Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Help upgrading my GT Gutterball (GTB) 09.

First off, I just picked up the new GTB a few days ago from a nice dude on Craigslist for $300.

My last fixed gear was a IRO Jamie Roy w/ Nitto stem, handlebar, Aerospoke, and B43 etc.

Now I'm planning to upgrade this new bike and I need some advice !!

- B43 rear either white or black.
- All white tires front and back.
- chrome drop down Specialized handlebar and stem
- specialized toupe 130 saddle.

My question is, what components would you change on this bike?

http://i34.tinypic.com/fbaf8.jpg



(the two white marks on the frame are from the flash. )

http://i35.tinypic.com/2cpzs4m.jpg

Just changed the handlebar and stem to new Specialized drop down handlebar and stem.

So what do you need help with? Figuring out how to spend more money on parts?

Commuter bike? Leave it as is.

The height of your saddle indicates that it's too big for you. Spending a bunch of money on a bike that doesn't fit is usually a less than great idea.

i understand but i couldn't pass the deal. its a 53mm i believe and i'm 5'7. yeah i just wanna upgrade the parts a bit and make it look a bit more better. i always upgrade, i don't like stock components on anything.

i understand but i couldn't pass the deal. its a 53mm i believe and i'm 5'7. yeah i just wanna upgrade the parts a bit and make it look a bit more better. i always upgrade, i don't like stock components on anything.

So I still don't get it... what are you asking? It seems like you already have a good plan of what you're going to get... do you need the official Bikeforums seal of approval?

yes i would like to seal the deal and get some ideas.

You have posted three times on this thread, and I still have no idea what you are asking.

Are all those parts you listed real things? yes
Are they bike parts? yes
Could you put them on your GTB? yes


Anything else?

My question is, what components would you change on this bike?

My question is, what components would you change on this bike?
I would leave it as it is. It's a great bike already

Commuter bike? Leave it as is.


Just in case you missed it the first time.

But dudes, it doesn't look baller enough.

Throw some chrome dubs on that ****.
Wooord.

No way, man. Chrome dubz are only for bikes that are too small.

First step to answering that question is what is on it right now.

First off, I just picked up the new GTB a few days ago from a nice dude on Craigslist for $300.

Why don't you ride it for a couple weeks and decide what you do and don't like about it first. Pissing away a handful of cash on a bike (or anything for that matter) to upgrade it without really knowing what you want is rather ********. That's just my opinion of course.

I'd focus on the things that will make it ride better, not necessarily impress my bros at the house or the snatch at parties.

White tires? Are you serious? White frakin tires?

PS: This isn't a GTB. Its a Gutterball. The GTB was the Pulse with different tubing and lower end , but still quite decent, components.

I think he's looking for someone to hold his hand.

aerospokes. three of them.

But dudes, it doesn't look baller enough.

Throw some chrome dubs on that ****.
Wooord.

Yo I heard you like to bike so I put a bike on yo bike so you bike while you bike.

the most important thing to put on it is some miles.

Yo I heard you like to bike so I put a bike on yo bike so you bike while you bike.

http://www.erictabone.com/2009/02/07/Bh0CcnyQKic5cgjrnJZYpGepo1_400.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RKBCD.gif

http://i35.tinypic.com/2cpzs4m.jpg

Just changed the handlebar and stem to new Specialized drop down handlebar and stem.

You've got an extremely practical set up for a commuter.

bone machine's gif is pretty funny.

and +1 on vixtor's comment, track drops for commute? while track drops may be the secks, they aren't too comfortable. to each his own, i guess.

youre downgrading.

Ehhhh... I think I just came across your craigslist post looking to trade this for a smaller bike.

Your post says you're 5'7" and are looking for a 50 cm. It almost sounds to me like you'd be going one size too small there. But I have no real way of guessing. You can't just base it on your height. Have you taken any other measurements? At the very least, have you checked your inseam?

Protip: go to the competitive cyclist website and check out their fit calculator. You can take most measurements yourself (or get someone to help out - roommate, girlfriend, whatever) and the results will give you a BASIC IDEA of what size range you can try. Note the emphasis on BASIC IDEA. Always take results based on your own non-professional measurements with a grain of salt. Just use it for reference.

Anyways this whole thing was to make the following point: Maybe you should hold off on making any further "upgrades" until you sort out your sizing woes.

Track drops on a "commuter"? :lol:

when i stand between the crossbar, the frame touches me between my balls. lol

Track drops on a "commuter"? :lol:

i cant travel around the city in ny with a track drops ? i dont understand.

It's just not as pragmatic as a riser, or other handlebars. If they were, why wouldn't cruisers have track drops on them?

i dont understand.

Neither do I.

when i stand between the crossbar, the frame touches me between my balls. lol
The fact that it touches your taint doesn't necessarily mean much.

Let me ask two questions: Can you still put your feet comfortably on the ground while straddling the top tube, or do you have to lean the bike to the side?

And... can you put your feet to the ground while sitting on your saddle?

The fact that it touches your taint doesn't necessarily mean much.

Let me ask two questions: Can you still put your feet comfortably on the ground while straddling the top tube, or do you have to lean the bike to the side?

And... can you put your feet to the ground while sitting on your saddle?

i don't need to lean, i can stand comfortably on both feel on the ground.

Then standover isn't an issue. but there's so much more at play, that trying to figure out if the bike is too large for you or not over a forum post will be a pain in the ass (I know this, because I did the exact same thing some time ago)... but we live and learn.

Here's a few basic things you can check for yourself, to keep gauging whether your bike is too big or not. If, after trying some of these adjustments, the bike still feels awkward, then yes... you probably need another frame (please see disclaimer at bottom of post).


Saddle height: you SHOULD NOT be able to touch the ground with your feet while on the saddle. Saddle height is not about being able to touch the ground. It's about proper leg extension. The saddle should be high enough for your leg to be ALMOST straight (10 to 20 degree bend, at most) at the bottom of the stroke.
Saddle position (fore/aft): This has nothing to do with feeling stretched out or not. You also set your fore/aft position to optimize your pedaling. With your cranks completely horizontal, the kneecap of your FRONT leg should be directly above the pedal spindle.
Top tube length + stem length: while being a little stretched out is not bad (allows you to get horizontal and look SO ****ING AERO BRO!), you shouldn't feel uncomfortably stretched out and like you have to reach out too far to grab your bars. You can't adjust your top tube length... but you CAN get stems of different length and rise. A quick way to tell if maybe you need a shorter stem is to sit on your bike and look down at the alignment between the center of your stem clamp x bar and your front wheel's axle. While in proper riding position, as you look down towards your wheel's axle, they should all line up. If, when looking down, the stem clamp and bar look like they're ahead of your axle, then you can fix this with a shorter stem. Stem rise angles also help here. Positive rise angles will shorten your cockpit length, so sometimes flipping a stem so that it points upwards can help tighten up a little bit.


Right off the top of my head, these are some of the main things that you can try by yourself. I'm far... VERY FAR... from being an expert in bike fit. I myself have learned from my mistakes over time and have come to figure out what works and what doesn't work for ME... it always varies per person.

I still insist that, at the very least, you take the measurements suggested in the competitive cyclist fit calculator site. Seriously, it won't take you a long time, and you'll be able to get a somewhat decent ballpark of what sizes you could and should ride.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

Once again, the only way to really get a completely proper fit, is to get someone to do it professionally for you, and customize your bike according to that... but honestly, if you're just getting a commuter, "around the block" bike, it's overkill. Just keep reading around, measure yourself, make some adjustments, then make some decisions.

In the meantime, DO NOT PIMP YOUR BIKE ANY FURTHER!

Nate, you've come a long way since the 'Pink Oury Days'. :D

not such a long way. my bars are still hot pink. Just tape now, instead of ouryz.

naw, nate's fitting thread was when everything was green :D

i still haven't rode the bike yet but i'm tomorrow. pictures will be up.

is it a bad idea to professionally paint my gt gutterball the Bianchi color?

Why would it bad? Celeste green is a beautiful color, I would'nt mind powdercoating my kilo that color... except some Bianchi fanboys might get alittle upset.

As naterod says, get your fit numbers. Just from what I see your stem is too long and your saddle is too far forward.

Your saddle most likely needs to go higher for correct fit. I only base this on people classically having their saddle too low on road bikes and WAY too high on mountain bikes. Saddle height is not a fashion, it should be "right"

I've had people say my saddle is too low. My fit numbers, my short legs and long torso make my bike look "setup wrong". I can do metric centuries with my fit on drops.

Get your numbers. Set the bike up. Save the planet.

Save the trees, save the bees, save those whales, save those snails.

What about the squirrels?

i still haven't rode the bike yet but i'm tomorrow. pictures will be up.

http://pix.motivatedphotos.com/2008/6/28/633502095110658970-Facepalm.jpg

Seriously? We're upgrading a bike you haven't even ridden?

oh my ****ing christ. never mind.