My project for the next 2 weeks

[Aqua Letifer]

Extreme bike makeover.

Stuff

• 105 brake calipers
• (anodized blue) seat clamp
• (anodized blue) water bottle cage bolts, because I’m fancy like that
• 2x (black) top tube cable clamps
• (anodized blue) track chain
• (anodized blue) fancy-ass aluminum bar end plugs
• (black) brooks bar tape
• (black) stem, with a 17 degree angle. I'm old.
• (black) cane creek crosstop levers
• dura-ace brake cables
• (black) 44t chainring
• (anodized blue) chainring bolts
• (anodized blue) dice valve caps, because I’m fancy like that
• (black) hub axle bolts
• Shimano spd pedals, plus a pair of sneakers that have cleat attachments so I can wear road shoes and also not look like a douche
• (anodized blue) 17t fixie cog
• (black) 17t singlespeed cog
• (anodized blue) headset cap with a custom .svg design, because I’m fancy like that

Tools

• Freewheel remover
• Anti-seize compound
• Micrometer
• Tool rollbag

[Doctor Phibes]

Haven't you got any arse butter?

[Aqua Letifer]

@doctor-phibes said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

Haven't you got any arse butter?

Not unless I go to Chipotle today, my friend!

[89th]

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

44t chainring

Hahaha what a rookie mistake. You totes need a 43t

[Aqua Letifer]

@89th said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

44t chainring

Hahaha what a rookie mistake. You totes need a 43t

Well, actually I would want a higher gear ratio—something closer to 2.9 or so maybe—but 43 would get me closer to 2.5, which would lead to a fewer number of skid patches, so I'm sticking with the original ratio I was using lol yeah I just decided to stick with what I had and keep it easy.

[Klaus]

So you want to convert an existing bike to a fixie?

Got a picture of the bike?

[Aqua Letifer]

@klaus said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

So you want to convert an existing bike to a fixie?

Got a picture of the bike?

Nah, I guess the correct nomenclature is to say I'm converting a track bike into a tarck bike: just tricking it out some.

It'll make me no faster, I just want to do it as a building project.

It's a 2015 Fuji Track bike. In my opinion they give you about the best value for your money that you can ask for—as good as a Kilo TT. It's a little behind the times in terms of parts (handlebars are 26mm, not OS 31.8, the hub is a freewheel, hubs aren't sealed, etc.), but there's nothing wrong with it, it rides well and it has good componentry where it matters. I bought it back in 2015 as new and it's still riding with no problems.

[89th]

It even flies!

[Horace]

Bike shop? More like photoshop.

[Aqua Letifer]

@89th said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

It even flies!

Freaking forum host.

[Aqua Letifer]

This is taking longer than I thought. For one, because international supply chains are, to put it lightly, jacked at the moment. For two, because of shit like this.

1. Bought the appropriate tool to remove the freewheel.
2. Waited 2 weeks for delivery.
3. Tool came in. Tried to replace freewheel. Won't budge an inch. So,
4. WD-40'd the hub, and while it was drying,
5. Took the 30-minute drive to Home Despot to buy the biggest damn crescent wrench they have.
6. Drove home.
7. Tried again. After about 25 minutes, I got it to move a millimeter.
8. More WD-40
9. Got the bastard off. Holy crap there was literally a nest of hair around the freaking thing, no wonder it didn't want to move.
10. Cleaned the freewheel threads, installed the new one, and noticed with ironic satisfaction that in order to remove this one, I would need to buy a new removal tool altogether. Because of course. Fucking freewheels.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't having any fun, though. So far I've replaced:

• stem
• chainring
• chainring bolts
• chain
• freewheel cog
• headset cap

What's left:

• bar tape
• brake levers
• brake cables
• bar ends

I can't do any of that until the cables come in, but they've been delayed (thanks COVID), so that's all on hold at the moment.

[Jolly]

Acetone and transmission fluid make pretty good panther piss for rusted or stuck nuts and bolts. Some guys use 1/3 acetone to ATF, some guys go 50/50, some guys don't use but 10% acetone.

[Doctor Phibes]

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

Holy crap there was literally a nest of hair around the freaking thing, no wonder it didn't want to move.

Admit it, your man-bun got caught in the chain.

[Aqua Letifer]

@jolly said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

Acetone and transmission fluid make pretty good panther piss for rusted or stuck nuts and bolts. Some guys use 1/3 acetone to ATF, some guys go 50/50, some guys don't use but 10% acetone.

What's the viscosity like? This stuff's gotta penetrate about an inch or so of very tight threads.

[Aqua Letifer]

@doctor-phibes said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

Holy crap there was literally a nest of hair around the freaking thing, no wonder it didn't want to move.

Admit it, your man-bun got caught in the chain.

Honestly I think it was cats.

[Jolly]

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

@jolly said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

Acetone and transmission fluid make pretty good panther piss for rusted or stuck nuts and bolts. Some guys use 1/3 acetone to ATF, some guys go 50/50, some guys don't use but 10% acetone.

What's the viscosity like? This stuff's gotta penetrate about an inch or so of very tight threads.

Pretty thin.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Klaus it's getting worse, man.

Amazon gave up on delivering me some brake cables. Gave up! I've never heard of that before. Just no inventory.

I called around at 5 different shops in my area, big and small, and they don't have them, either.

Shop #6 purports to have them in stock. I'm skeptical, because online inventories aren't always accurate. But they cost freaking $60. Last year, they would have cost $30.

Freaking ridiculous.

[89th]

Hey are you done yet?

[Klaus]

@aqua-letifer said in My project for the next 2 weeks:

@Klaus it's getting worse, man.

I know. I'm considering to buy another bike, but right now seems to be the worst time ever to do that.

This week I had to buy an overpriced used cassette because the one I wanted wasn't available in any shop.

It's starting to feel like East Germany: Rather than buying what you need, you buy what's available, just to have it when you need it.

[Aqua Letifer]

Done.

My back is killing me but I'm done.