Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New SS bike

I've haven't posted for a little bit because my computer is broken and I've been using my iPhone for internet.

Well I got my new bike and I just couldn't wait to talk about it! I had my wife set up a user account on her computer and added all the software I needed for my camera.

I have been wanting a new bike to cruise around on. It is such a pain to always have to put on my riding shoes and everything else that goes with my road bike. Now I can tool around with my wife in regular shoes.

So my wife got me this for my birthday:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3268836992_4ef8074087_o.jpg

I am really liking it! I set it up with a 20 tooth freewheel instead of the 16 tooth fixie cog that it came with. I also added the front brake.

Here is a shot of me riding it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3268032375_f9d61441be_o.jpg

The weather here has been pretty rainy for our neck of the woods, but I have put about 15 miles on it and am enjoying it immensely.

Fixed or freehub? If a freehub, you might want to add a rear brake as well as a front since you can't manage the speed with the pedals if you can coast.

Nice bike, either way, though. :D

Fixed or freehub? If a freehub, you might want to add a rear brake as well as a front since you can't manage the speed with the pedals if you can coast.

Nice bike, either way, though. :D

It is a freewheel for now. I have a rear brake and the cables, but the shop was sold out of the right brake lever for the rear brake lever. I know safety says I should put the rear brake on, but I don't like the idea of more cables.

It is a freewheel for now. I have a rear brake and the cables, but the shop was sold out of the right brake lever for the rear brake lever. I know safety says I should put the rear brake on, but I don't like the idea of more cables.


Given the speed and specifics of your potential bike crash, you may be in the hospital with more tubes than you know what to do with.

Just kidding. Nice ride!

That green is awesome! Nice to have another Clyde on the ss/fg crew.

That green is awesome! Nice to have another Clyde on the ss/fg crew.

Thanks! I originally order the black, but they oversold it and offered me the green one with a $25 discount. I am REALLY glad it happened that way. I really like the green.

I'll have to decide on a colour for next winter when I get my fixed gear powdercoated. I'm pretty heavily leaning towards an old school racing blue. (Like a robin's egg.)

Very nice - the guys in the fixed gear/single speed forum seem to really like that bike. I've been mulling over getting one myself for quite a while now, and am on the verge of pulling the trigger. I'm actually looking at the Dawson SST, though.

I just can't get over this urge to build my own SS/FG... in the long run, it will be cheaper. In the short run, I'll keep looking at the BD offerings...

Very nice - the guys in the fixed gear/single speed forum seem to really like that bike. I've been mulling over getting one myself for quite a while now, and am on the verge of pulling the trigger. I'm actually looking at the Dawson SST, though.

I just can't get over this urge to build my own SS/FG... in the long run, it will be cheaper. In the short run, I'll keep looking at the BD offerings...

I decided to get it based on what I read in the SS/FG forum, that and a friend of mine who is a big fixie guy said he has seen people 200+ lbs. bunny hop off of stairs with no ill effects to the bike. I don't think I'll be doing any bunny hopping though.

Very nice - the guys in the fixed gear/single speed forum seem to really like that bike. I've been mulling over getting one myself for quite a while now, and am on the verge of pulling the trigger. I'm actually looking at the Dawson SST, though.

I just can't get over this urge to build my own SS/FG... in the long run, it will be cheaper. In the short run, I'll keep looking at the BD offerings...

I just got a Dawes SST from bikes direct and so far im really loving it... its my first SS and have put about 50 miles on the bike since I bought it last month, and im very satisfied with the quality and stability even with my 240lbs testing every part.

Looks like it came with some hardcore wheels. I would like to get a SS to ride around with my wife. How do you like the fit, was the assembly pretty easy? The handlebars look a little narrow, is that typical for a fixie?

Looks like it came with some hardcore wheels. I would like to get a SS to ride around with my wife. How do you like the fit, was the assembly pretty easy? The handlebars look a little narrow, is that typical for a fixie?

The wheels are pretty sturdy feeling. I feel really comfortable on it. I thought I might be a little cramped, but it doesn't feel like it at all.

The assembly was pretty easy especially if you kept it as a fixie. I added the freewheel which required more links added to the chain. It doesn't come with brakes, but it is drilled for it. The wheels also needed to be trued. It comes almost totally assembled. I had to screw in the pedals, attach the front wheel and attach the stem and handlebars.

The handlebars are very narrow. I think that is common with track bars. A lot of people swap them out.

You should check out this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=305822). It has a ton of info and photos.

Nice ride!

The assembly was pretty easy especially if you kept it as a fixie. I added the freewheel which required more links added to the chain. It doesn't come with brakes, but it is drilled for it. The wheels also needed to be trued. It comes almost totally assembled. I had to screw in the pedals, attach the front wheel and attach the stem and handlebars.

Things to double check with any "comes mostly assembled" bike purchased thru online retailers:

- Crank bolts
- Chainring bolts
- Headset adjustment
- Tension and true the wheels

Don't just have them trued. Have them properly tensioned by your LBS wheelsmith. Machine built wheels are rarely perfect coming off the line. Just truing them up doesn't fix any uneven spoke tensions that exist. Riding a couple hundred miles will put the wheel slightly out of true again, and just truing it up can further exacerbate the issue.
A properly tensioned wheel may still need a minor re-truing after 200-300 miles, but after that initial "settling in" period and truing, they should stay true for thousands of miles.

Here are a couple more photos. My sister-in-law gave me the blue handlebar tape for my birthday.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3277523319_e9da0e858d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3278344274_0eb8f3494f.jpg

bravo! I love ss and fixie bikes, they make great cycles to train on if you ask me.

Freehub with no rear brake? You're braver than I am.