I was looking for a capable gravel/road allrounder for living on campus this fall, and holy god does this do the trick.
Pake Rum Runner I picked up on sale at the Soma Fab Shop, then built up over the past few weeks. I've put 50 or so miles on it since I finished the build, and I have never been happier with a new bike. I'd never ridden fixed gear before, and the Rum Runner's geometry definitely feels track-oriented while forgiving of my tendency to forget about toe overlap. Far lighter and more nimble than I expected, and a bundle more fun to ride on the road than my former carbon endurance/gravel bike (tepid take: steel is real). My commute includes a ~2 mile climb at 6% average, and my current 48/17 ratio has gotten me up and down that hill without murdering me. Fantastic bike for the city, and I'm looking forward to taking it on some proper rides once the heat breaks.
FRAME: 51cm Pake Rum Runner
ROLLING: Gran Compe SF rear/Origin8 front hubs laced to HED Belgium R Rims; 35x700c Gravelking SK+ tires
SPINNING: Miche Primato cranks (yes, I used the right BB) and 48t chainring; whatever 17t cog I had sitting around; DID copper chain; Crank Bros candy pedals
TURNING: Cane Creek headset of unknown model; carbon road bars I pulled off another bike
STOPPING: VeloOrange Gran Cru brakes; Sram s500 levers
…and a Pro seatpost, Throne saddle, and Sworks stem
by sauron-245