Town bike

Raleigh 501 “Eclipse” frame, braze-ons smoothed off, painted in copper hammerite (smooth finish).

Mavic 170mm chainset. 49T TA 3/32, 144BCD track chainring. Shimano English UN54 107mm/68mm B/B. KMC Z510 gold 1/8th track chain.

Handbuilt (via BikePlus.co.uk) Ambrosio wheels (Ambrosio Excursion Rims on Ambrosio double fixed hub rear and matching front track hub, Alpina Stainless Spokes, 32H). 18T Andel 1/8th sprocket. Michelin Pro Grip 2 tyres, 700Cx23mm.

ITM Pro 260 handlebars, 25.8mm clamp, 440mm (outside-to-outside), Look 10cm stem, unknown aHead adaptor. Cinelli “natural” cork tape. “Turbo” saddle. “Push” seatpin. Original pedals, new straps. Tektro 200A aero brake levers, Giant 40-50mm drop brake callipers. SKS CAB carbon fibre effect mudguards, 35mm.

Update, Autumn 2009
Gearing lowered to 45×18 (and a 18T Shimano BMX freewheel fitted – the fixed sprocket is retained on the other side of the hub) to make getting uphill easier and going downhill a freewheel. Pedals changed to M324 dual-sided SPD pedals (flat one side, SPD the other). New black Michelin Speedium tyres. Handlbars changed to Cinelli Vai, as I needed the 260s for my trike. Black handbar tape fitted. There’s a nasty looking crack in the left-hand crank, and it’s needed half a turn more on the fixing bolt lately – a sure sign it’s on the way out, so a new one’s being sourced before it snaps.

Also on the Fixed Gear Gallery

Update, Winter 2011
Gearing changed to 46×21 and a Sturmey-Archer 5-speed hub gear fitted to give gears of 36.0, 43.2, 57.6 (1:1), 76.7 & 92.1 inches. New brakes (Shimano 105, from my old Dolan TT bike).