My singlespeed

When I signed up for Le Cirque du Cyclisme back in April I saw the fixed gear ride on the schedule and decided it was finally time to build myself one. I managed to get my hands on some old SLX tubing and I had most of the lugs, so here's what I came up with. I had to hold back on the lug carving, as I wanted this to be a clean, simple design. I haven't totally committed to the "fixed" setup, right now I'm getting used to the bike with a freewheel and brakes.

I wanted the rear brake cable to be hidden as much as possible so I routed it internally and it exits the top tube at the 6 o'clock position. This way if I decide to go without the rear brake later I don't have split guides sticking out.

I've had this set of Dia-Compe aero brakes for years and have never had a bike with short enough reach to work with them. I think they work really nice on this bike.

Splurged a bit and went with the vintage Campy track crank, looks as good as it did on Eddy's bike.

Pacenti dropouts, I love the way track dropouts look with long reveals along the chain stays and seat stays and a smoooooth blend into the dropout.


Well, that's the new ride, I managed to get a couple rides in while at the Cirque and a few more since I got home. Really liking the ride of this one, not super stiff, but nice and smooth.

Randoneering rack

Spent the day working on the front rack for Travis' rando bike. I've been cogitating about this project for quite awhile, and here's what I came up with.

I bent the main tubes of the rack platform on my fork bending ramp, then mitered the ends and brazed it flat with the tips overhanging the bench. I made some struts, mitered them and now it's fluxed and ready to braze.

Here's a detail shot of the struts,

I finished the ends the same way

I finish my dropouts.

Here it is with the struts brazed in and waiting for the back "tongue".

Fully brazed up with the light mount, wiring guides and fender mount at the tip.

After some finishing.

A front view, I think it has a Gothic

look to the arch, I'm pretty pleased

with the final product.

Ellis #1 Build Video

Here's a video my brother Steve put together.

Ellis at Cirque

Had a great time at Le Cirque du Cyclisme in VA this past weekend, glad I made the trip. Despite the heat, I really enjoyed meeting all the vintage folks and checking out some really cool old bikes.


Just got Todd's stainless lugged fixie done in time, and I'm pleased to announce it won for best Track / Singlespeed in the craftsman division. Below is a shot of it just after the build up in Ben's new shop with the cream city brick for a backdrop. Kinda fitting.







Here's a couple of close ups of the head lugs and stem.

The seat lug.

I found this one on Flickr, looks like I'm about to pass out from the heat.

Travis' rando bike in the foreground got alot of admiring looks as well.