I just bought a Ritchey Garden City. Looking for advice as this is my first full fixed build. Any YouTube channels and/or comments going through the basics of a fixed gear build would be appreciated as well as recommendation for Canadian shops for components or American stores you would recommend as a Canadian. Thanks in advance!
by Big-Marsupial-7019
12 Comments
What would you like to use the frame for?
As the build advice would/should
be quite different for veledrome, free stile(tricks) fast riding in the park, messenger work or endurance training could you please tell us what kind of riding you intend to do?
Riding around the city in summer (pavement only). Might use it to go to work a few days in the summer as well. I am leaning towards using a flat bar or something like that as that is what is on my other fixed bike and I enjoy the up right position but part of me wants to do drops because I already have an upright bar bike. My other fixed bike is a MEC Skyway for year round riding (bad weather and winter). I am looking for good quality components that will last with proper care and maintenance but don’t need to show off with brand names of all you get is the name. Also brand name stuff is a good way to get the bike stolen, I live in a good area in Edmonton Alberta and store my bike inside but Edmonton is getting rougher all the time. I have only switched parts out on bikes in the past and replaced with the same part that broke so finding what I needed was easy. I am confused on compatibility as I didn’t realize there is so many options for building it up. Something about chain line what not is definitely foreign to me as I assumed that it would just fit. Just like the 1/8 chain and the 3/32 chain components. I would think I would like square taper as that is what I thought was standard. I don’t want any proprietary components. I was told that white industries has some sort of proprietary components to it so I think I want to stay away from that. I was also looking at dura ace hubs but that I found out that they don’t have a sealed bearing which I think is a must. Thanks again for any advice.
Silver stem and silver seatpost!
Maybe stick with ritchey classic or the new thomson g2
Silver dura ace track cranks would be nice too
It should have come with a headset otherwise those can be kind of confusing for newbies to buy. You don’t have to worry about chainline that much if you buy a fixed gear specific crank and the bottom bracket they recommend. Like the Sugino Messenger will take a 103mm JIS square-taper bottom bracket.
Have you thought about the length of crank arm you are looking for?
NJS Export has decent deals on used cranks – buying from them is easy, fast and reliable – from my experience anyway. They also have chainrings, cogshandlebars etc.
Zach Gallardo, WaveyWheelies and FOAD are some inspirational youtuber fixed gear builders.
I would hope youre not locking up this $1.2k frame up every day, but it will definitely be a mean commuter
Purchase & install Break-away couplers
Some good advice already in the comments, I just wanted to say congrats on getting one of those frames. That’s quite a bike for a first build, enjoy it
First fixie build
Buys an expensive, much coveted rare frame
I’m not jealous …
This is like buying a lambo and saying “yeah I’ve never really driven a car before, any advice is welcome!”
For something like this, I’d suggest going to a co-op for instruction, or if not available, going to a decent shop. This frame is too nice and too rare to “Drew” this and mess it up. This is my opinion, but this is one step away from being trashed for no reason.
Beautiful pick up sir! Expensive, but pretty damn nice for what they are. Enjoy, and can’t wait to see how you build it up.