Made it!

Finally finished Freda the fixie, and I have to say I am very pleased with the result. Challenges to overcome were to make a bolt to mount the front brake, a headset spacer and fitting the mudguards.

Still pondering over the gearing current set up is 38 - 16 as the rear wheel is pulled right back in the frame there is no more chain adjustment so I am thinking to fit a 17T sprocket on to lower the gearing and give a little chain adjustment.

Now all that remains is to start my next project, a Amaco road bike endorsed by Tony Doyle circa 1987 the year when I first started racing happy days!

Well it has been a while, various things have got in the way of playing with the fixie for example houses and women .

So here goes the original chrome forks have been replaces with some cheaper forks, why? Because they are destined to go on my next project! a retro late 1980's road bike of the ilk I started racing on.

Centre pull brake being fitted a) because I like them b) Because it is the only front brake I have. But I did have to make a mounting bolt shown in the picture along with 2 saucer type washers which fit around the fork to make a flat surface for the brakes to atatch .

Now things are looking a bit more fixie ish.

1) Had to measure frame width to determine which spacers are required on rear axel. In the end 3 washers on each side just allowed the frame to pull in slightly and hold the wheel in place.

2) Chain tensioners also fitted, this will allow chain tensioning - obviously! and prevent the wheel being pulled forward under load

3) The rear hubs are not track hubs with 2 threads on them, one for the sprocket, the other for a locknut with a left hand thread. Instead I am using a conventional hub originally designed to a screw on free wheel. The sprocket will screw straight on which is great, also there is sufficient thread protruding to allow a lock nut, did you know that a locking ring from a Bottom bracket will fit? Ok, I know it is not as good as a track hub with a left hand thread but it will do the job. Therefore the thread was degreased and the lock nut fitted using loctite,

Photo's of encouragement, mainly for me! Can you guess what it is yet? Of course another fixie.

Stripped the rear hub down to re grease the bearings and was quite surprised to see a cage holding the bearings in place, most unusual.

So, tyres and tubes fitted to the rims( all second hand of course) and bearings regreased, next task is to measure the frame width and spacer out the rear axel.

He's at it again!

well I am afraid I have been upto my old tricks again and decided to build another fixie and this time get it right! The first one turned out to be a vintage restoration all very lovely yes but..... then I built a track bike which was awsome to ride when you were not fixing ( no pun intended!) tubular tires who invented those damm things! they are no use on the road and should be kept to using in a velodrome. so dear reader I am embarking on another project, the track bike has gone to scotland thanks to e-bay, so now I am ready to build a fixie like Mr Pud did he got it right first time. Standby photos on their way. A fixie will be a bit rough around the edges smooth and quiet and a conversion of an existing bike and above all make you smile.