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I built my first bike this time last year, a 10 speed Dawes. I remember asking all the questions you have posted as there seemed to be a problem at every bolt.

I picked up a 700c aluminium fork from a 90s Giant road bike for £5 from the community LBS and slipped out the old canti 27" forks. Sprayed it black with £3 rattle can but the steerer was too long. A reciprocating saw and a thread chaser thingy worked well in cutting it down, a hacksaw would do fine but I wanted the excuse to use power tools. Later on I sold the frame set; as I had the matching forks unmolested it went for more than I paid for it originally.

(I got the itch after my first build. Only cure was more projects, more builds and more problems. I have been scouring eBay, learning the trade and meeting great folk since. I adopted the n+1 way of life, every room has a bike in it. Now have about 15 bikes in bits and pieces, constantly looking for the perfect build and enjoying every find.)

Do you know what Make it was?

Raleigh insert effeminate name here Reynolds 501 I think.

[ Marketing for womens cycling is so awful, Victoria Pendleton tanks and racing bikes in silver and soft blue, photos of wicker baskets and puppys, or helmeted grinning couples on a jaunt in the lake district. There is definitely a market for women's bikes that aren't a domestic 50s ideal. Mixte frames are very nice I think and show that womens cycling doesn't have to be what we're sold.
Woman + Lugged Steel Mens Bike = Walking into lamp posts ]

motherload

Had to sell my ex's mixte.

Nice build, refurbished with elbow grease is always better than buying in parts.

Superb build.
Is there accompanying livery?

Won't sell so seller should be inclined to split. Mad collection here...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-veteran-bicycle-hetchins-paris-singer-raleigh-x-frame-/161283829973?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item258d43f0d5

Some ace cranks to go with the hetchins, worth every penny

Hello
Need help with this - Need dropouts identified as to where the bike may have come from or likely frame material - bike has been rattle can sprayed with no engravings or logos present except front forks which are simplex fork ends. Haven't been able to find anything that looks like this, I think the frame is early 80s french made but don't know.

So how does she ride?

Better than I do, went over the bars trying to lengthen my skid. Bike unscathed. Nice and nimble in corners, I like the seat tube angle, allows good power transfer with my riding position.

Never documented a build before so hopefully this will read and look nice.
Before anyone gives me flack for my gear ratio, I had never riden fixed
before and I rarely cycle on flat ground.

Standard British steel racing frame conversion; a winter project on a shoestring budget.

Bought the frame for a £1 - Dings in top tube, hashed repainted forks, no bearings and chrome was pitted.

Removed the decals, filled the tube dings and sanded down, covered with tape as three stripes (temporary measure until better sticker presents itself)
Painted lugs detail in silver to try and rejuvenate the frame.

Sugino crankset and unsealed shimano BB. Flipped the spindle but still had to mount the chainring inside for useable chainline. Looks cool though.

Wheelset was a near NOS maillard 27" standard chrome pair, relaced onto a sturmey single fixed hub with 16t sprocket. Tyres are also near NOS standard Raleigh racing 1 1/4" gum wall linear tread.

Forks were a total mess so before I thought it through I stripped them with a heat gun and resulted in this

Thought I had ruined them and would have to buy a chrome threaded replacement but I took out a sander and went from 60 to 240 grit removing the messy primer streaks and ended up with a brushed steel look for most of the fork

Greased some bearings and setup the headset. Had a mock up

Rummaged for some matching parts and decided on a turbo gel seat as I like their profile. Bought some ally track bullhorn bars which as if by magic had a finish resembling my sanded forks. Dug out a quill stem and seat post that were unpolished to match. Bought a singlespeed chain - £20 overall and put some dusty parts to use, a good weekend - Voila -

annoying as I should have full account now but can't start threads

final pics?

great finished bike, simple colours work well - I have the same bike but had original factory vee-brake mounts so decided to turn into a cyclocross project - hopefully will make a thread soon

Thank you for this - great advice

sensational - are you going to strip and chrome before paint?