Building a Fixed Gear Bicycle.
From Start to Finish, Summer 2005
The Fixed Gear Bicycle started as the standard bicycle, before the "coast" mechanism of a free-wheel was developed. Years later, it was adopted for track racing (on a velodrome), and has now become the gold standard for inner city bike messengers, bandwagon-jumping hipsters, and aesthetically adept cyclists. Particularly usefull on flat ground, the one geared direct drive, drive train negates derailleurs and their cabels, requires minimal upkeep and looks just really clean. For those to vested in logic and gears, the biggest mechanical upside (as apposed to aesthetic, or utilitarian) is near-complete control via leg-power; speed (aceleration, continuous, deceleration), balance (little to no need for hands), and steering.
"A fixed gear gives a degree of control and one-ness with the bike that is not equalled by a freewheeling bike." - Sheldon Brown, July 14, 1944 - February 3, 2008. R.I.P
Impact:
The sheer reduction of parts on this bad boy means that grandma and her $8.99 tool kit from Safeways can fix anything that goes wrong, right in her livingroom, while watching tv. The most complicated (and thus problematic) part of any bicycle is the derailleur and all it entails (cables, shifters, two sets of gears, etc), so with its removal you have a dramatically simplified machine.
Check out the posting on FixedGearGallery.com... We like them.
The Bike
1976 Atlantica (An Italian Stallion, or so I thought...)
According to Pops, it "was bought at a bike store in Los Angeles about 1976. It is Italian (I think) made and cost about $90 new . . . times have changed!" The bike it self was last registered in the town i was born in, 24 years ago.
UPDATE: An Email from one Colin Cross says "I just thought that I would point out that it is probably French, not Italian. I don't know the frame maker, but the Simplex rear derailleur(front too?) cottered Stronglight cranks and Mafac Racer brakes/levers are all French parts." Thanks Colin.
The Begining, May 27
The Break Down Begins; The first day of dissection.
Paint Removal, May 27
DITCH THE SKIN!
When I first started this process, all i had was some old autobody sanding paper, and some old, beat scrub pad. At this point i had no propper tools to loose the crank and fork.
Frame, May 31
Finally i visited Ian at Big Swingin' Bicycles, San Francisco, to loosen the fork n crank. This allowed me to get better access to the crooks and cranny-crans.
A Blank Canvas, June 2
The frame becomes naked, and i put in a lot of elbo grease. Once i figured out the beat-ass sandpaper method sucked balls, i bought a wire wheel and made quick work of what i couldnt. Discovered a "25" stamped on the bottom bracket, indicating inch size of frame.
Paint begins, June 2
I forgot to document the primer process, but this shows the begining of the first couple layers of the detail arears (anadized blue) and the light blue metallic flake that would finally grace the body (as the fork didnt have any detail areas, it got the final color, right off the bat). The picture sucks, but the high res version flosses the metallic sparkle like its going outta style. Its sick.
Assembly, June 16
Somehow i totally didnt document the masking process, and then the secondary painting, but yeah. It happened. Then it was off to visit Ian again, for the technical assembly n such. You can see him putting in the new bearings for the head joint. Later, hes trueing up the wheels and adjusting the rear axel to accept the track cog and bottom bracket lock ring. The wheels are really nice (aka, alsmost-new, not dented) mavic rims laced to compy hubs that were stuck to some beat old trek frame that i picked up at someones stoop sale (at cole & carl) for 10 bucks. The guy starts with some schpeal like "yeah i was gonna convert that to a fixie but..."
Assembly Mostly Complete, June 22
The first glances we had of the finished product, my 'Stallion, err, Frog. We tossed on some cinelli altera bars, but later decided against them. (Besides the wheels and bars, everything else is stock.) Things looked good, but... something just wasnt right. The gear ratio is now set to 39/14, which is pretty low, but it was my official upper haight cruiser, so speed i didnt need.
Achieving Finality, August 7
I discussed with Ian that id like some bull horns on the Frog, and he knew just the solution. Ritchie. And a bmx lever. And a custom cable deployment.
Finality Achieved, August 9
After a consultation with various members of the committee (You ROCK Sarah!) it was decided that Baby-Baby Blue was definitely needed for the grip. And so it was. And so it was...
The Frog Rides FREE (of a few adornments)!
