yummy

The Brooks and Chris King really killed this bike for me. Especially CK. Such a waste.

I think it says Chris King not Christ King.

Whoa! I knew you wouldn’t disappoint -your getting quite the reputation around here. It was a pretty easy allusion to the idea that a CK headset was simply a headset. Yes, Mr. Luftmensh, it might be a tad over-kill on my humble frame. If that was what you were trying to say. I am (in fact) looking at frames with “upgrade” in mind but these cheapo Kilos are pretty great. Any suggestions? Or, is this all just an opportunity to guttersnipe and creep everyone out? Calling it humor. Which, of course, is fine …but why the need to swing so low? Hum… What would Jesus do?

I had a Brompton 3 stolen from me. I believe it was the first Brompton imported into The US/NYC so it had sentimental value. And, I had a honey colored (sometimes called ox blood) Brooks pro on it for looks and comfort. I miss the saddle more than the bike!

Right now I have a Brooks pro and the green one above. I was told to lather up the underside with saddle soap (or whatever) and let it soak in but maybe thats just ritual. There is talk that these are uncomfortable the first few hundred miles. That is, till your butt molds to them but I find them comfortable pretty much right away. There is also that french saddle (name escapes me) –that too looks pretty cool.

what a boring azz bike!!

eric you are an idiot. you claim that we are all followers, this bike is well thought out and he used nice quality parts. but because he hasn’t followed the trends (color match chain, tires downhill stem etc…) it’s boring. you’re a hater. plus he’s from ny most guy’s who know anything avoid overtly flash parts because it increases the chance of your bike getting stolen.

Seems like you’re cry now Faggot!!!

nobody wants to steal that POS pussy!! mind you biz, im just writing what I think about it you pussy!!

I like it jqnyc, I am in the process of fixing up a Kilo and will use some open pro rims. They are good solid rims and keep in line with a classic look; Brooks saddle and lether tape.

eric/sniper i was discussing locks with WSB do i really have you that upset. i see you stepped up your thuggin’.

True, I bought a lock after the Rod Brake Raleigh Roadster was stolen in broad (or is it pussy) daylight from a Hospital parking lot and the Trek was usually locked outside but on a Saturday while working in the office I put it in a trailer 10 feet from the office window unlocked and presto/gone . Someone knows my pattern it seems. (the lock was nicely attached on the seat tube and stolen as well) the cheap Viscount mixte 10 speed left during the night from my carport unlocked way in back during a rainy night. The Schwinn heavy weight 10 speed disappeared while I was cutting grass on a bright day in p.light. I have a good chain but not Kryto and a smaller loop for the Brooks B17 but screw it I usually bring them inside. I have some in a basemt. and with bad luck the place may be broken into again and half may be stolen. snipertoe and erik are like flies at a picnic. Thanks and I do like this stripper bike, it looks ready to fall in the picture if it catches a breeze, nice pro saddle.

What is a torpedo hub? I have an old Puch (20 inch wheels) and it came to me with a Sachs Torpedo duomatic ( 2 speed kick back to shift ) is this the same or what? Thanks

Yes green. The guy at the shop brought out a box marked black (as per my request) but when opened we found a green saddle –a mislabeled box. We put it next to the bike anyway and we both smiled –surprised at how well (and unexpected) it worked. I might go with green tape at a certain point but that might be dorky/over-kill.

Its a SRAM torpedo hub. A new design not to be confused with the old 2-speed. With a turn of a small screwdriver it goes from fixed to free. No need to flip flop… your stuck with an 18 cog though. Its very efficient and well made but no one is buying them except me.

Hey, I’m the one who invoked the holy man for a humorous purpose. What I’d really like to do is put a plug in for the proletariat frame. For $199 its one hell of a deal. I already sold my soul to own a revered Bare Knuckle. I put a lot of money into the basket to be a member of that congregation. Nice bike and I do love it but these Kilo TT frames (in this case a Stripper) are manna from heaven… for the masses that is. Worthy of nice bits? Perhaps. Anyway, Why interrupt the trash-fest? I’m loving the gay-bashing illiterates –flailing about with the silly misspellings and multiple explanation points. I especially like the use of excrement to describe a bicycle and sexual body parts to describe the owner. Please. Don’t stop. JEEEEZE!!! You guys are making the rest of us look pretty clever.

In the meantime, are any bikes or parts mass produced in the USA ? The trade and dollars keep flowing out of the country, we will be riding bikes because cars are not affordable. The dollar will be worth a dime and Chinese will be what Spanish was to us in 1960. With the likes of some young snipes on this site and the way they talk and think I worry. Thanks NY seems to be a lot smarter than the Midwest on this site also Calif. seems sane on this fixed gear site.

Not that the number of “stars” sums up a bike…..but since that’s part of what this site’s about…I’ll go ahead and say this bike is currently underrated.

This is a fantastic ride. Easily one of my better bikes. I can easily “whip” this thing around at a stoplight –launch myself off before you can say Walter Benjamin. Bikes are like shoes. The fit is so so important. Im happy with the discreet look (although anyone can see the nice bits) but its the rubber and metal tailored to ME. The Kilo is just stiff enough for the street without too much road-response and I find my limbs, torso and arms sink in and work well with this combination of parts. Yes, you CAN feel a big difference with a nice headset and well made hubs (and on and on). If that makes any sense. I guess what Im trying to say is that the aesthetics are important in that they encourage you to “bond” with the thing –a good fit coupled with an appropriate frame/parts for your street-conditions) only adds to that? Or is it the other way around? Or… all part of the same argument –quest for a quality ride –which is what this site is about. (?)

Then… the failures! I have my share. Wrong size, thought I liked aluminum frames, pragmatic about parts, poor design. “questionable vintage frames” Mountain bikes, three-speed, 10 speed… on and on! I’ve also managed to spend WAY too much on bikes that just were not right and …I wasn’t sure why!! Sometimes its just personality. (craigs list is a Godsend for fools like me) So far I haven’t been seduced by carbon or Titanium (well, not yet anyway –lets hope it stays that way). Then (of course) the worst. Failure to lock a bike up properly. Theft! I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more time, energy (money) on failed projects than ones that have worked out (beyond just bikes too)

Then… occasionally… I get it right. Will someone please tell some of the fools on this site to man up, get back to it and build it up right? We may not always get the criticism right but please… read between the lines. If more than one person says your bike sucks… it probably does. Some people don’t like purple, some people think risers and oureys are too trendy. Leader frames vs. old school Frejus… whatever. if it works –its undeniable.

I got curious about the saddle. I’ve never seen a green one. Had a look on the Brooks site. Found two in green. A Swift Titanium, retailing at over £200 and one called a Finnesse for the ladies. I didn’t check the price on that. A lot of dosh. Probably more than a certain purple sofa. Ha,ha. Hope yours didn’t cost that much and you got a good deal.Someone was asking about getting Brooks recovered. There’s no mention of any service like that on the site, so I guess it would be best to take it to a shoe maker who likes a challenge. A green saddle would look good on my Morris. It’ll also match my green eyes. Envy is a spitefull master. He,he. Cheers again. Nice bike and it got me thinking.

HOT TIP!: Somebody gave me a gag gift of a pack of three shower caps from the .99 cent store. Guess what? they are prefect… and I mean perfect bicycle saddle covers. Waterproof too.

One more tip. Cutting cables. If anyone has had any problems cutting cables and finds the usual pliers ect make a hash of it+the ends are a bit, well, wiry. Try using a sharp cold chisel. It’s a bit like a bolster you would use to chop bricks with, but narrow.Just lay the cable across a lump hammer or similar HARD surface, put the chisel on the cable and give it a sharp tap.As long as the chisel edge isn’t dinged about from previous misuse you get a clean cut every time.

Never said a truer word. Snapon tools make good pliers. MJ says you can cut car handbrake cables with them. Probably pricey, but like a Brooks saddle will last for years. You do get what you pay for with certain things.

use a SHarp coal chisel on cables.whip the ends with super glue.cut to length,prep cables before inserting into houseing.but wait-fixies don’t have cables do they?never mind.

JQNYC; The only place I can think of where that kind of stopping power would be desirable is on a long,steep,twisty decent in the Yorkshire Dales. I have experienced what I call “on/off braking” It’s either fully on or off. When I bought my 1st pair of Kool Stop synthetic brake blocks I still had chrome steel 27″ wheels.They stopped in half a turn! Those blocks are what made me switch to alloys. So much more feel with alloys. Thank you Kool Stop.Being 17 and ignorant I had put off buying alloy because I assumed they would be weak and soft compared with steel. Kool Stop began my education. Cheers Matey.

Still nice.

is this the bluestar paint job?

Mercier Kilo Stripper frame?