Lugged Maxway Singlespeed Frames - $400 @ Ben's Cycle and other QB alternatives

[Alex Clemens]

Check out these frames that are made by the same people who make the
bleriot. I stumbled across them in my search for a classic steel
track frame for some indoor winter riding. To bad they have road
geometry. I doubt they have rivish clearances, but for the price who
cares.
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php
main_page=product_info&cPath=188_348&products_id=5063

Patrick I remember you mentioning you have two riv custom fixies. If
you read this are either of them a true track geometry and do you have
any pics up on the web? Not that I can afford a custom when all it
will be used for is riding around in circles.

I like the Cream City that is built by waterford for Ben's Cycle. It
kinda has that vintage 60s/70s? track geometry, but I have no idea why
they drilled it for a rear brake yet decided to exclude waterbottle
braze ons. If you design a track bike leave out both. What the hell
is the purpose of that brake mount?

They already offer a waterford built road going singlespeed frame
called the orange one.... a cheaper alternative to the on hiatus QB if
anyones looking. $700 gets you a ss frame with 2 sets of bottle
brazeons, racks and fender bazeons, and canti posts. It's only $600
if you don't need the canti posts.

[Frederick, Steve]

Look pretty nice! Wonder if they'd work as a 650b conversion?

I tiny'd the URL:

http://tinyurl.com/5j34l6

[JoelMatthews]

>Patrick I remember you mentioning you have two riv custom fixies. If
>you read this are either of them a true track geometry and do you have
>any pics up on the web? Not that I can afford a custom when all it
>will be used for is riding around in circles.

Unless you are actually using the fixed gear bike on the track, true
track geometry is not advisable.

On Jul 30, 12:36 pm, Alex Clemens <clemens.a...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Check out these frames that are made by the same people who make the
> bleriot.  I stumbled across them in my search for a classic steel
> track frame for some indoor winter riding.  To bad they have road
> geometry. I doubt they have rivish clearances, but for the price who

> cares.http://www.benscycle.net/index.php

[Horace]

On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Alex Clemens <clemen...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Check out these frames that are made by the same people who make the
> bleriot. I stumbled across them in my search for a classic steel
> track frame for some indoor winter riding. To bad they have road
> geometry. I doubt they have rivish clearances, but for the price who
> cares.

You want track geometry AND large clearances? Isn't that a pretty odd
combination?

[Alex Clemens]

Sorry I wasn't more clear the first time,

I am looking for a track bike to ride in circles on the track. It
snows a hell of alot up here in the winter and I want a bike for
riding this indoors this winter. While I was searching I found two
other bikes that may be of interest to the riv minded folks.

1. A lugged singlespeed road geometry frame - $400 It is made by the
same people who make the bleriot for rivendell. As Steve pointed out
it may be suitable for a 650b conversion. I thought it might be a
suitable and cheaper alternative for those considering single speed
like the QB, but I was also mentioning that the clearances would
likely be much tighter than the QB... all the more reason to build it
up as a 650b conversion.
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php
main_page=product_info&cPath=188_348&products_id=5063

2. Milwaukee Bicycle "Orange One" - $700 This bike is built by
waterford for ben's cycle. It is a lovely looking road geometry with
all the same braze ons as the quickbeam. Anybody who has been
considering a QB may want to look at this frame.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188

I already own a QB and it is the only road going singlespeed/fixie I
need. My Quickbeam is my favorite bike and I hope others will give SS
a shot. I like the Milwaukee Bicycle track frame "cream city". I
find it mind boggling that it is drilled for a rear brake, but has no
other practical features like waterbottle brazeons, road geo, etc. If
you design a track frame leave it as clean as possible.

[PATRICK MOORE]

On 7/30/08, Alex Clemens <clemen...@gmail.com> wrote:
Patrick I remember you mentioning you have two riv custom fixies.  If
you read this are either of them a true track geometry and do you have
any pics up on the web?  Not that I can afford a custom when all it
will be used for is riding around in circles.
 

No, they're both roads (the second -- http://picasaweb.google.com/bertin531/THEFLEET/photo?authkey=jDvlUijJNrQ#5208192508681627138 -- was actually built as a derailleur bike and later converted. Note that it doesn't look quite so tall and tippy in person -- it's leaning against the wall to my left about 6' away as I type -- and that it is a 58 cm 559 wheeled bike, not a 70 cm 622 wheeled bike.

[PATRICK MOORE]

On 7/30/08, Frederick, Steve <fred...@mail.lib.msu.edu> wrote:

Look pretty nice!  Wonder if they'd work as a 650b conversion?

I tiny'd the URL:

http://tinyurl.com/5j34l6

 

Look up back issues of 63xc.com. There was a feature about converting a KHS track bike to Cross tires using 559 wheels (and a drum front brake). http://www.63xc.com/jameslee/18spokes.htm

 

[JoelMatthews]

> I like the Milwaukee Bicycle track frame "cream city". I
> find it mind boggling that it is drilled for a rear brake, but has no
> other practical features like waterbottle brazeons, road geo, etc. If
> you design a track frame leave it as clean as possible.

OK. I follow you now. Not sure why Milwaukee drilled the Cream City
as it does appear meant to be for the actual velodrome market. Even
if they were afraid they needed at least some poseur sales to make it
profitable, seems easy enough to offer as an option. Maybe they were
afraid the poseurs would pass if they actually needed to ask for the
drilled option.

On Jul 30, 2:43 pm, Alex Clemens <clemens.a...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry I wasn't more clear the first time,
>
> I am looking for a track bike to ride in circles on the track.  It
> snows a hell of alot up here in the winter and I want a bike for
> riding this indoors this winter.  While I was searching I found two
> other bikes that may be of interest to the riv minded folks.
>
> 1. A lugged singlespeed road geometry frame  - $400  It is made by the
> same people who make the bleriot for rivendell.  As Steve pointed out
> it may be suitable for a 650b conversion.  I thought it might be a
> suitable and cheaper alternative for those considering single speed
> like the QB, but I was also mentioning that the clearances would
> likely be much tighter than the QB... all the more reason to build it

> up as a 650b conversion.http://www.benscycle.net/index.php

[Alex Clemens]

On Jul 30, 6:59 pm, JoelMatthews <joelmatth...@mac.com> wrote:

Even if they were afraid they needed at least some poseur sales to
make it
> profitable, seems easy enough to offer as an option.  Maybe they were
> afraid the poseurs would pass if they actually needed to ask for the
> drilled option.

Maybe your right maybe not. Actual track riders may avoid it because
they look like poseurs when they are riding a bike on the track that
looks like a conversion from the rear.

[clyde canter]

I own an Orange One. It's a great bike and a super deal, but it compares more to a Ram-Rom type of bike as far as tire-fender clearances go. Mine will fender a 28 max up front, and maybe a 32 in back with no brake and then you would have to use a ring-gear combo that had the wheel towards the rear of the track ends to have fender clearance.
I can't see how cantis would help a great deal in fendering as the fork and brake bridges seem to be the big limiters.
I love mine and ride it a bunch, I don't think one would be more satisfied with the QB if loads of clearance was what he was after. If you want tires wider than 28 and fenders on an orange one, I would suggest using race blades or similar.
C Canter

>hey already offer a waterford built road going singlespeed frame
>called the orange one.... a cheaper alternative to the on hiatus QB if
>anyones looking.  $700 gets you a ss frame with 2 sets of bottle
>brazeons, racks and fender bazeons, and canti posts.  It's only $600
>if you don't need the canti posts.

[JoelMatthews]

> Maybe your right maybe not. Actual track riders may avoid it because
> they look like poseurs when they are riding a bike on the track that
> looks like a conversion from the rear.

But in the end, isn't the only criteria that matters on the tack
performance? If the bike has the right build and the price is good
that should be enough for those who want to learn to compete.

[Alex Clemens]

Yeah it would be perfectly fine. I was just joking around. At the
same time if I wanted to compete and if I was looking for pure
performance I wouldn't buy a frame like this. I don't think any
serious track riders would with all the carbon aero options available
these days. If I was looking for a deal on a bike a bianchi pista
would fit the bill for $600 dollars complete (and at the price who
cares about wether its drilled for a rear brake or not). I like many
other who ride the the track want to ride around in circles for fun,
exercise, the social aspect, etc.. I found the track in ontario is
equally dominated by families and bike nerds as the die hard racers
and those wishing to improve their technique. I was just going on a
rant about a rather weird design choice in my opinion. I like nice
frames and I thought the cream city was a nice frame at a fare price.
You chose to ride a rivendell over a surly don't you?

[Mitch F.]

Here is a pic of my Bianchi Pista.   http://www.flickr.com/photos/19936311@N07/2719359521/   When I got it, it was, of course set up for track.  The reach was way too long, the tires too skinny, and the gearing (fixed only) too tall.  I wanted it for riding on the street.   I made the following changes: Brooks Pro leather saddle, Cinelli deep drop handlebars, Shorter stem (90mm), front brake, 28mm Speedblends, 42 tooth chainring, 17 freewheel, 16 fixed gear.  Everything except the gears came off an old bike so it only cost a few bucks.   Now, it is a great one-speed backup bike to my Romulus.  --- On Thu, 7/31/08, Alex Clemens <clemen...@gmail.com> wrote:

[JoelMatthews]

> I like nice frames and I thought the cream city was a nice frame at a fare price.
> You chose to ride a rivendell over a surly don't you?

Well, but the Riv is a lot more expensive than the Cream City. For
the money, I have the right to expect the Riv to be exactly what I am
looking for.

The Cream City is a great deal. Frankly, I am somewhat surprised
Milwaukee can make the frame in the US with the best remaining large
batch steel bike builder at that price.

I agree the drilled bridge is an incongruous sight on that bike.
Another possible explanation is that Milwaukee did not want to source
not-drilled bridges and just used what Waterford had kicking around.
Off hand I do not know. Does Waterford make disc brake models? If
not, chances are the only bridges it would have on the shelf would be
drilled.

We used to have a guy who worked for Milwaukee posting here (or was it
on the official Riv site?) Guy with a lot of interesting things to
say. Funny too. Maybe he will show up and illuminate this.

[Richard Merkin]

A great alternative to the QB absence has been the Soma Delancey. I
paid 650 for mine and it is a great lugged frame made with Tange
tubing, a real bargain.


I always try to post here but they never seem to get added.

On Jul 31, 11:38 am, "Mitch F." <mfrie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Here is a pic of my Bianchi Pista.
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/19936311@N07/2719359521/
>
> When I got it, it was, of course set up for track. The reach was way too long, the tires too skinny, and the gearing (fixed only) too tall. I wanted it for riding on the street.
>
> I made the following changes: Brooks Pro leather saddle, Cinelli deep drop handlebars, Shorter stem (90mm), front brake, 28mm Speedblends, 42 tooth chainring, 17 freewheel, 16 fixed gear. Everything except the gears came off an old bike so it only cost a few bucks.
>
> Now, it is a great one-speed backup bike to my Romulus.
>

> --- On Thu, 7/31/08, Alex Clemens <clemens.a...@gmail.com> wrote: