In the past blog, I touched on the topic of "What is a street bike?" There, I wrote about Emi Brown's riding as an example—showcasing the way he accelerated rapidly on an aluminum frame and weaves through the tight city streets with narrow handlebars like drop bars. In cities with heavy traffic, acceleration is actually important, which is why stiff frames like those made of aluminum are often preferred.
However, that's just one example, and there are certainly other options as well. I've often seen in MASH videos a riding style that tears through the streets with wide riser bars. They pull off tricks at high speed, and their riding is solid on top of that.
In recent years, many riders have been doing tricks even on aluminum frames, but personally speaking, I still believe steel is the way to go for tough riding. The idea, steel frames are not so fast, is just a preconception—depending on how you build it and which frame you choose, it can adapt to any style.
One of the riders I really respect, Matt Reyes, sometimes rides a bike like this through the streets. The aggressive pursuit frame doesn't even make you feel like it's made of steel. Though, I think the handlebar in this video is a bit of a joke honestly lol. I've said something similar before, but there is no "correct" answer when it comes to street riding. Even a build like this can be interesting.
With those two elements in mind, this time I'm going to focus this blog on a custom build that emphasizes both speed and toughness.
LEADER Angelino PTG Complete Bike $1,150.00 USD
The bike used for this custom build is the LEADER Angelino. Among the frames we carry, when it comes to chromoly pursuit frames, the Angelino stands out. The tubing is designed from scratch—tough and shaped in a way you won’t see on other bikes. For this build, I went with a bold, no-nonsense style, using black as the main color throughout.
NITTO for SHRED BAR BLACK 650mm φ31.8 $79.00USD
For the cockpit, I chose the NITTO for SHRED BAR. This 650mm bar is just right for city riding. Handlebars over 700mm can be inconvenient when navigating narrow streets or passing cars. By the way, if you're placing a custom order, feel free to let us know your preferred length—we can cut it to size for you, so don’t hesitate to ask. The VANS® V2.1 LOCK-ON Grips are not only easy to put on and take off, and their bolt-on design also provides a secure and reliable hold.
I used the Cane Creek headset and stem. The gxc stem is designed for gravel and XC riding, so its durability is absolutely reliable.
By BROTURES BEAT CRANK SET $290.00USD
For the crankset, I went with our original product, the BEAT crank, which recently came back in stock. I wrote the blog separately with all the details about this crank, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.
Made from stiff aluminum "AL7075 T6" and using a direct spindle, it delivers an unmistakable sense of acceleration when you put power into the pedals. Thanks to its quick response, its easy to control pedaling power especially in city riding and heavy traffic. This crank is characterized by its sharp reaction when the light turns green and its smooth acceleration.
I equipped the bike with a wheelset hand-build by BROTURES' top mechanic. The HED Belgium rim is a well-known classic, lightweight while maintaining precision and stiffness. If I had to name one fast aluminum rim, this would be my pick. For the hub, I chose the DURA-ACE TRACK HUB HB-7710. Its small flange gives off a slightly classic vibe, but as an NJS-certified hub, it's a true, high-performance track component. Since this is a custom build, you can also order your wheels from the ground up.
By the way, we also accept only custom wheel build orders, so feel free to reach out for that as well.
For the tires, I went with the newly released Break Through from Panaracer.
It’s a tough tire that performs well in a variety of situations—perfect not only for long rides on road bikes, but also for commuter bikes and street setups like fixed-gear bikes. It’s a highly versatile choice.
Panaracer Break Through $26.00USD
The true essence of a fixed-gear bike lies in building it without being bound by convention. Because it can adapt and evolve depending on its intended use, choosing a core theme for your build is the first step to creating a truly “cool” bike. We’re committed to sharing our deep knowledge and experience with fixed-gear bikes with all of you. No matter the question or request, we’re always here to help—feel free to reach out anytime.
TATSU
