The wife and I picked an angel from the Christmas tree at my son's pre-school. Turns out it was for a 6 year old who wanted a bike. Perfect-o, I say. Max amount to spend = $40. Not so perfect-o. Mrs. Gel managed to find a pink girls Rallye Skyquest at ToysRUs for like $35, so we got it. I figured I'd be able to tune it up enough to get it running OK for her.

So let's all build along, shall we. Shop assistance courtesy of my 3 year old, Max. This thing is a fixie hipster doofus's dream bike :D

Here's the box it came in. Only four steps to assemble with a single Crescent wrench! Noice!
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0002.jpg

Unpacked
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0001.jpg

Max installs the front wheel. 14mm track nuts. Sweet!
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0006.jpg

Next up are the platform pedals. White, natch. 5.5 month old Wyatt is bored with this whole process.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0008.jpg

The pedal-spindle interface is a little sloppy.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0009.jpg

BMX bars come next. The minimum insertion mark is a little sloppy as well. You can't tell from this pic, but the bars are AT LEAST 26" wide.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0007.jpg

Continuing with the build we have the clear grips, complete with purple and silver bling tassels!
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0004.jpg

What hipster doofus fixie would be complete without a top tube pad, even if it is mounted on the handlebars :D They even sent along a stem pad!
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0005.jpg

Let's get those knobby white tires pumped up with 50 lbs of air?! (note groovy white saddle installed)
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0011.jpg

All finished. Let's add a bow.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0016.jpg

Mandatory hub and chainline shots :)
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0014.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0013.jpg

And a final shot of the front end. Every fixed gear freestylers dream.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z232/jason_moore_texas/random%20pics/pinkbike0012.jpg

Surprisingly, everything on the bike operated fairly well. Spoke tension was pretty even and all the various bits lined up correctly and spun fairly easily. The only major issue I saw, aside from the boat anchor weight, was the rear tire didn't seat very well. I had to remove it and reinstall. I got it as good as it would go.

After we finished, I rolled it into the garage, lubed the chain and wiped her down. She was to be delivered today. All in all it was a fun project and I'm happy to make this little girls Christmas a little better. A side benefit is that my son was busting at the seams for a bike. So getting him up and rolling won't be too far off. A+

I want a Skyquest tt pad :(

Good job. I had a part in assembling some bikes that were donated to a toy drive and it's always a good feeling.

I assume it is stiff, yet compliant and handles fast but isn't twitchy...

I assume it is stiff, yet compliant and handles fast but isn't twitchy...

yes, definitely an "all day" ride....


Great post innergel

You are going to totally make some little girl's Christmas!

Nice!! :thumbsup:

Flyn G

fixed? really?

fixed? really?

nah. it's a single speed with a coaster brake. fixie sounds better and it's kind of generic for a one speed.

fixie... is kind of generic for a one speed.


really?

The handlebar pad was a motocross bike original back in the days, then the BMXs picked it up. It saves your shins when you fly "over the bars".
Hipster have them on their toptubes now. Fad or functional?

Nice. Looking forward to a full ride report.

Is it bad that I've always wanted to cut and chop one of those frames to take 170 cranks and 700 wheels, and actually use it as a fixie?

fixed is fixed. ss is singlespeed..

loved the report, what a lucky kid