Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - What to do...

I just made a bit more money than expected this month and I was thinking about upgrading. I currently ride a pretty much stock bianchi pista. The only things I have really been able to afford are a new saddle, mks pedals with cages and straps, michelin krylion carbon tire, and I did get a pair of nitto rb 021 bullhorns which I actually found quite uncomfortable, so I switched back to the stock drops fairly quickly.

Now I'm a pretty firm believer in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality but if there is anything you guys would recommend for an overall better and more enjoyable ride I'd love some input. Perhaps I'll just have to go find Scrod, I just noticed I live in the same town...

My current setup:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/5026212901_3729d6c0e6_b.jpg

Save up for a nice road bike.

New tape always makes me feel like a bike is brand new again.

a matching lever on the other side would make the ride a lot nicer.... and look better imo.

New, matching tire.

Dude, you're in Beverly?

Save up for a nice road bike.

Why?

Dude, you're in Beverly?

I realized we were in the same town when I saw you had a pic from lynch park.

Maybe if I can stand when I get out of work I'll find your shop. Though I'm pretty sure I've been there before.

A while back a guy came in asking about 14t freewheels. Said he rode a Pista. Was that you?

I'm barely at Beverly Cycles anymore. Business pretty much died for the season and I've had way too much going on with Bikeage lately.

The ride to Singing Beach is a good one. The lady and I have done it a bunch of times. The road conditions on Rt 127 absolutely suck in a lot of places though. Have you ever done the ride to Gloucester?

yep that was me. I was looking for the 15 tooth ac freewheel.
I know those roads are terrible. I literally ripped my rear tire that's why i got the the michelin. Now you can openly make fun of me for riding a pista, and I'll still give you some business.

Ha! Do you live somewhere on Lovett?

this just became a missing connections thread

sweet pista!! how much do you have to spend? the first thing i couldnt wait to upgrade/replace was the crankset, have you upgraded the cog and lockring yet?

Why?

He already said if it aint broke dont fix it. Bike looks like it needs nothing but a matching hood lever and new tape. While saving up for another bike you will always have the cash to replace small parts that wear out. Hell another fixed gear, like an aluminum frame/carbon fork would be nice way to get a taste of something different. Thats why I used a road bike, because it is different.

Not everyone wants gears.

+1 on new tape. And if you don't want to run a for real rear brake, get a tandem stoker dummy lever to match the one on the left. Looks like where you're gripping the bars at the top corners, you might like riding on the hoods of the brake levers, too.

Either that or new wheels. Arospok, FTW.

He already said if it aint broke dont fix it. Bike looks like it needs nothing but a matching hood lever and new tape. While saving up for another bike you will always have the cash to replace small parts that wear out. Hell another fixed gear, like an aluminum frame/carbon fork would be nice way to get a taste of something different. Thats why I used a road bike, because it is different.

I'm not interested in gears or aluminum/carbon. on these roads something that light will shake your teeth out of your jaw. Cranks are what I'm most interested in I can't help but feel like I'm missing out on a smoother ride. tape would be nice I'm not worried about how clean my bike looks I just want a smooth fast ride. And I have been thinking about a dummy lever.

http://media.omfgif.com/gif/223501Booyah.gif

are you working today scrod? I'll even swing in later if you are.

friendships forming! What a magical moment
http://clanwebb.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/disney_castle_night.jpg

Extra money? Have you thought of investments rather than blowing it?

my money. my business.

Not working today. Like I said earlier, nothing at all going on at the shop these days. I get paid based on the repairs I do so if no bikes are coming in, I concentrate on other stuff. I just got back from a ride around Salem and have to take care of some Bikeage biz.

For about the same as a crankset upgrade you could get some clipless pedals and matching shoes (http://www.missionworkshop.com/footwear.php), which would make for a more noticeable improvement in your ride quality.

Also, you could just invest in a nice piece of winter clothing, maybe a new shell or some arm/leg warmers.

There's really nothing wrong with the stock Touros. I've mashed the hell out of a set for well over a year without any issues. I'd upgrade other stuff first.

getting back to the original question in the post I second the dummy lever suggestion, new tape, and then maybe a set of 28c Conti GP4000's. New awesome tires will get you what your looking for, a smooth ride.

Also I don't know how much change ya got but these look super comfy.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=31102

There's really nothing wrong with the stock Touros. I've mashed the hell out of a set for well over a year without any issues. I'd upgrade other stuff first.

Like other things that don't need to be replaced?

Don't you have a sick quarter-century to train for?

Also get a carbon fork.

new wheels ftw

^ this.

Scrod, your average ride is 10 miles round trip.

OP- Not knowing how much your months bonus is, invest in a nice set of tires like gp4000's that were recommended. Possibly a nicer saddle. Much more noticeable gains in performance compared to a crankset.

Scrod, your average ride is 10 miles round trip.

I've done three centuries. How many have you done?

Ive done one. You've got me beat!

a set of clipless pedals and real bike shoes will make the most difference in your riding, based on your set-up, hands down.

Ive done one. You've got me beat!

Not trying to "beat" you but come on, dude. You have no idea how much I ride.

I've seen the way you get treated over at tarckbike. Are you going for that here too?

Alright well it sounds like I'm quite set until something breaks (aside from everyone not liking the dirty tape that is. haha). Guess I'll just go treat myself to a nice beer instead.
Lothrop not Lovett and I just got done working the halloween craziness in downtown salem, it was a ****ing nightmare.

Also scrod I'm pretty handy with a screen ( I don't know if you print your own shirts. )

Crap...I meant Lothrop. I always do that. I think I saw your bike on the back of a car somewhere down there a while ago. Ever go to the Lucky Dog?

I've done three centuries. How many have you done?

Yeah well I've done like five!

That is probably the most on this forum there is no way anyone has done more than that!!

I don't remember leaving the lucky dog saturday but i was certainly there. it's the only bar in bev I like.

Me too. My lady and I were there until closing Saturday night too, after riding back from Salem. We live right around the corner from there on Central.

Yeah well I've done like five!

That is probably the most on this forum there is no way anyone has done more than that!!

Dude, know when to quit. gt35butt already declared that none of us actually ride in another thread.

Dude, know when to quit. gt35butt already declared that none of us actually ride in another thread.

I was always under the impression this is how bike forums operated:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/5140908812_13ac741d3f_z.jpg

hahahaha thats great

needs a keyboard mount for the aeros

first off, screw whoever said invest, green paper is only as fun as the stuff you can get with it. personally when my bikes need no upgrades(which is rare) and i have no bills(which is even more rare) then i always enjoy a new bag. i'm what some call a bag *****. but if that's not your bit then new tires always feel fantastic. between new tires and tape it'll feel brand new.

When you invest your intentions are to let that money grow into more green paper, which would allow you to purchase more fun stuff.

You a bag w-hore? as in hand bag? or a bag of bud?

first off, screw whoever said invest, green paper is only as fun as the stuff you can get with it. personally when my bikes need no upgrades(which is rare) and i have no bills(which is even more rare) then i always enjoy a new bag. i'm what some call a bag *****. but if that's not your bit then new tires always feel fantastic. between new tires and tape it'll feel brand new.
You are totally right, planning for the future is totally idiotic. Instead, we should all buy more trivial bags.

I was always under the impression this is how bike forums operated:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/5140908812_13ac741d3f_z.jpg

pretty much. i have to ask for special accommodations for all my classes as well.

psh, see? vixtor agrees. don't bother with saving and investing and all that crap, just don't wear a helmet or use brakes and you'll probably never have to see your broke future arrive. and as in messenger bags. i don't "smoke" and carry way too much crap for a purse.

Bike bag lobbying itt