London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

wait.. i thought YOU did as well?

There are certainly a lot more Brooks around after the Shoreditch polo comp...

Busted!

;)

To your question, I have upgraded Stem, Handlebars, Seatpost, Seat, Rims and Tyres (I'm not sure of the part names the people at Edwards built it for me)

I just realised that the Rims aren't machined. But i might upgrade them soon.

(also i don't think the Brooks looks THAT bad)

Get Edwards (Edwardes of Camberwell?) to switch-out those rims before you wear the paint off them and they lose value.

If they recommended those rims for riding single-speed they gave you bad advice. I'd make 'em swap & rebuild.

If anyone has an old 54cm Fuji Track frame and (threaded) forks they want to sell...

i'm all over it!

if you don't want the rims i will buy them off you. pm me.

also chop the brooks, it's fun and easy and looks 100% better imo.

;-)

got a 52 frame and forks outta use, imagine to a wee bit to small though

is it built-up (for me to try)?

I'm not in London 'till the 7th of Nov now but I'd like to give it a go.

Actually 52cm is definitely pushing it.

I'm 5 11" but usually ride track frames on the small size (54cm). I think 52cm would be very wobbly for me down fast hills!

nah worries mate, i'm just a short arse 5'7 so quite a difference

just got my fuji today - haven't had a chance to do anything with it other than look at it though :( I was planning on sticking a 17 tooth freewheel on the back as well as the stock fixed gear - mostly cos I think I need to get my fitness up a bit before I ride the 7 miles to work on a fixed - but from reading this I understand this might be a silly move? also, was going to stick a shimano tiagra and an old bmx lever on... what do people think?

Freewheel and a single brake is a silly move, yes.

haha alright, is it the single brake thats the prob? what would anyone suggest - I'm just slightly worried my legs can't continually go round all the way to work... 1) man up 2) rock two brakes for awhile....

^ Try doing a few shorter distances to see how you get on with fixed, you'll probably find that you'll be OK. But have a go first and see how you get on.

depends on how far your commute is and how much riding you've been doing. you will adjust to riding fixed fairly quickly, but if fitness is a real issue than maybe two brakes and a freewheel is the best bet in the short term.

one brake (with freewheel) doesn't give you enough stopping power really, especially in the wet.

sorry no, I meant to imply that running a SS with only one brake is a silly move.

ok i get you all... got it all set up this evening so ill go for a pedal in the morning... fitness isnt a serious issue at all, i ride bmx almost every day (well not so much now winter has drawn in), its just the 'new-ness' of a real sized bike, and a fixed gear that worries me slightly. fyi the commute is 7.9 miles according to google maps.

on a slightly different note (sorry for the barrage of n00b questions but as a n00b I'm not allowed to start threads!), one of the hills on the way to work is very countryside, very long and reasonably steep: If I was to stick with fix (having changed the current 48-15 to maybe 48-17/18) and on the downhill simply couldnt keep up with the cranks, what's the best emergency strategy?

your legs and the front brake (?)

what beefmaster said.

i recommend a 48-18 as a good versatile gear, btw. it's light enough to be nimble in traffic, but you won't spin out on the flats too much.

haha, alright fair enough to the legs and brakes, haven't had a single ride yet so I haven't got the feel of it all. plus on me bmx im a long term (like 10 years) no brakes foot in the back tyre braker. looking forward to a ride tomorrow as long as the weather holds up, will let you know how it goes! cheers for the help chaps.

I ride with a 48x17 on mine. I found the 18 a little too spinny (?)

Good luck

ok - think I'll start off with a 17 and see how I go. Also as I understand it 18 only gives a couple of skid patches - not that im even starting to think about skidding and maybe never will - but nothin wrong with a bit of future proofing!

thanks again.

just got back from my first ride - think i might faint haha... went to the lbs this morning, they are ordering me in a 17t, so my ride today was with an 18t freewheel (whilst trying to not stop pedalling!). did about 6 miles, firstly: my ears f-in hurt! need to invest in some ear protection. secondly: my legs feel like jelly! need to invest in some better fitness levels. all in all though, lovely feeling bike, I can definately see why people say the seat is horrible, that will be my next upgrade.

great bike!

The only saddle that looks really good on a Fuji Track is a Brooks, although this goes against all fashion conventions it just works and nobody really knows why. Dale will be along to confirm this shortly.

Dont change the seat yet. May just be a waste of money you could spend elsewhere, you should give a saddle about a month to get used to, if still sore and uncomfortable then you should change.

Yeah, give the OEM saddle a chance! Damn right it's ugly enough, but I'd upgrade the tyres as my first priority.

what's so wrong with the tires? a grip thing or a puncture thing? I don't plan on upgrading anything just yet - gotta get a feel for it all first!

Tyres are just poo. Plasticy looking. Could puncture with a leaf. Did I say poo already?

just had a proper ganders, take your point... poo indeed. poopy poo.

Most OTP come with crap tyres, not necessarily crap enough to bin, just really lo-end. If your commuting you'll probably appreciate the ride and you'll get from their replacements.

Your pedal action, how you sit and move will all change a lot as you get used to a totally different kind of bike. Until then no need to bin the saddle.

+1 on the Brooks (espesh Grey Brooks - Grey 08 frame)

I know its kinda off topic but I know there is a good few of you in Ireland(Dublin specifically) and I was wondering do you know anywhere that would be able to get the Fuji Track in(or does get it in to save€€€).

I got mine from Fred's Treads, he did me a deal for £305 inc postage. He is a nice guy, you can ring him up and chat to him about posting to Dublin...

Shops will probably want to charge you nearer the RRP of £349.99

OOH OOH OOH thanks that would save me €50 on a price I got earlier:3.
I assume you got it posted to Dublin too?
EDIT: The site says that he doesnt post outside the UK.

Sorry no, I got it posted to the UK, its just the guy that runs the site seems like a nice chap and it may be worth giving him a ring to see if you can arrnage something to get it posted over.

As a newwbie I thought i'd actually post rather than just read them. I've got a track 08 that has been a joy to ride. I've put on a 105 brake, changed the pedals/cages and changed the bars for some black risers.

My enjoyment has not been without incident though. First, I managed to bend the lockring ever so slightly, so that was replaced with a dura ace one and last week it looks like the bearings in the rear hub have gone. It still rides fine but they is about 1-2mm side movement in the rear wheel, so that will need to be replaced at some point, probably sooner rather than later.

Anyone else had any problems? I know the components are fairly shite but after 3/4 months i would have expected it to hold together a bit better.

Sure your rear bearings just don't need some adjustment Ben? I'd be surprised if they'd worn that quickly.

I think i replaced everything but the headset, fork and bb in the first 6 months of owning my 05 fuji (was that the year they had the horrible red and white paintjob?). But saying that i'm still considering replacing it with another fuji.

A Fuji Obey perhaps?

just tighten up the bolt thingies on the axel.. dont need a new hub!

Are they available over here? didn't think they were that common. Was thinking more along the lines of the regular fuji track. Tho I'd love a track pro, which i'd strip, polish within a inch of it's life and clear coat.

I've tried tightening the axle bolts but I can't get them to shift whichever direction I try. I took the bike into BLB and they said nothing could be done about it (probably only said that to make me buy a new wheel). I'll give it another go but if i'm honest its given me an excuse to get some new wheels.

Hello,

I've had mine for a good few years now, I've posted it before as I'm a little proud of her. she's got a new set of wheels, a respray, front brake, risers and a new saddle. Oh and my name incase anyone tries to steal it ;-)

well, ive done close to 1000km on my Fuji, with the stock wheels, and the only thing the hubs need is a service.

so unless uve been dropping stairs or whatever, they should be fine :)

Fuji track. It's pure good man!

I've done about 1000km on my Fuji too. The only thing I've had to do is tighten the headset. The bike's fine.

Mine was delivered yesterday! Last night I thought i'd take it round the block brakeless... very bad idea, it was dark, icy, my first time fixed and on a 48/16 (and I live at the top of a small hill) !! A little scary. Put brake on today and did 45km on it! awesome. Only a couple of "trying to coast" incidents.

Normally ride a road bike with tri bars, so never use tops or drops... and now I can only use tops or drops. Still got on with it quite well, I was drafting a tractor at 30+ at one point :D

I took mine out for a spin in Brockwell park when I first got it. I went down a hill and by the time I got to the bottom i'd decided that fixed gear bikes were death traps. Ten miles later I had a brake and a revised opinion.