My knees feel their age and remember vividly all the fixed gear miles we've pushed through together. As a result, this poor track bike had been holing up in my basement for several years. Last summer, it got a second life.
I sold the DuraAce high flange wheelset for a pretty penny. That financed a new wheelset, freewheel cog, brake levers, saddle, pretty blue Shimano Ultregra brake calipers, and a powder coat job. The bars and stem came from Broke-Bike.
The project was finished months before I expected - just a few days before the 2011 Seattle to Portland ride. This was my seventh STP so I decided to freshen up the ride by taking the single speed. The 165mm cranks and 48-17 gearing fit me just perfectly and a few centuries on this little bike went just swimmingly.
I love my single speed too. I think mine is 44-16, so a little easier than yours, but I've never done anything like STP on it - just commuting and riding around town. I have gone from Seattle to Portland with it, but we took the train (and it was surprisingly easy - my bike folds, so I could take it right on the car and put it in the oversize luggage rack).
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