Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - After a 30 year hiatus, glad to be back to ss/fixed.

My first single-speed was my 70's Schwinn Sting-Ray. Fast forward 30+ years and I just picked up a '97 Kona A'ha, 18t/16t ss/fixed flip-flopper. What a blast it is to rid myself of the 21 choices on my old bike(s)! I'm loving it, simplicity is beautiful.

And you can impress all the college hipster girls with sweet skidzzz if you ride it fixed.

You should find another Schwinn Stingray. Shifter knob, front spring fork, banana seat and all.

You should find another Schwinn Stingray. Shifter knob, front spring fork, banana seat and all.

Saw this on craigslist today...how funny. I kind of want it

http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab24/tiffany_montano/CIMG2724.jpg

This is the ultimate:

http://www.zingmagazine.com/zing2/liz/58.jpg

http://iwreckshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RED-YELLOW-STING-RAY.jpg

This is what mine looked like.

I may be out of line as a newb here, but I think it safe to say that it's poor form to post about a new bike without attaching a picture of said bike. ;)

http://gallery.me.com/ryansdesigns/100346/Kona1/web.jpg?ver=12990767970001

There it is, before the repaint/powder coat. When I'm done with it, the only thing that will be original is the frame.

You painted over Old Glory? :twitchy:

You painted over Old Glory? :twitchy:

Haven't painted it yet, but that's too gaudy for my tastes.

Haven't painted it yet, but that's too gaudy for my tastes.

Looks brand new, I wouldn't do it. Resell it to someone that will appreciate it.

As I rode it yesterday, someone called me Captain America. I've had the bike about 2 weeks and already getting called out on the paint job. It's getting blasted.

do you really care that much what other people say? People are a$$holes, ignore them.

No, I don't care, just found it funny. Do you guys really like this paint job or are you just giving me a hard time.

I was just kidding

I for one love the paintjob, but also completely understand why someone would want to get rid of it.

No, I don't care, just found it funny. Do you guys really like this paint job or are you just giving me a hard time.

I just think it would be a shame to get rid of such a paint job in the condition it is in. I personally am not a particular fan of it, but I'm sure there are people out there.

I just think it would be a shame to get rid of such a paint job in the condition it is in. I personally am not a particular fan of it, but I'm sure there are people out there.

agreed. from a utilitarian standpoint, i would say that more people would benefit from the original paintjob than from your new powdercoated creation.

A'ha hahahahaha, so nobody likes it but think I shouldn't paint over it. Yeah, this is my fun bike and will likely become my main ride now that I have decided to be a less aggressive rider. I'll admit that the paint job is unique and well done, but that doesn't make me find it any more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. If there was a local painter that could give me a two-tone paint job and let me mask it between coats, I would be all over it and make something even more strikingly beautiful. But, alas, there is nobody in town or anybody I can afford to go that route...so I am stuck with getting it powder coated. Trust me, I am dragging my feet with the powder coating. I have emailed so many local painters and they are either too busy with motorcycle paint jobs or they had to close their paint/body shops. We had three exceptionally good restoration/paint shops close when the recession began a few years ago. But as I've said, this is my fun bike. My max budget for repaint is $300, and although I would love to go a traditional route and do the masking/pinstriping myself (graphic designer by day), it's hard to beat $75 for a blast & coat out the door. I was thinking pumpkin on the frame, mustard on the forks & bar...and then tossing some Fat Franks on, either creme or brown.

Ok, the bikes mentioned as of 30 minutes ago:

http://gallery.me.com/ryansdesigns/100372/Trek/web.jpg?ver=13004115520001
Early 90's Trek 830 Antelope

http://gallery.me.com/ryansdesigns/100372/Takara/web.jpg?ver=13004115500001
Early 80's Takara Highlander

http://gallery.me.com/ryansdesigns/100372/Kona/web.jpg?ver=13004115480001
1997 Kona A'ha

...ordered brown Fat Franks for the Kona, should be here tomorrow. I'm going to paint it black and go for a board track/rat rod vibe.

kinda love the red/white/blue. Don't spray it!

kinda love the red/white/blue. Don't spray it!
Oh it's gone for sure, too gaudy for me.

personally that Kona looks sick to me. I understand though. The frame is nice.

America never cuts, runs or recoats.