Another next day update? I actually have a decent amount to say today even though it's only been 24 hours. Starting off, when I wrote last night's post I was in a slight state of intoxication. If it read a bit awkwardly, that's why, and I'm not ashamed to say so.
Continuing on, my wheels came today! It felt like christmas almost. I get told I have a box for me upstairs and there it is, sitting there, waiting for me. I was tempted to look around for a tag that said "From Santa" in my parents handwriting. What's more is that when I opened up the box, they were just as I imagined, it was all so perfect. If it feels this sweet everytime a get a present from the internet I'm going to have to start ordering things more often.
A quick aside. I was reading a book today about quests. More accurately it was about the theory and literary history of quests as it relates to modern gaming quests. It was all quite fascinating really and it got me thinking. Does this whole super fixie building project qualify as a quest? I mean it sounds silly to call anything nowadays a "quest" but after I considered it for a moment I realized that what qualifies as a quest is relative. Sure, some dude talkin on is cell phone on a park bench may not consider the act of building a dinky hipster bike to be a quest but the starving college student doing a track stand at the stop light might. I suppose it doesn't matter if it's a quest or not I just thought it was interesting.
My frame shipped today as I was told and it's nice to finally expect it. Hopefully in a few more days I will have at least a vague resemblence of a bike sitting under guard by that beast of a dog I own (seriously). By my calculations, the crankset should be the last "expensive" piece I buy, but I'm still researching and I may be able to get a fairly good deal on it.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Not Quite Lazy, But Close
So it's been what, a week? This seems about normal for me. Hell I don't think I've even updated my facebook status in several weeks. This is far more important though. I suppose the least I can do it actually make a post. Where to begin. Probably the most important update concerns the wheels. After some research I came to the conclusion that, even though it may not be the best lesson, I will be getting pre-built wheels. In the end that was the most cost effective method and cost is a big factor here. Maybe my next build (and trust me there will be another) will include hand made wheels but until then I'm going to do what I believe to be the best thing overall. If you don't like the fact that "non-purist" way of thinking, well you can just suck on my nuts. Ha.
Okay on to the next subject. Well I hit yet another snatch with my frameset. I did order and pay for it properly but as of today I still haven't recieved it. Now I'm trusting but not naive so I contacted the seller to see what was up. Apparently there was a little glitch in their system that said it had been shipped but when they pulled it up to tell me where it was there was no tracking info. It was never even shipped. The gentleman was kind enough to call me (not email amazingly enough) to say that he was "immensly sorry for the confusion" and that it would be "shipped immediately". Fair enough. Come next wednesday if I don't have a shiny new frameset in my possesion, someone is getting their ass kicked, and it probably wont be whoever runs that company seeing as I am nowhere near St. Augustine, Florida (oldest city in the U.S by the way, pirate's galore) so I will have to settle for someone closer. Probably a neighbor.
Let's see, what does that leave? Well probably nothing I guess. I've started sewing the straps onto my pedals but that's about the extent of the progress I've made. You'll have to excuse me if I'm a bet hesitant to proceed with neither a wheel or frameset to work with. I'm sure that once both of those are comfortably in my spare bedroom under guard by my super ferocious guard dog (see profile picture) I will be able to proceed at a fairly heavy pace. I predict that to begin sometime by next weekend.
One final note, I've realized that even though I set myself a 500$ limit I probably could've had this all built for much cheaper, but hey I had a very specific picture of this masterpiece in my head and I did not want that to go to waste. Maybe one day I will build an ultra budget bike, but knowing myself like I do (and that I love spending money on things I surely don't need) it is unlikely. I've already started picturing my next machine first things first and this is gonna be good. Until next time, enjoy the start of Le Tour.
Okay on to the next subject. Well I hit yet another snatch with my frameset. I did order and pay for it properly but as of today I still haven't recieved it. Now I'm trusting but not naive so I contacted the seller to see what was up. Apparently there was a little glitch in their system that said it had been shipped but when they pulled it up to tell me where it was there was no tracking info. It was never even shipped. The gentleman was kind enough to call me (not email amazingly enough) to say that he was "immensly sorry for the confusion" and that it would be "shipped immediately". Fair enough. Come next wednesday if I don't have a shiny new frameset in my possesion, someone is getting their ass kicked, and it probably wont be whoever runs that company seeing as I am nowhere near St. Augustine, Florida (oldest city in the U.S by the way, pirate's galore) so I will have to settle for someone closer. Probably a neighbor.
Let's see, what does that leave? Well probably nothing I guess. I've started sewing the straps onto my pedals but that's about the extent of the progress I've made. You'll have to excuse me if I'm a bet hesitant to proceed with neither a wheel or frameset to work with. I'm sure that once both of those are comfortably in my spare bedroom under guard by my super ferocious guard dog (see profile picture) I will be able to proceed at a fairly heavy pace. I predict that to begin sometime by next weekend.
One final note, I've realized that even though I set myself a 500$ limit I probably could've had this all built for much cheaper, but hey I had a very specific picture of this masterpiece in my head and I did not want that to go to waste. Maybe one day I will build an ultra budget bike, but knowing myself like I do (and that I love spending money on things I surely don't need) it is unlikely. I've already started picturing my next machine first things first and this is gonna be good. Until next time, enjoy the start of Le Tour.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
What's in a Name?
My handlebars came in the mail today and I was too excited to wait until Sunday to post again. I know I said that I would subsequently tape them and stare, I decided that it might be wiser to hold off until I have a frame on which to mount the bars so as to have a bit more stable platform to work. Some may argue this logic, but I stand by it. The frame is still en route and if I'm lucky it will be here before next Friday. I'm hoping for this because I have that Friday off and I will be very sad if I'm absent when it shows up.
While I have your attention, and since I don't want this post to be a paragraph long, I realized today that I still don't have a name yet. Something like this must have a name, right? I can't decide if I should name it like folks name their cars or their horses. I've already ruled out dog and cat names because Fluffy and Tiger just don't sound right...I haven't put too much thought into it yet but it is something that will need to be taken care of before I can post any pictures. I'm thinking personalized license plate. Too much? We'll see.
On the subject of pictures I know I haven't actually stated it, but I will not be posting anything until the project is complete. The reason for this is that I want this adventure to inspire people not influence. If I started posting pics of every single component I bought it might only serve to encourage people to buy similar objects instead of taking the time to think and search on their own. I understand that there is a load of other pics and information out there that anyone can choose to turn too, but I refuse to lump myself in that set. I give my word, however, that I will post a wealth of bike porn when the time is right.
Finally, I realized that I recorded my frameset cost at $94. In fact it was $69 with the rest being shipping. I thought about going back and changing the price to show what kind of prices I've found but shipping is part of my expenses so I'll leave it as is.
While I have your attention, and since I don't want this post to be a paragraph long, I realized today that I still don't have a name yet. Something like this must have a name, right? I can't decide if I should name it like folks name their cars or their horses. I've already ruled out dog and cat names because Fluffy and Tiger just don't sound right...I haven't put too much thought into it yet but it is something that will need to be taken care of before I can post any pictures. I'm thinking personalized license plate. Too much? We'll see.
On the subject of pictures I know I haven't actually stated it, but I will not be posting anything until the project is complete. The reason for this is that I want this adventure to inspire people not influence. If I started posting pics of every single component I bought it might only serve to encourage people to buy similar objects instead of taking the time to think and search on their own. I understand that there is a load of other pics and information out there that anyone can choose to turn too, but I refuse to lump myself in that set. I give my word, however, that I will post a wealth of bike porn when the time is right.
Finally, I realized that I recorded my frameset cost at $94. In fact it was $69 with the rest being shipping. I thought about going back and changing the price to show what kind of prices I've found but shipping is part of my expenses so I'll leave it as is.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Not Dead Yet
It's been 4 days since my last update so I decided to take this opportunity to reassure all of my thousands of loyal fans that I am neither dead, nor given up on this project. Quite the contrary actually. Though progress is slow I have been able to procure a few more items. One of which is the strapping I am going to be using for my Super Advanced Pedal Retention System. It's just some simple tow straps in the exact color I'm looking for and even though it was slightly pricy at $15, I decided that it would probably be the best material for me due to its durability.
I have also successfully paid for both my frameset and some nifty handlebars, and the latter should be here by the weekend. If and when they arrive I will promptly tape them and admire my handywork. I also plan on putting together my Super Advanced Pedal Retention System sometime this weekend too as soon as I determine exactly the best way to do so. I do have an idea of how to work it but I want to make sure it's totally thought through before I go around cutting up my fancy new straps.
I've decided that it is a good thing I didn's set myself any particular time limit. The sun has been baking my brains on my rides home and soon the sideways hundred degree rain will surely hinder my overal biking performance. Once my machine is complete, I would like to take it for a test ride around my parking lot, but doing so in either of these circumstances is far from ideal. Now, dont think this means that it's going to be slow building until Thanksgiving, but it does mean that no one should be surprised to see completion pictures sometime after Arbor Day. Come to think of it, I don't know when Arbor Day is exactly...so let's say mid-August.
The next best time to expect an update will be Sunday.
Straps: $15
Handlebars: $18
Frameset: $95
total so far: $182
I have also successfully paid for both my frameset and some nifty handlebars, and the latter should be here by the weekend. If and when they arrive I will promptly tape them and admire my handywork. I also plan on putting together my Super Advanced Pedal Retention System sometime this weekend too as soon as I determine exactly the best way to do so. I do have an idea of how to work it but I want to make sure it's totally thought through before I go around cutting up my fancy new straps.
I've decided that it is a good thing I didn's set myself any particular time limit. The sun has been baking my brains on my rides home and soon the sideways hundred degree rain will surely hinder my overal biking performance. Once my machine is complete, I would like to take it for a test ride around my parking lot, but doing so in either of these circumstances is far from ideal. Now, dont think this means that it's going to be slow building until Thanksgiving, but it does mean that no one should be surprised to see completion pictures sometime after Arbor Day. Come to think of it, I don't know when Arbor Day is exactly...so let's say mid-August.
The next best time to expect an update will be Sunday.
Straps: $15
Handlebars: $18
Frameset: $95
total so far: $182
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Phase 1: Almost Done
Just like I promised I went out and began the daunting task of shopping and making physical purchases (I'm choosing not to count my chickens before they hatch when it comes to my frame seeing as the monetary part of the exchange is still in a pending status) and returned home to blog about it (teehee, blog, I'm so modern). Before I list everything in excruciating detail, however, I would like to thank all 4000 of you for reading along.
First I rode down to the local craft store (heretofore referred to as LCS) to hunt for materials for my Super Advanced Pedal Retention System: needle, thread, velcro, and some sort of heavy duty material to bring it all together. They had everything except for the latter. That isn't so bad though, because I figure I can destroy a bunch of backpacks and the like to get what I need. For fun I also stopped by the pet store and picked up some dog treats for my beloved dog who is being an asshole right now trying to eat the rest of my sandwich for me.
The next items were those cycling specific items that would not be worth buying online: saddle, handlebar tape, and chain. The most expensive of these was the saddle, but for what it's worth I had actually been hunting for one online. It didn't seem that any manufacturers even had a green one so imagine my surprise when I walked into my LBS and saw one sitting there. I also inquired about some labor prices because I will probably need to get a headset installed. If I read the ad correctly my frame set should come with the headset and bottom bracket already installed, but I would like to stay on the safe side.
So far my total expendatures are as follows:
Needle, thread and velcro (I'm bundling them up because I had a gift card for some of it and didn't pay attention to the prices, my bad): $4.13
Saddle: $20
Handlebar tape: $18
Chain: $10
Total: $52.13
When the payment clears I'll also share the frame pricing but for now it's secret.
First I rode down to the local craft store (heretofore referred to as LCS) to hunt for materials for my Super Advanced Pedal Retention System: needle, thread, velcro, and some sort of heavy duty material to bring it all together. They had everything except for the latter. That isn't so bad though, because I figure I can destroy a bunch of backpacks and the like to get what I need. For fun I also stopped by the pet store and picked up some dog treats for my beloved dog who is being an asshole right now trying to eat the rest of my sandwich for me.
The next items were those cycling specific items that would not be worth buying online: saddle, handlebar tape, and chain. The most expensive of these was the saddle, but for what it's worth I had actually been hunting for one online. It didn't seem that any manufacturers even had a green one so imagine my surprise when I walked into my LBS and saw one sitting there. I also inquired about some labor prices because I will probably need to get a headset installed. If I read the ad correctly my frame set should come with the headset and bottom bracket already installed, but I would like to stay on the safe side.
So far my total expendatures are as follows:
Needle, thread and velcro (I'm bundling them up because I had a gift card for some of it and didn't pay attention to the prices, my bad): $4.13
Saddle: $20
Handlebar tape: $18
Chain: $10
Total: $52.13
When the payment clears I'll also share the frame pricing but for now it's secret.
Friday, June 17, 2011
I'm Not French
What's sad is I can already feel the fire beginning to dwindle. But only slightly. There is a reason I didn't set myself a time frame for completion. I would either cave and spend $1000 for a brand new bike that I didn't even really want, or I would abandon the project all together. Seeing as I have no intention to do either, I decided it would be best to take my time and try to do everything right. I thought it had started today, once again I found the perfect frame, cheap even, but it slipped through my grasp. Surprising that I'm not more disappointed. I understood the enormity of this endeavour from the beginning and I went ahead full force. Now, just because I wasn't able to get that frame doesn't mean I didnt get one at all. After a bit more searching I found a very similar frame, very similar price, and it came with a headset and bottom bracket. The only real difference is that it is 50cm instead of 49cm. With some thought I decided that a 1cm difference wasn't major enough to pay an additional $40. I made the order earlier and expect my frame by the end of the month.
Tommorow things will go as planned. I will still stop my LBS and make a few small purchases. After work I even managed to visit REI and browse tire selection/prices. $30 a pop, not quite what I want so I'll keep looking. There has to be some tire clearance selections going on somewhere in the forsaken college town in which I reside. When I went through my list of things-I-need-to-buy-for-this-to-work and concluded that I shouldn't spend more than $20 on tires, so three times that is certainly out of the question. My list isn't set in stone though and I'm sure as time goes on and more pieces are aquired that I'll have a better idea of what I can spend on things like tires and cranks and what not.
On the happier front, as I was sitting on my couch eating my delicious home made dinner (cheesy mashed potatoes dressed in cabbage and grilled chicken) I decided to embrace my vanity and look at the blog stats. I have comments from two different people. After a little research I discovered that for every comment there are approximately 1756 viewers. So by my calculations, I have nearly 4000 viewers in like four days. God I'm amazing. With the amount of fixie hipster wannabes out there I'm bound to square that number come monday.
In conclusion I would like to address my previous exit. Despite my choice of wording, I'm not French. In fact I kind of hate the French. It is for that reason that no matter what obsticles craigslist decides to throw my way I am not going to give up on this. Cause I'm not French, and I wont surrender after a few days.
Tommorow things will go as planned. I will still stop my LBS and make a few small purchases. After work I even managed to visit REI and browse tire selection/prices. $30 a pop, not quite what I want so I'll keep looking. There has to be some tire clearance selections going on somewhere in the forsaken college town in which I reside. When I went through my list of things-I-need-to-buy-for-this-to-work and concluded that I shouldn't spend more than $20 on tires, so three times that is certainly out of the question. My list isn't set in stone though and I'm sure as time goes on and more pieces are aquired that I'll have a better idea of what I can spend on things like tires and cranks and what not.
On the happier front, as I was sitting on my couch eating my delicious home made dinner (cheesy mashed potatoes dressed in cabbage and grilled chicken) I decided to embrace my vanity and look at the blog stats. I have comments from two different people. After a little research I discovered that for every comment there are approximately 1756 viewers. So by my calculations, I have nearly 4000 viewers in like four days. God I'm amazing. With the amount of fixie hipster wannabes out there I'm bound to square that number come monday.
In conclusion I would like to address my previous exit. Despite my choice of wording, I'm not French. In fact I kind of hate the French. It is for that reason that no matter what obsticles craigslist decides to throw my way I am not going to give up on this. Cause I'm not French, and I wont surrender after a few days.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Something To Stand On
Second post. That's a pretty amazing record for someone like me. I wasn't lying when I said I was overly ambitious. It's actually a pretty good sign that I'm willing to keep up with this blog, let's just hope it transfers. I spent a lot of time thinking today (though I was still suprisingly productive at work). What's worse is I had a lot of great things to say but it appears I have forgotten nearly everything. Oh well, might as well get to the bike.
I hit a bit of a snag today. Well I guess it wasn't a snag, probably not even a setback, but for someone like me, it might as well have been an overturned semi that was full of cacti lying right in the bike lane. I thought I found a great place to get a frame. I called the guy and he said he had all types all sizes. So we get to talking and apparently what I'm looking for (49cm track frame, or 51cm road frame with horizontal dropouts) was either recently sold, or part of a fully built bike. Sigh. Its depressing that the most intregal part of the whole operation seems to be the most difficult to find. Now I know for a fact there is a shop around here that carries a frameset in my size and the color I want. It's practically perfect in every--except it's about $300. Double sigh. As a last resort, however, I may decide to go that route, seeing as I was gonna have to pay a mechanic to assemble the headset and possibly the bottom bracket, this takes care of that expense. If I hustle I may be able to get the remaining parts for sub $200. Like I said, it's a last resort.
In other news, I've settled on what I will do for wheels. I will purchase the parts separately and assemble the wheel on my own. I actually already have the tools to do so and what better way to learn how to replace a broken spoke? I was advised that it is cheaper to purchase wheels over ebay than it is to have it built locally, but I made an oath to build this machine up from scratch to the best of my ability and that is what I am going to do. I thought long and hard about this and I think it is the best thing to do.
So, two updates in a row? Might this be a trend? Absolutely not. In fact it's unlikely I will post again until the weekend. The plans right now are to purchase smaller simple items that have no reason to be purchased online at my local bike shop (heretofore referred to as LBS) and just play the waiting game for my frame. There is one out there, I can feel it. Well, not really, if I could most of this post would have been replaced with "Yay I got a frame :D" but you get the idea. There are many pawn shops I have yet to browse and many websites I have yet to click, the game has only just begun.
In closing, I would like to explain the purpose of this blog in greater detail (in reality I don't remember what I said yesterday and don't care to re-read it). As I was preparing for this endeavor I spent time looking at other peoples writings on the subject. It was all disappointing. I know that much of my generation is dumber than a bundle of hair when it comes to basic literary skills, but being constantly bombared by it is just embarassing. As such, I hope any future fixie-building hopefulls stumble upon these humble writings and, along with greater insight into the mechanical process, but also learn a few basic grammer rules. With that I bid thee adieu.
Good news though, I already had a pair of pedals to use:
Total expenses to date- $0.00
I hit a bit of a snag today. Well I guess it wasn't a snag, probably not even a setback, but for someone like me, it might as well have been an overturned semi that was full of cacti lying right in the bike lane. I thought I found a great place to get a frame. I called the guy and he said he had all types all sizes. So we get to talking and apparently what I'm looking for (49cm track frame, or 51cm road frame with horizontal dropouts) was either recently sold, or part of a fully built bike. Sigh. Its depressing that the most intregal part of the whole operation seems to be the most difficult to find. Now I know for a fact there is a shop around here that carries a frameset in my size and the color I want. It's practically perfect in every--except it's about $300. Double sigh. As a last resort, however, I may decide to go that route, seeing as I was gonna have to pay a mechanic to assemble the headset and possibly the bottom bracket, this takes care of that expense. If I hustle I may be able to get the remaining parts for sub $200. Like I said, it's a last resort.
In other news, I've settled on what I will do for wheels. I will purchase the parts separately and assemble the wheel on my own. I actually already have the tools to do so and what better way to learn how to replace a broken spoke? I was advised that it is cheaper to purchase wheels over ebay than it is to have it built locally, but I made an oath to build this machine up from scratch to the best of my ability and that is what I am going to do. I thought long and hard about this and I think it is the best thing to do.
So, two updates in a row? Might this be a trend? Absolutely not. In fact it's unlikely I will post again until the weekend. The plans right now are to purchase smaller simple items that have no reason to be purchased online at my local bike shop (heretofore referred to as LBS) and just play the waiting game for my frame. There is one out there, I can feel it. Well, not really, if I could most of this post would have been replaced with "Yay I got a frame :D" but you get the idea. There are many pawn shops I have yet to browse and many websites I have yet to click, the game has only just begun.
In closing, I would like to explain the purpose of this blog in greater detail (in reality I don't remember what I said yesterday and don't care to re-read it). As I was preparing for this endeavor I spent time looking at other peoples writings on the subject. It was all disappointing. I know that much of my generation is dumber than a bundle of hair when it comes to basic literary skills, but being constantly bombared by it is just embarassing. As such, I hope any future fixie-building hopefulls stumble upon these humble writings and, along with greater insight into the mechanical process, but also learn a few basic grammer rules. With that I bid thee adieu.
Good news though, I already had a pair of pedals to use:
Total expenses to date- $0.00
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Prologue
While sitting at work, hunched over a keyboard in a lowly cubicle, one's mind is bound to wander. Such it is that my mind often launches into one of my true obsessions: cycling. Before you scoff, however, I don't really see myself as a stereotypical obsessed cyclist. I don't wear a helmet or a "funny suit", I don't load my "steed" down with 60 pounds of gear and travel around the world (though not from lack of trying), and I don't put put around town on a bike obviously too small for me bustin air off of curbs. I just enjoy it more than normal people. Simple as that.
One day several months ago, as I was browsing the interwebs, I came upon some interesting articles concerning "fixed gear" bicycles. At first I didnt really think anything of it, I just assumed it was an oversized childs bmx bike. Big whoop. I suppose that was where the seed was planted. I casually started reading articles and blog-types and looking at pics and became increasingly intrigued by the idea of these simple machines. I'm no artist but it looked like something I could do that would become a true piece of art.
I began to daydream of the machine I would build. The colors I would use, the components (or lack thereof), and the adventures I would go on. I even went so far as to envision taking a tour on my new ride, but I find that highly unlikely. Now, it should be stressed that I'm often overly ambitious, and going along those lines, this initial bout of daydreaming took place several months ago. Then it died.
Recently however, and especially today, the flame was reignited and I yern to create my own 2 wheeled masterpiece. I have some extra dough and extra time seeing as the valley of the sun is going to begin to live up to its name with thunderstorms and such. I plan to use bike shops, internet, and maybe even a few dumpsters to put everything together. My budget is 500$. Let's see what happens.
One day several months ago, as I was browsing the interwebs, I came upon some interesting articles concerning "fixed gear" bicycles. At first I didnt really think anything of it, I just assumed it was an oversized childs bmx bike. Big whoop. I suppose that was where the seed was planted. I casually started reading articles and blog-types and looking at pics and became increasingly intrigued by the idea of these simple machines. I'm no artist but it looked like something I could do that would become a true piece of art.
I began to daydream of the machine I would build. The colors I would use, the components (or lack thereof), and the adventures I would go on. I even went so far as to envision taking a tour on my new ride, but I find that highly unlikely. Now, it should be stressed that I'm often overly ambitious, and going along those lines, this initial bout of daydreaming took place several months ago. Then it died.
Recently however, and especially today, the flame was reignited and I yern to create my own 2 wheeled masterpiece. I have some extra dough and extra time seeing as the valley of the sun is going to begin to live up to its name with thunderstorms and such. I plan to use bike shops, internet, and maybe even a few dumpsters to put everything together. My budget is 500$. Let's see what happens.
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