Hi. I've never done a fixie before but I just bought a Jamis Sputnik for cheap and I want to do my first build.

I am going to get some ALEX DA28 rims built on Formula flip/flop hubs. I need some advice on bottom brackets and cranks.

I understand that the drivetrain is where all the action is--ie: where all the stress and failures occur, so I want to do it right.
Any suggestions for reasonably priced bottom brackets? Particularly, I need advice for cranksets. I know the Sugino 75 are supposed to be superb, but they are very expensive. Any suggestions for reasonable alternatives?
My lbs (Urbane, in Toronto) has a crankset from Taiwan that doesn't have a brand name that they say they have had pretty good luck with. I see 'Bulletproof' on ebay for cheap (but any good?).
By the way, does it matter if the crankset is 140 or 110 bcd?

If anyone has suggestions, I'd like them.
Thanks

The Sugino RD/Messenger cranks are pretty good. They are actually road cranks sold as singlespeed but they are better quality than the cheap Bulletproof cranks. Bottom brackets are pretty cheap too.. $20-30.

BCD (bolt circle diameter) determines what chain-rings you can put on the bike, 144bcd tend to be expensive and hard to find and you can only fit something like a 45 tooth which may limit your cog/chain-ring choices. The cheaper Suginos are 130 which is standard road chain-ring size and available everywhere, 110 is compact and fairly available but not as much as 130 I believe.

Priced somewhere between the Sugino RD and 75s you can get the Miche Primato which was in 135 bcd (Campy road chainring) and a true track crank. Cheap BBs with no fixed cup so you can adjust the chainline if needed.

Thanks. Does anyone know if the Sugino RD are exactly the same as the Messenger? My lbs, who I just called, said they have 2 separate listings in their order book for the RD and the Messenger.

The Sugino RD are the best bet in that price range (about $80)?

thanks
Fred

The difference is the chain-ring, the cranks themselves are the same. They are probably the best bet as there are a range of bottom bracket sizes available for them versus a Octalink or ISIS.