One Pompino is a better bomb-proof street bike, and they're
> both cheaper than a Steamroller, by enough to allow an upgrade to
> Miche hubs and cranks.

<snip>

I'll go you one better Kink. Why bother with a dedicated single speed/
track bike frameset at all? I've two fixed gears - a Medici and an
Alcyon (local housebrand) that utilize older road frames with horiz
drops. Both bikes can accomodate racks, the Alcyon takes full fenders
panniers etc.... and these can be built up into multispeed bikes when
inclined.


These frames are not of shoddy quality: they use butted tubes (531 and
Brain) and ride wonderfully. For those, like me, who're on a budget and
prize versatility, few options yield more value than converting an
older roadie.


luke

Lars Lehtonen

According to Lobo Tommy <empbt6@yahoo.com>:

[order of post changed]

>Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?

Potentially.

>Surly Steamroller frame,

Why the Steamroller? They seem like nice enough frames, but:

1. I don't like threadless headsets
2. "Surly" is a marketing front for QBP, a big supplier in Minnesota.
The actual frames are made by robots in Taiwan.

>Suzue track hubs,

The Suzue basic hubs are pretty nasty. I'm about to try a set of
Promax instead.

>Mavic MA3 rims,

I've never heard anything good, but I don't really know. I have an Open
Pro on my fixed and it seems nice.

>Sugino crank (49T),
>15t track cog,

That's way too huge, I think.

>and an RX100 front brake

Sounds like a nice time.

---
Lars

Qui si parla Campagnolo

crux-<< Peter, you'd said good things about the MA-3 in the past.
E.g. on Nov 23, 2001, in a thread with the subject
'Building wheels for "heavier" riders', you wrote: >><BR><BR>


Yep, sure did. Once again, we put a lot of trust in a manufacturer, that proved
to be misplaced. We had WAY to many MA-3s come back to us with eyelets that
pulled out. After about the 10th one, we sent all the MA-3s back to Mavic..

They always built just fine, easy to get finished. Always used 100 kgf, dbl
butted spokes...but...

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Kinky Cowboy

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:41:16 -0400, Luke <luca@ca.inter.net> wrote:

>In article <435ad9f16a63a5e5f9ed44e31444d636@news.teranews.com>, Kinky
>Cowboy <user@domain.com> wrote:
>
>> On 24 Apr 2004 17:25:32 -0700, empbt6@yahoo.com (Lobo Tommy) wrote:
>>
>> >Surly Steamroller frame,
>> >Suzue track hubs,
>> >Profile bar and stem,
>> >Michelin tires,
>> >Selle Italia Nitrox saddle,
>> >Kalloy post,
>> >Mavic MA3 rims,
>> >Sugino crank (49T),
>> >15t track cog,
>> >and an RX100 front brake
>> >
>> >
>> >Can you build a better fixie than this using the Steamroller frame?
>>
>> Surely the question should be "can you build a better fixie for this
>> money by not wasting a pile of cash on a Steamroller?" For my money,
>> the Fort 7005 Track is a better lightweight general purpose frame, and
>> the On-One Pompino is a better bomb-proof street bike, and they're
>> both cheaper than a Steamroller, by enough to allow an upgrade to
>> Miche hubs and cranks.
>
><snip>
>
>I'll go you one better Kink. Why bother with a dedicated single speed/
>track bike frameset at all? I've two fixed gears - a Medici and an
>Alcyon (local housebrand) that utilize older road frames with horiz
>drops. Both bikes can accomodate racks, the Alcyon takes full fenders
>panniers etc.... and these can be built up into multispeed bikes when
>inclined.
>
>
>These frames are not of shoddy quality: they use butted tubes (531 and
>Brain) and ride wonderfully. For those, like me, who're on a budget and
>prize versatility, few options yield more value than converting an
>older roadie.
>
>
>luke


Couldn't agree more; I've got a 1983 Raleigh Record Ace (full 531C
tubeset, and spaced 120mm at the back!) converted to fixed, even rode
a time trial on it a week or two ago, and a 1986 Hirame (Kuwahara)
Osaka Pro, Ishiwata 022 DB CroMo tubes with the 126mm dropouts
squeezed together by a Miche track hub. Both bought new and still
going strong. Can't compete with my dad's Hobbs, which he bought
second hand in 1947 and rode to work nearly every day until 1990,
still ready to ride in the shed "just in case I want to go back to
fixed", as he said last week.


Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary