Project Beetlejuice now has a frame — a 56 cm track/fixie frame from Cycling Deal. Follow the build progress here. The challenge with this build is going to be to not overcapitalise the frame. While it is tempting to up-spec various parts, this is still going to be a budget build.

Boxed Cycling Deal fixie/track frame TF-56W

Cycling Deal fixie/track frame TF-56W

I met up with four guys riding fixie bikes around the Brisbane River Loop on the weekend. Two of the fours guys were riding these track/fixie frames from Cycling Deal. They were very happy with the frames, although one guy had needed a shim to make the seat post fit.

The 56 cm frame/fork/headset was advertised as being 2.4 kg; by my kitchen scales, the frame is 1752 grams and forks are 882 grams — a total of 2.634 kg. That is a bare weight without the seat post or headset supplied with the frame. I also have not cut the steerer tube yet.

The frame and forks were well packaged in plastic bags and bubble wrap. The welding is ugly in places — this is a cheap frame and I guess that is the price you pay.

There are several old posts on the internet where people have had to use shims to get the seat post to fit correctly. I had hoped that this problem may have been fixed with later model frames, but on first inspection this does not appear to be the case. I will look at this more closely when I actually go to build the bike. Update: it looks like the seat post does fit correctly in my frame without needing a shim.

For more information on this bike, explore here and here.