Here’s my very first trick track setup—the bike that brought me into fixed gear freestyle. With its barspin clearance and compact geometry, I fell for it quickly and promised myself I’d ride it until it broke. And a little further, if possible!

El Fakijoe’s blue Leader 722 photographed on a Paris street at night.

The build changed a lot over time. The biggest update was a pair of H+Son Hydra rims in place of the Gipiemme Pista wheels. It also saw a few bent forks, until the frame itself finally had something to say. More on that below.

The riding photos were taken at the miroir d’eau on Place Masséna in Nice.

Components

Parts broke and were replaced, so the build kept evolving. Here’s how it was built.

Component Build at publication
Frame Leader 722 Heritage Edition Blue T58
Fork Infiné Cycle (no name, from stock clearance) 1 1/8"
Headset Tange Technoglide J-2
Wheelset H+SON HYDRA 28" / BLB Track 32H Hubs
Tires Thickslick Flat Guard
Hubs BLB Track 32H
Pedals FYXATION Gates Black
Crankset BLB Track 46T
Cog Gusset 18T
Straps Veganski FREESTYLE
Chain KMC Black 1 1/8"
Stem KONA DH Primo
Handlebar KONA DH Primo
Grips Vans x Cult Gum
Seat Fizik Pavé
Seat Post BBB 27.2mm
Rider on a blue fixed gear bike in the shallow water of a public square.
Rear axle, cog and chain on a chipped blue frame.
Blue frame tube with a white VéloBleu sticker.
Close-up of a black Hydra rim and spokes beside the blue frame.
Two black tyres with water droplets beside the blue frame.
Worn gum-coloured handlebar grip with a textured pattern.
Black stem and its four-bolt faceplate.
White Leader lettering on the blue frame tube.
Close-up of the weld and sanded paint around the blue frame’s head tube.
Water droplets on a black bicycle rim.
Side view of a blue Leader fixed gear bike by the water.
Blue fixed gear bike photographed from the front by a waterfront railing.
A ball tucked between the rear wheel’s spokes near the hub.
Reinforced weld at the junction of the blue frame’s head tube and down tube.

A second life for the frame

I bought the frame second-hand and was impressed by how many tricks it put up with. In April 2021, I started hearing a strange, high-pitched metallic rubbing sound from the front of the bike. At first I suspected the front-wheel or headset bearings. The noise got worse, until I inspected the frame and found a crack around the down tube near the head tube.

I was gutted. A friend introduced me to someone who welded large structures. He TIG-welded the crack and reinforced the head-tube/down-tube junction. I was able to ride it again—what a day. Lucky to have friends like that!

Four months after the repair, the weld was still holding.

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