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Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations

24.17.54.55
Posted on September 18, 2009 at 23:21:00
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1146
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Hi All,

I'm gathering parts to build up a Single Speed / Fixie and I'm looking for drive train recommendations. I'm not so much about stupid-light stuff as quality components with strength, reliability and value (since I go about 220 lb., the most cost effective way to take weight off my bike is a high-fiber diet anyway).

I like the look of the White Industries products - I wonder if anyone's used the Double-double setup and do they really use both gear combos? If one does the Double-double on the SS side of a flip-flop, is there a two-cog setup on the fixie side, too?

I see a lot of bargain cranksets (Sugino, NOS Suntour, Origin8) but it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Any suggestions here?

I'd appreciate any and all testimonials / recommendations.

TIA,

david

RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 21, 2009 at 12:39:31
belyin
Audiophile

Posts: 483
Location: New Orleans
Joined: November 1, 2003
 I think value resides in the tried and true. For a crankset, I'd look for a Sugino 75, Campy Pista, Dura Ace (square taper), or Suntour Supreme, with a matching bottom bracket. For hubs, Phil Wood are expensive, but will last a lifetime. I also recommend Campy, Dura-Ace, and Mavic (rare in track version.) The one Miche track hub I have is not so great. As for White Industries, the only reason I would consider them is if I needed an eccentric hub to "fix" a frame with vertical drop-outs. Formula hubs (sold under many names) are clearly the best value in lower dollar hubs--you could buy three for the cost of one Phil.

One way to save some bucks is to just get a rear track wheel. I know folks like to have a matching wheelset, but I much prefer to use a road wheel (i.e., quick release) on the front so I can use a locking skewer (I use Pit-Locks.) Bolt on wheels can be stolen in 5 seconds with just a 15mm wrench! And if you are doing a conversion, you already have a front wheel.

RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 22, 2009 at 15:19:49
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1146
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Thanks for the info - just curious why you recommend Dura-Ace square taper (which appears to be out of production) over the current Octa-link or whatever they call it?
RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 22, 2009 at 23:42:31
belyin
Audiophile

Posts: 483
Location: New Orleans
Joined: November 1, 2003
 Well, I've heard of problems with Octa-link, although I have no experience to go on. Another reason is that you have more options in bottom brackets. Japanese pro track cranksets tend to use the ISO standard (in road bikes, usually found only on Campy and Campy copy (Gipiemme, Zeus, etc.)) taper, so there are a number of new and used bottom brackets you can use. In general, I'm skeptical of Shimano's habit of reinventing the wheel every 3 or 4 years. By the time you might need to replace the Octa-link, it will be unobtainium.

RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 20, 2009 at 02:33:04
awsjr
Audiophile

Posts: 66
Location: Austin, Tejas
Joined: November 30, 2006
 lots of info here.... http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html
there is a way to use a double crank and different cogs....its a manual shift....
I use a sugino crank 51 - 17 combination on a DeBernardi track bike that is an older bike ridden at Trexlertown when I lived in York, PA....I would recommend a front brake....and be careful not to blow up a knee -Al
RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 22, 2009 at 15:38:15
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1146
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Thanks, Al - I did go look at the linked info, and that was very helpful.

Do you feel like 51-17 is a good combination for street riding, or did you mean you ride that on the track?

And yes, at least a front brake, probably F&R for when riding with the freewheel side of the flip/flop - I've seen the aftermath of one car/bike collision, I don't care to be in one.

Btw, did you know Sheldon Brown passed away? I had no idea - I've been reading his web articles on all sorts of things forever, and had just assumed he was still merrily writing them.
gearing for the street, posted on September 22, 2009 at 17:20:39
mqracing
Manufacturer

Posts: 3314
Joined: June 29, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 7, 2004
 old ROT (rule of thumb) for street riding on a fixed gear is you want something say btwn 68 and 72. Your knees and hilly terrain will both thank-you. Plus you want to learn to spin a smaller gear.

51 divided by 17 equals 3.... three times 27" (laziness sets in.... you'll have 700C wheels most likely) equals 81. 81 is too tall for the street by most counts. And too small a gear for most track events\venues.

YMMV,

Mike




Builder of MagneQuest™ & Peerless™ transformers since 1989
RE: gearing for the street, posted on September 23, 2009 at 12:19:49
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1146
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Thanks, Mike - so maybe 42/16 or 42/17 (which give about 70 and 67, respectively) might be better - and pretty commonly available chainwheel/cog sizes.

RE: gearing for the street, posted on September 23, 2009 at 14:18:15
mqracing
Manufacturer

Posts: 3314
Joined: June 29, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 7, 2004
 If your getting a track type crankset (say for use with an 1/8th inch chain) most of them start at about 45 or 46 teeth up through maybe 50 or 52 teeth.

As an example I just went and pulled out a new Miche track crankset and it has a 46 tooth chainring--- which is fine and preferable to a 42 tooth from a wear point of view---

so if you had a 46 tooth chainring you might want to go with a 18 tooth rear sprocket--- gives you a approx 69" gear. A 17 tooth rear would yield a 73" gear. A 19 tooth would getcha (as Sarah would say) a 65" gear.

If I remember right---been a while since I've bought track or fixie components--- a lot of vendors only offer the rear sprockets in even numbers (14, 16, 18, etc).

Hope this helps,

MSL





Builder of MagneQuest™ & Peerless™ transformers since 1989
RE: gearing for the street, posted on September 23, 2009 at 22:44:45
belyin
Audiophile

Posts: 483
Location: New Orleans
Joined: November 1, 2003
 I ride 44/16 on my commuter, and 42/14 or 15 on my fast bike, but I live in New Orleans--with occasional trips to Chicago. Both are as flat as pancakes. If I had rolling hills to deal with I'd go a little lower.

RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 19, 2009 at 06:30:47
mqracing
Manufacturer

Posts: 3314
Joined: June 29, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 7, 2004
 Hi David:

What size frame do you ride? do you have a frame yet?

I have a ton of fixed gear/track parts... almost all of it
NOS (new). Pedals, clips, toe straps, cranks, hubs, seatposts,
stems, headsets, etc.

I have some vintage stuff--- though the vintage stuff is selling
quickly on ebay--- I have some NJS componentry--- and some really neat
stuff like the LEVEL hubs---

I love cycling--- so off topic or not--- is welcome here.

I would have a complete Miche track group for sale. I have a lot of IRO branded fixie fixings.

I have a lot of frames--- some of the IRO limited edition guys still brand new. My frames are either 53cm, 54cm or Medium sizes.

Recently I've been putting up some bicycle parts on ebay--- my ebay handle is MQracing if you want to check out what I have on the bay--- but the stuff on the bay barely scratches the surface of what I have.

I also have a lot of road parts--- campy 10 speed stuff--- several campy 10 speed wheelsets---

would love to hookup with you--- as I really want to "divest" some of my too large collection of cool bicycle parts.

MSL





Builder of MagneQuest™ & Peerless™ transformers since 1989
RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 22, 2009 at 15:33:07
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1146
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Hey Mike,

Thanks for all the info. I have a frame (56cm) and cheapie wheels to see if I like this enough to keep running with it, but since the crank is a little more of a bother to change than wheels, I'd like to get a good crankset from the outset.

And, I'm one of those odd ones who prefers things to match (like, say, all Magnequest iron in an amp) so I'd want to get cranks that would go with hubs I'd like - but would likely do some better hubs/wheels later if I opt to stick with this.

Btw, what does NJS mean - I see it with various brands - Sugino, Dura-Ace, Nitto, etc. - so is it some kind of track assocation or something?

thanks,

david

RE: Semi-Way-OT - Fixie / Track Drive Train Recommendations, posted on September 22, 2009 at 17:40:41
mqracing
Manufacturer

Posts: 3314
Joined: June 29, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 7, 2004
 David wrote:

::::And, I'm one of those odd ones who prefers things to match (like, say, all Magnequest iron in an amp) so I'd want to get cranks that would go with hubs I'd like - but would likely do some better hubs/wheels later if I opt to stick with this.::::


when it comes to iron.... your dab smack on :=)


otherwise, for me... for road bikes I prefer complete grouppos... and count myself as a Campy fan.

for track\fixed gear bikes... there is so much good stuff being made. For example check out the LeVel brand of hubs (google search). Gorgeous stuff that could probably take a direct nuclear hit and still work properly. I'm a sucker for TA components-- though they are considered largely obsolete and only a few of the TA bits are still being made today. For track/fixie cranksets I still like the old Campy Record track with the 144mm chainring.


And even a lot of the "cheap" "entry level" stuff is quite good... the Formula hubs (also sold under a lot of different brand names)... the MKS Sylvan pedals (adjust and lube them right away with Campy banana grease).


For a fixie on the street I'd probably go with The PIG headset... gargantulan ball bearings top and bottom, forged steel cups... heavy but bulletproof.

Seatposts, stems, and bars... whatever is sexy... the Miche Supertype is one of my faves for seatposts... stems I like the traditional quill stems... check out the 3TTT Pro Chrome steel stem. Bars on the street I like flat bars... lots of great choices here.

Neat, neat stuff. Enjoy.


MSL






Builder of MagneQuest™ & Peerless™ transformers since 1989
for info on NJS, posted on September 22, 2009 at 17:14:19
mqracing
Manufacturer

Posts: 3314
Joined: June 29, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 7, 2004
 ..



Builder of MagneQuest™ & Peerless™ transformers since 1989

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