London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

All done now. In fairness I haven't really done a great deal, just fitted some parts that I like the look of or they work better or both (the stem is slightly longer than standard and the change in position feels more comfortable), or are going to be very hard wearing and improve with age like the saddle. The pedals although very basic are really easy to get on with, simple to clip in and out of (they had no grease behind the seals from new so have now been packed with the stuff), no more cycling with one foot in a cage and one foot out! It's only the second time I've ever wrapped bars and after the first aborted attempt I'm pleased with the results.

:)

Looks nice man, they stock wheels?

How you getting on with the brooks? I'd be very tempted to trim it... (see JOL's post).

Luverly looking mate, but yeah, hack the saddle, a la JOL. Its not got any dirt on it. Aren't you gonna take it out for a walk? :)

@Ved - wheels are bog standard, the Brooks is fine I put a load of proofide into it and it's comfy enough on short hops, haven't been any real distance yet. Just had a look at JOL's saddle hacking thread and dog's Wrights saddle. I might have a go at the weekend but would reinforce it with tabs underneath as JOL has. Let's face it it's going to need all the reinforcement it can get! :)

@GA2G - cheers, it picked up its first scratches the other day, just small ones but it's such a relief when the newness starts to naturally fade and reality sets in. Going for a spin round Dulwich park in the morning, looking forward to it.

Trimmed the saddle on Friday night with tape as a marker/cutting guide and a very sharp craft knife. Decided it was a good idea after a spliff, which can usually mean the complete and utter opposite. Fortunately I was ultra slow and careful so it turned out well. Didn't bother with tabs underneath in the end, something Dale had said in a thread about it being 4mm thick leather and consequently very tough, which makes sense.

Will post a pic up later.

what size frame is it?

@new in '82 - it's the 61 or 62 (the largest they do) if that helps?

it helps.

i have one on order. tried the 58 but wasn't sure.
i'm pushing 6'3 so i reckon the 61 will do me fine.

i've got me nitto bullhorns all ready. just waiting on an 'evans ride to work' voucher and i shall be hitting the streets.

^ good stuff! I'm 6ft 3in and the 61cm fits good, in fact even better with the slightly longer than standard stem, although bullhorns will give you a bit more length than drops if you need it. A mate of mine is 6ft 1in and got the 58, I tried his found it very slightly cramped. Enjoy!

did you change out the rear cog? isn't it a 15t as standard?

i'm currently riding 52-18 (approx 76) on my conversion, i'm planning on running 48-17 when i get the fuji tho

@new in '82 - someone on the board flogged me an 18t Surly sprocket, just popped this on the opposite side to the standard 15t as it comes with fixed/fixed hub as standard. Very simple you just need a spare lock-ring. This'll give you 48/18 (about 70 if I remember correctly). I've never ridden fixed before now and it seems like an ideal gear for London.

And finally ;) here it is with the newly trimmed saddle, I'm pleased with it but each to their own:

Looks sweet...

i grow more impatient by the day.

@Ved - thank you, to be honest a lot of the changes are down to people on the board and their advice or input, for example I was asking about stems and someone (sorry forget who) flagged up the fact that Evans were doing a deal on that Thomson so I got it for half price!

@pifko - is that the 2007 model? Any plans for changes or are you going to keep her totally OTP?

got my 61cm frame on friday. bombed around all weekend, then last night went out on my pug conversion (it was raining) and realised the 61cm was just too big. fortunately the people at evans were fine, so i am now the proud owner of a 58cm frame which (having just ridden home on it) feels perfect.
thank god i didn't put a scratch on it.

@VanUden... your wheels are stock eh? cos you say ur back is fixed-fixed? i have the stock wheels, and mine is fixed- free :( not fair

@new in '82 - what made you feel the 61 was too big? I even put a longer stem on mine to make it more comfy and I'm 6ft 3in?!

@pete - weird! I've got the standard 15 tooth on one side and on the other put the 18 tooth Surly cog, still fixed :s

like to see a close upon that brooksie..

thinking about chopping mine

my pug is about 59cm and it fits great. the 61cm just felt like a horse, i wasn't overly stretched out or anything, i mean it would have done me fine i'm sure but it just didn't feel very nimble and it was playing on my mind.
i'm about 6ft 2 and a half i reckon, and (i think) i have short-ish legs, standing over the 61 the crotch of my jeans was on the bar.
also, when on the 61 the seat wasn't as high (obviously) and the angle of my body felt too relaxed, i felt like i was sat up like a sail.

anyway, i'm happy now.

oh, and my hub is fixed/free

mine came with a formula 16t as stock... strange.. although i think mine is the American model (got it in Japan) so that might be the only difference? also didnt come with any brakes.


and regarding sizing.. all depends what you use it for! im 6.ft2 and have the 58cm.. and its perfect size for riding around, but too big for 'tricks'.

Here you go chap.

I used gaffa tape to mark the sides, it was handy as I could keep taking it off and sticking it back down until I was happy that both sides were absolutely even. I also used the Brooks stamp as a sort of guide so cut about 2mm from the bottom of the lettering. Just used a craft knife, started off by lightly scoring the leather and continued to cut with light, even, pressure until all the way through. Then sanded the cut edge to make it extra smooth and worked a little black shoe polish/proofide into it to seal it.

Didn't bother with flaps as JOL did. I just thought that, despite my mass, this is very thick, very tough leather and highly unlikely to deform.

Can't you curve that edge slightly? Looks a bit odd straight. Nice job though.

Actually I think it look quite decent and look a bit different than the other Brooks, it'd catch more eyes methinks because of the unusual way of cutting it up.

i agree actually- looks obviously messed with but the shape is good.

^ great chop chop on the brooks. looks even better close up. no issues with the sides flaring when you sit on it?

nice. been thinking about chopping my brooks for my white.

Thanks Ved. I've been riding it since the chop job, did about 5 miles last night around Dulwich Park (so nice after a crappy day at work :) ), and no problem at all with it flaring out at the sides. I can push down hard on it with my hands/upper body weight and it'll flare out maybe 5 mm before springing back, but that hide is so thick and well held by the rivets front and back I can't see it being a problem. Perhaps as it breaks in more, gets used, I might need to adjust the tension earlier than someone with a standard saddle but otherwise all good.