Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - make fun of my bike

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2683815562_2154e480c3.jpg?v=0

this is my first fixed gear

it is a schwinn world..i scraped off the decals so i could go faster.
the frame is also pretty heavy i guess..i dont really know what a light frame feels like.

i love riding it but i was thinking the seat should be higher even though i am pretty comfortable on the bike right now.

what would you change on this bike?

how did i do?

i would take off the u-lock mounting bracket and stick it in your back pocket or your belt. also... i would put the front brake lever on the left. but thats just me.

I always set my brakes up moto style with the front brake on the right and the bell on the left... you do have a bell don't you ?

:D

The set up looks good although I have no idea what you look like on the bike and I would wrap up those bars.

You could lose the lock bracket and just stash it in your backpack / bag.

All in all.. it looks like some nice work and the most important thing is always how much fun you have riding it and not what other people think.

Wrap the bars and carry the lock in your bag. I find u-locks rattled when mounted on the frame.

Wrap the bars and carry the lock in your bag. I find u-locks rattled when mounted on the frame.

agreed. but good job converting!

HAW HAW YOOR BAH-SICKLE IS STOOPID!

Just kidding, it looks alright. Like people said before, wrap up the bars, put the U-lock in your backpack or pocket, and ride on.

but I like the hankde bars the way they are. What kind if grip options do I have. Is it so be to just leave it bare

The big problem with a bare bar is a function problem. If you wear gloves all the time you might be ok but bare bars offer little firm grip when dry and less than none when wet. The fear I would have would be changing hand positions, having my hand slip, smashing my face into the bar and losing teeth. If you feel the look of the bare metal is worth that risk then go for it.

"i scraped off the decals so i could go faster" hahaha. That sticker wind drag is a real biatch.
How old is the chain? If it's the original, you probably want to change it. The tires may also be worn thin, you should check them. Do you know the last time it was overhauled, if not you might want to lube up the headset. If the wheels are the originals, they are probably heavier than a new set you can get today. Heavier wheels makes a bigger difference than a heavy frame since the forces are rotational.

I give it 8 out of 10 barspinz.

chain tension is a little too too lose and the bars are unwrapped. otherwise a fine conversion.

It looks nice. But I would wrap up the bars.

And take off the bike lock.

is your chain purple?

cant tell if you have straps or not, if not get some now.

very nice. do you know what year it is? El Toro Bullhorns would look great on there.

Nicely done! Is that the original paint, and, if so, how is its condition?

cant tell if you have straps or not, if not get some now.

looks like powergrips to me

if you don't wrap those bars or do something for the top tube you will have a huge dent, i promise.

I find u-locks rattled when mounted on the frame.

I HATE HATE HATE HATE the sound of a rattling uLock.

If you like how your bike feels, then that's all that matters. I think it looks pretty sweet. Sounds to me that you're overly concerned with feedback. If you think the seat is "pretty comfortable", why are you thinking of raising it? The thing about fixed conversions is that they are customized by the builder for the builder. Nobody can tell you what "needs to be changed". If you have to modify something, you'll figure it out as you break it in. Be confident in your own project.

Wrap the bars and carry the lock in your bag. I find u-locks rattled when mounted on the frame.
wrap the lock and get a new tablecloth.

those are some mad photoskills--- makes it look like you built a funny bike.

I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a joke, but I see nothing wrong with your chain tension, fwiw.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2683815562_2154e480c3.jpg?v=0

this is my first fixed gear

it is a schwinn world..i scraped off the decals so i could go faster.
the frame is also pretty heavy i guess..i dont really know what a light frame feels like.

i love riding it but i was thinking the seat should be higher even though i am pretty comfortable on the bike right now.

what would you change on this bike?

how did i do?

Saddle + untaped bars + lock mount = lose

new saddle, tires, wrap bars, lose u lock mount.

if you don't like bar wrap, just get some grippy gloves, and it'll be fine, the u-lock actually looks fine to me, and you're SITTING on the saddle, nobody sees it when you're riding, so if it's comfy, then who cares? i really like it as is : ) it could be my eyes, but does the chain need to be tensioned up? Anyway, love the bike for what it is, not what it could be : )

oooh kay, maaaybe i'd wrap the orange on the bike lock with black Elec. tape. . . . but that's just a personal thing

the front brake being their might not be a good place.

the only reason for a front break is extra help in a bad situation. If a car pulled out infront of you it would be easier to have more control and skid better with your hands on the ends of the bull horns. So you should skid and at the same time you pull the front brake.

but having it right their is kinda goofy and pointless you probably do not cruise down a hill with your hands that close to the stem.

I'll disagree with most everyone else and say keep the lock mount if you want/need it. Other than that, wrap the bars and it looks good to me. Oh, and make sure you're stem's minimum insert line isn't showing.

has anyone mentioned that you should wrap the bars and lose the lock mount yet?

Looks clean man :3 bravo!

you should look into some bar tape to save your wrists some strain <3

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2683815562_2154e480c3.jpg?v=0

this is my first fixed gear

it is a schwinn world..i scraped off the decals so i could go faster.
the frame is also pretty heavy i guess..i dont really know what a light frame feels like.

i love riding it but i was thinking the seat should be higher even though i am pretty comfortable on the bike right now.

what would you change on this bike?

how did i do?

I could use this as is as a perfect parody of the hipster part of the forum. But I honestly believe the OP was trolling as a parody to begin with...I hope? Otherwise, stop worrying about what other people think. Bikes are for riding. Ride what suits your riding, and what makes you ride more. That's the most countercultural thing you can do.

not bad, i just finished my first bike too!

I could use this as is as a perfect parody of the hipster part of the forum. But I honestly believe the OP was trolling as a parody to begin with...I hope? Otherwise, stop worrying about what other people think. Bikes are for riding. Ride what suits your riding, and what makes you ride more. That's the most countercultural thing you can do.

The OP is just asking if there is anything he should do to his ride, if he missed anything. The OP has gotten some good recs as to what he could do to make his ride more practical and generally awesome. The dude is not trying to be a hipster, he just wants to show off his new ride, nothing wrong with that.

If the lock doesn't get in your way or makes annoying sounds then keep it there. You'll never leave home without the lock and you don't have to were a backpack to store it in all the time you go for a ride.
If you like the feeling off the handlebars you could wrap them in some cloth handlebar tape (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_408_765) to keep that "stiff" feeling.

tires and wheels are new...the front is a cheap weinmann wheel and the back is a lot nicer one I got from my lbs.
the straps are power grips.
yes my chain is purple.
the paint is in ok condition good enough for me. I rather it look not so nice because i lock it up in NYC often.

call me a hipster but i have considered putting on a purple top tube pad because the top tube has taken some damage to the paint from the handle bars hitting in my apartment. also the bike has fallen over in my small apartment and hit the wall with the tt. figured a tt protector would put my mind at ease a little and give me somewhat of a color scheme.
i feel like i might catch some serious slack for the tt protector but i don't really care if it works for me...still debating if i should get one. (let me know what you guys think)

it does make sence to have the brake in a different position but this ins the only brake lever i had around and thats where it goes. i guess i could get a similar brake lever for the left side or even one that goes at the end of my bull horns and that would make more sense for going down hills, but i am pretty comfortable with it for now and cheap so i am prob just going to leave it...as for wrapping the bars..i might have to consider it. or i was thinking about putting some clear grips by the brake and leaving the bull horn part bare. still thinking on that also though.

as for the year of the frame i am not really sure but i am thinking mid to late 80's
it is a Schwinn world. i read somewhere that this model was one of the early frames made by giant in Taiwan for Schwinn. so i am sure it isn't the best quality or the lightest but it works for me.



thanks for some input

what u guys think of my considered changes?

you took the decals off to make it moar faster but threw a 30 pound lock on it?

jk it's nice. i like my flip chops tilted a little so the ends are at even hight of the stem clamp. i just think it looks better but my opinion usually doesn't matter

you took the decals off to make it moar faster but threw a 30 pound lock on it?

jk it's nice. i like my flip chops tilted a little so the ends are at even hight of the stem clamp. i just think it looks better but my opinion usually doesn't matter

i have the same thoughts about locks...if i had a nicer bike it would be lighter but i would prob want a kryptonite new york chain. but that things ways as much as some bikes. so really whats the point of having a light build with a chain that ways just as much.

ps: usually i just throw the lock in the bag or back pocket but it is convenient to have the mount on the frame just incase...

tires and wheels are new...the front is a cheap weinmann wheel and the back is a lot nicer one I got from my lbs.
the straps are power grips.
yes my chain is purple.
the paint is in ok condition good enough for me. I rather it look not so nice because i lock it up in NYC often.

call me a hipster but i have considered putting on a purple top tube pad because the top tube has taken some damage to the paint from the handle bars hitting in my apartment. also the bike has fallen over in my small apartment and hit the wall with the tt. figured a tt protector would put my mind at ease a little and give me somewhat of a color scheme.
i feel like i might catch some serious slack for the tt protector but i don't really care if it works for me...still debating if i should get one. (let me know what you guys think)

it does make sence to have the brake in a different position but this ins the only brake lever i had around and thats where it goes. i guess i could get a similar brake lever for the left side or even one that goes at the end of my bull horns and that would make more sense for going down hills, but i am pretty comfortable with it for now and cheap so i am prob just going to leave it...as for wrapping the bars..i might have to consider it. or i was thinking about putting some clear grips by the brake and leaving the bull horn part bare. still thinking on that also though.

as for the year of the frame i am not really sure but i am thinking mid to late 80's
it is a Schwinn world. i read somewhere that this model was one of the early frames made by giant in Taiwan for Schwinn. so i am sure it isn't the best quality or the lightest but it works for me.

thanks for some input

what u guys think of my considered changes?

dude. the justifications, second guesses, and this quest for the approval of strangers has got to go. you are really defeating yourself.

dude. the justifications, second guesses, and this quest for the approval of strangers has got to go. you are really defeating yourself.

I guess i was just asking for this kind of response...some members were very helpful though thanks

you shouldn't really care what they think cuz you make your modifications based on what's important to you while you ride. if you your lock doesn't rattle like mine does, leave it mounted. i learned quickly that that was not the place for it cuz the rattling drove me crazy. you ride and you learn. if you need a TT, jeezus put it on there. nobody can tell you what you like, which is what it looks like you're looking for people to advise you on.