Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Got My Orange One

No, I don't mean the orange one you get from watching pr0n while eating Cheetos.

The Brown Santa dropped off a big box from Ben's Bikes this morning. Opened it up and there was this very cool orange and black very light bicycle.

Unpacked it... oops. NO BRAKES. The handlebars were all wrapped, no brake levers or brakes to be found in the package. Called BB, they said they'll priority mail the brakes and some new cork wrap right away.

When I got done assembling it, it looks like this:

http://home.comcast.net/~michaelnel/new_1_800.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~michaelnel/new_2_800.jpg

Since I wasn't at home, I had no choice but to ride it with no brakes. Those of you who are used to these things may not think that's a big deal, but when you have never ever ridden a fixie before and your first ride is on one with no brakes, it's *interesting*.

Actually, I just went pretty slow and rode on back streets from my work to the train station, constantly experimenting with back pressure on the pedals. I can stop it OK, but need lots of distance to do so. Pretty sure I will run a front brake when they show up from Ben's.

First impression... what a kick in the ass fun bicycle this is! Very light, simple, and I feel very connected to it (although as you may note from the pics, my initial ride was just on MKS Sylvan Track pedals sans clips & straps... I have a set of Frogs I intend to put on it).

The spokes in the wheels (not the standard ones, I went for the upgraded Velocity Fusion / Formula / Wheelsmith all black 32 spoke ones) aren't up to the high tensions I prefer, so I will do that this afternoon. The chain has a tight spot so I will go adjust that right after doing this post. Then I'll go ride it some more, even though it started raining on my way home from the train station.

More later...

Show some respect, call it "A Milwaukee." :D

And that one has Formula hubs.
I don't know why they're spec'd with Suzue Jrs.

It's mine, I'll call it a CheeseCycle if I want.

It's mine, I'll call it a CheeseCycle if I want.

Haha, I'm going to suggest that name to Vince next time I'm at Ben's.

you need some clips and straps! looks good tho, congrats

Notice I also got the ultra cool black & silver decals instead of the blue & silver ones. This will be a great ride on Halloween.

Show some respect, call it "A Milwaukee." :D

And that one has Formula hubs.
I don't know why they're spec'd with Suzue Jrs.

Yeah, I paid $65 extra for the upgrade to the Velocity Fusion / Formula wheelset. Money well spent, IMO.

Notice I also got the ultra cool black & silver decals instead of the blue & silver ones. This will be a great ride on Halloween.


Nice call with that.
I never liked the Blue decals.
Looks very nice.

i'd flip the stem and get clips.

glad you got it without blue. after attending college in a city i hate, whose school colors are orange and blue...can't stand the combo.

but fixed is fun...you'll enjoy it.

does that bike come sans rear brake cable braze ons now? (did it used to have 'em?)
looks cool.

you need some clips and straps! looks good tho, congrats
+1

It does have brazeons for the rear brake along the left lower side of the top tube.

I want to try my Speedplay Frog clipless pedals instead of clips & straps. Some reason I shouldn't? I've used Frogs on lots of bikes and have always really liked them.

I adjusted the centering on the chainring to minimize the tight spot and adjusted the chain so it's about 1/4" at the tight spot and 1/2" at the loose areas. I put on my Thomson seatpost and Selle San Marco ASPide saddle. Weighed it... 19 lbs including the pedals. Not bad. Sure *feels* light compared to my 35lb tank of a commuter!

i'd flip the stem and get clips.
I bet you're not 56 years old with a big gut, are you? :D

It does have brazeons for the rear brake along the left lower side of the top tube.

I want to try my Speedplay Frog clipless pedals instead of clips & straps. Some reason I shouldn't? I've used Frogs on lots of bikes and have always really liked them.

I adjusted the centering on the chainring to minimize the tight spot and adjusted the chain so it's about 1/4" at the tight spot and 1/2" at the loose areas. I put on my Thomson seatpost and Selle San Marco ASPide saddle. Weighed it... 19 lbs including the pedals. Not bad. Sure *feels* light compared to my 35lb tank of a commuter!


if your used to clipless ride them.

Notice I also got the ultra cool black & silver decals instead of the blue & silver ones. This will be a great ride on Halloween.

SHIBBY BABY SHIBBY good call

welcome to the club!http://static.flickr.com/34/73884230_2e2e489786.jpg?v=0

Cool! Did yours come without decals, or did you take them off?

What's that white stuff on the ground, cocaine?

I went ahead and put the Speedplay Frogs on it and went for another ride. Definitely much better being attached to one of these things. I am DEFINITELY going to put the front brake on when it gets here though. I find it real difficult to stop the bike quickly.

I went ahead and put the Speedplay Frogs on it and went for another ride. Definitely much better being attached to one of these things. I am DEFINITELY going to put the front brake on when it gets here though. I find it real difficult to stop the bike quickly.

Did they throw any goodies in the box for the long wait? :-)

They said something about sending me a T-shirt.

haha. gonna do any crazy riding this weekend?

haha. gonna do any crazy riding this weekend?
Dunno how crazy it'll get with no brakes. I'm feeling like I have to be pretty conservative when I can't stop the damn thing fast. On the other hand, it's a lot of fun at any speed.

I'll go find some not too bad hills and try going up and down them (42/16 gears).

Supposed to be raining tomorrow too and Sunday I am doing valet bike parking for the SFBC at the Tour de California start thingie.

How much does one of those frames run (just frame and fork)?

500 i believe

$550.
In other words, too much.

$550.
In other words, too much.

Release the haters...err, hounds! :(

Release the haters...err, hounds! :(

Hey, Ben's is my LBS.
I love them and think they are a fantastic store.
Search old threads and you will find that I am probably one of their biggest supporters.
But $550 for a 4130 frame is too much.
As is $850 for a bike with Suzue Jr. hubs.

Damn Michael....
That is hot !

How is the job situation ?

$550.
In other words, too much.
Depends how you value workmanship and Made-in-USAness. $550 is *cheap* for a Waterford-built True Temper frame... at least compared to a Gunnar Street Dog ($925) or a Waterford custom ($1299 and up plus $250 and up for a fork).

Damn Michael....
That is hot !

How is the job situation ?

Nothing yet. Looking....

Isn't the Street Dog made with Reynolds 853 and True Temper OX Platinum rear triangle?
Not 4130?

Yes it is. And it weighs maybe 1/2 pound less and costs almost twice as much.
The Milwaukee is made from True Temper Verus tubing (http://www.henryjames.com/verus.html) which appears to be a cut above standard 4130.

Yes it is. And it weighs maybe 1/2 pound less and costs almost twice as much.
The Milwaukee is made from True Temper Verus tubing (http://www.henryjames.com/verus.html) which appears to be a cut above standard 4130.

I also think the True Temper Verus 4130 is better than standard 4130.
I don't mean to rag on your new bike.
I really do like the Milwaukee bikes a lot, and Ben's is top notch, I just feel they're a little on the pricey side.

No problem. I have it now and I'm gonna ride the $hit out of it and enjoy it, no matter what it cost or what kinda tubing it has.

Cool! Did yours come without decals, or did you take them off?
What's that white stuff on the ground, cocaine?
ya know, $550 for frame and fork is NOTHING when you're just going to build it up and park it on mounds and mounds of cocaine. i was considering an iro and orange powdercoat before i saw the milwaukee anyhow, so it all works out, really.

the decals come right off. i just left the seat tube. the ones on the side were a bit much for me.

apologies for the non drive side picture. it was all i had, and i didn't want everyone to get all jealous of my rocket ring.

Izzat a blue chain you have on that thing?

BTW, really looking forward to getting a brake on this thing. I rode it quite a bit this morning, out by Mission Rock, Embarcadero, back through downtown, on to the Mission, back to SOMA.

Several times I was approaching an intersection and ... yellow light... But I was going too fast to stop without brakes and without knowing how to skip or skid... so instead of slowing, I sped up and was spinning like a bastard to get through on the yellow.

I didn't die, (yet) so it must have worked, but usually I think I'd prefer to err on the side of safety and stop.

Oh, I also put a set of Schwalbe Marathon Slicks on it (700x30) replacing the skinny 700x23 Ritchey slicks that came on the bike. I'm too heavy and the SF streets are too crappy to allow me to use 700x23s. The ride was a LOT cushier with the 30s on it.

http://home.comcast.net/~michaelnel/swan_side_800.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~michaelnel/swan_frt_1_800.jpg

the decals come right off. i just left the seat tube. the ones on the side were a bit much for me.
I took 'em all off this morning except for the little "Made in Wisconson" one down by the BB. The headbadge with the beer mug is cool, but it looks a lot cleaner without all those other stickers on it.

Were you over by Cassidy's on friday with that bike? I saw someone out front with one...

Were you over by Cassidy's on friday with that bike? I saw someone out front with one...
Is Cassidy's the Irish Pub on Folsom between 8th & 7th? If so, yeah, I was at the little store there. I live right around the corner.

Izzat a blue chain you have on that thing?
yep, that's a blue chain. i can't imagine riding fixed for the first time on SF hills with no brakes... be careful.

i can't imagine riding fixed for the first time on SF hills with no brakes... be careful.
It sucks, kinda. I'm having tons-o-fun riding the bike, but everytime I get it up to 20-25MPH, yellow light, or a car pulls out or some $hit like that. The brakes should be here early this week, I can't wait to get at least the front one on.

I remember the first time I rode brakeless. I was on my way to get a front brake from Kraynik's and nearly endoed trying to stop at a light as it was turning yellow. You sir, are ballsy.

I remember the first time I rode brakeless. I was on my way to get a front brake from Kraynik's and nearly endoed trying to stop at a light as it was turning yellow. You sir, are ballsy.
Stupid, not ballsy.

Is Cassidy's the Irish Pub on Folsom between 8th & 7th? If so, yeah, I was at the little store there. I live right around the corner.

You got it. I live right down the block, we should ride sometime.

Riding brakeless in the city is all about comfort level and routing. SF is no different from any other place, you just need to find the best routes to get places, or get strong enough for it not to matter.

You got it. I live right down the block, we should ride sometime.
I'm old and slow. Probably wouldn't be much fun to ride with me.


Riding brakeless in the city is all about comfort level and routing. SF is no different from any other place, you just need to find the best routes to get places, or get strong enough for it not to matter.
That's pretty much what I've been doing for years with all my bicycles in the city. ;)

I'm old and slow too. :P

There are a bunch of people on here from south of market, it would be fun to ride in the hood sometime.

Cool, I'd be up for that then, as long as I don't have to be 24 years old, drunk and fast.

well, I dont know about learning fixed with clipless pedals, that could be a disaster. If your going to learn how to skip and skid,etc, I think itd be best to learn with straps. In the process, you learn how to use your weight to lock up the pedal, and I know when I started, I was forcing it, when I didnt need to, ended up pulling muscles in my arms and back cause I was tensing up so bad. You may need to learn this too, but your feet could pop out from the pressure, which would be disastrous. Now I can skip sitting down, with no effort of pushing on the pedals, so its a learning process and at first I think its more smart to have straps and clips.

I've switched it over to clips & straps a couple days ago. Still getting used to them. Did one REALLY stupid thing with them... standing to the left of the bike, raised the left pedal to about 10:00, put left foot in it and pushed down, thinking to swing right leg over bike.

WRONG.

Bike spit me off hard, landed on my left elbow and back and then slammed my head hard into the pavement (no helmet). Saw stars for a while there, and elbow still hurts.

WTF was I thinking?