This is my first bike build ever so there will be plenty of tlc and newbness to go along with this build. ive been doing my homework for the past two months researching parts, build tutorials, and hints. im not here to build the fastest, lightest, or trickiest bike, but just a nice bike that i can get my daily exercise and be a reliable stylish commuter. this will not be a stunt bike (i have a bmx for that). it will be seeing a lot of uphill climbing and steady, controlled downhill pedaling. i will also be running brakeless. the parts that i chose to be in this build aren't high end top quality stuff, but just parts that are clean, reliable, and have some sort of performance gain.

first order of business:



mercier kilo tt 50cm frame which arrived today! i wont be using the fork (not pictured) so expect it to be in the norcal classifieds.


and some little things that i picked up along the way



origin 8 pedals with summit toe straps
eight inch 17t cog
origin 8 bullhorns
continental ultrasports 700x23
one tube
bar tape (not pictured, flash batteries died before i noticed it wasnt in the pic)

i will be updating almost daily as i go along with the build. feel free to throw out any advice. stay tuned...

 

have you ridden brakeless before?

 

like 15 years ago with a coaster brake. i know its way different but dont worry. ill ride till i get the hang of it. ill ride a few small hills and gradually work my way up. nothing ridiculous.

 

Sweet! Keep us up to date!

 

going for the stretch tire look i see. jk.

subscribing to this thread. i just sold my road bike and the proceeds were meant to fund a single speed commuter.

 

What size chain ring are you gonna pair up with the 17t cog?

 

46. I shouldve gone with a 18t cog no? Theres always room to upgrade when i feel that im at a disadvantage. Ill see how this ratio feels first

 

48/17 is a very fun ratio..think a 46/18 you will spin out faster then you think, specially in sj..I ride out there every now and then..

 

Install a front brake. Riding brake-less in traffic is for fools.

 

ya maybe Im just a noob, but is there an advantage to riding a bike without brakes??

 

People think it's cool. And it may in fact BE cool. But it is also needlessly dangerous. Locking the rear wheel can't stop you nearly fast enough to avoid trouble and leaves you with no control while stopping.

 

EPIC multi rider wipeouts on the track (velodrome)

 

Yeah, I never understood that crap either.

Douchebag: Yeah, I don't have brakes brah. Pretty cool, right?

Me: I'm looking forward to seeing your brain splattered all over the pavement

*I put on my flamesuit and wizard hat*

 

nice. i wanna see this. fixed gears are fun to ride.

 

only time i rode a fixed gear bike without brakes (cause a fixed gear will continue to spin the cranks as long as the rear wheels are spinning, so essentially, if you stop pedaling, the rear wheel will stop spinning) was a looooong time ago, when my sister dated a hard core track cyclist.

it was at the UC irvine velodrome (i think it was UC irvine).

anyways, it's the weirdest feeling.

one reason i heard track cycling dont have brakes is for their own safety.

trust me though... i have been riding for a couple years or so (competively) on a road bike, but a track bike was like nite and day...

now, as for riding a fixed gear bike with no brakes on the streets...

yikes batman!