Putting It All Together

The parcel service made good on their promises today, and my packages arrived in good condition. That means but one thing... Assembly time!

First the cog and lockring went on...

Then the bottom bracket...

Then the cranks...

Next was the chain...

The rear wheel was tightened...

The front wheel was attached...

Some crusty old pedals just to spin around on for now...

Finally, I was able to take it out for a test spin!!

Getting Fixed?

The cog arrived today. It was quickly installed hand-tight, and the lock ring as well. The bottom bracket is slated to arrive tomorrow. Over the next few days I hope to assemble the drivetrain and begin to test and tune. You don't want to miss this next stage as there may be a surprise or two!

Y'all come back now, hear?

Test Fitting Continues

Finally! This most recent post will allow you to view, for the first time, the elegant fixie with both wheels attached (albeit not firmly). I actually swung my leg over it for the first time since straddling the frame to remove the stuck seatpost, and it was quite invigorating! I can't wait to feel the pedals beneath my feet and the wind in my face.

Some minor tweaks will soon be in order, such as a longer, deeper stem (perhaps a Nitto Jaguar 120mm) and fine-tuning the seat rails for a better fit. That's about it, other than the fact that I'd love to fasten a BROOKS Saddle to the seatpost. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, enjoy the pictures!

...Later That Night...

Some minor test fitting began this evening. Just a couple components bolted onto the frame, but it sure is starting to look like a bike! The seatpost went in, rear wheel went on, fork and headset were installed, and the handlebars fitted.

When the 110mm bottom bracket arrives, the cranks can go on, the chain will be shortened to length and the front wheel mounted.

Project Update

Not much has happened directly to the bike since the last post; however, quite a bit of my recent research has focused on chainline. Looks like the rear (free) wheel has a chainline of 45mm, so that will dictate a 110mm bottom bracket (based on my mock-ups in the shop). Here's hoping the fixed cog will offer nearly the same spacing. Methinks it won't be a problem. Furthermore, this application will use a 3/32" chain. Some benefits include a lower cost chain and quieter operation. It's nominally lighter too.

The rear wheel spacing has been set. A 126mm frame spacing required the installation of two alloy spacers, one per side, as track bikes typically have a 120mm spacing between the rear dropouts.

As for the bike itself, it has been spending some time in the sun to allow the clearcoat time to reach its full hardness. Before long, the reassembly process can begin.

Finally, a big 'Thank You' to all who continue to read this blog, and especially a big thanks to those who have loaned tools or donated spare parts! I truly appreciate every selfless act. - Ryan

The Little Things

Here are some of the things that went on while paint was drying:

The wheelset came in, tires and tubes went on.

The fork was painted, I happened to have a nice dark gray satin that is a near-perfect match for the gray on my REBA 29er MTB fork. Hard to prove by the pictures, but when you see it in real life, you'll understand. So the fixie will be a perfect match of its big brother. Some light blue from the fixie project has already been donated to touch up some nicks and scratches on the Ferrous 29er. See? It's paying for itself already...kind of.

Not Fixed Yet

The 17T freewheel is on for now, but it's really only a test fit. I need some cone wrenches (the really thin ones) to add some spacers. Once I get the spacers installed then the chain can go on, and we can see what kind of chainline this rig will have.