I bought this frameset new but very cheap about 15 years ago. It creaked from the outset (the swappable drop outs to convert it between fixie and geared are bolted on and no amount of grease, torque etc can silence it for long), on about the third ride the proprietary reverse-threaded internal seatpost clamp failed and I just drilled and tapped it and whacked an 8mm bolt in there. I found the strongest seatpost I could find and bolted it in place. It hasn't moved since.
This bike is ugly, it's harsh to ride and I neglect it terribly, but while other much nicer bikes have come and gone, this one remains. I've ridden it fixed for the whole time I've had it, including out in the Kentish Weald, the Surrey Hills, round the Isle of Wight, all round Snowdonia (when I lived there) and recently all over Sussex (including my current mini-adventure - I'm on day 10 of my 12 days of Fixmas: 200 fixie miles in so far in some of Britain's foulest weather).
I still don't think I really like this bike but we have come to some sort of understanding and I will be very sorry if it ever snaps (like it's sounded like it's going to for last 15 years).
This bike is ugly, it's harsh to ride and I neglect it terribly, but while other much nicer bikes have come and gone, this one remains. I've ridden it fixed for the whole time I've had it, including out in the Kentish Weald, the Surrey Hills, round the Isle of Wight, all round Snowdonia (when I lived there) and recently all over Sussex (including my current mini-adventure - I'm on day 10 of my 12 days of Fixmas: 200 fixie miles in so far in some of Britain's foulest weather).
I still don't think I really like this bike but we have come to some sort of understanding and I will be very sorry if it ever snaps (like it's sounded like it's going to for last 15 years).
