Kindaslow

Well, about 40 years ago I had SS bikes. I decided this winter to use a Langster as a base and creat a SS to run around town. Now, I am actually taking it out for rides and loving it. Being more of a MTBer, I set it up with MTB bars and the widest tires I thought would fit for sure (only 28s and I now know I could go a bit wider).

I landed in this area of the forum since I had been around with geared bikes. I am trying to figure out if there is a bit of Italian love and not so much for the Japanese stuff. Also, it seems pretty weighted toward drop bars around here. All good with me, I am just curious if the SS/Fixie world has a bunch of unwritten rules I am braking, which I am ok with, given it is my bike

franswa

Rules? What rules? Seems to me you're doing just fine by enjoying your bike, which is what matters most. Personally, I use drop bars for the offering of multiple hand positions for longer rides. Though, truth be told, I also love the way they look.

You'll find that there's plenty of love for both the Italian and Japanese bikes/components.

hairnet

Yeah, don't know what you're talking about with rules. I love to ride my SS MTB for short errands and trips to get coffee. I would ride it further if I had a higher gear ratio on it.

Kindaslow

Yeah, headed out for another ride while the wife is rock climbing. It is surprising to me the impact of removing those gears has on the fun factor. However, I do not see taking the gears off my MTB just yet...

hairnet

Give it a shot some day.

Kindaslow

It just seems like there are some unwritten rules, given a bunch of folks post negatives about certain parts or sets of parts if the frame is Italian. And, there appear to be issues around colors. Either way, again, I do not care what others do with their bikes and I am happy with mine. Just curious.

Kindaslow

Maybe.....

hairnet

Some people can be very judgmental

Kindaslow

They are fun to watch, though..... From a distance, with popcorn...

Now, time to load up the bike!!!

IAmSam

You are extrapolating one thread where the OP asked for build help as he made a big deal about his Italian frame and a few resulting posts suggesting he continue the theme by using Italian parts...to there being unwritten rules and worrying if you are breaking them?

Wow

Kindaslow

No worries here. And, definitely not one thread. Damn it is winding here, as I contemplate my ride. Luckily, just 10 miles.

Kindaslow

Some pics from Eastern Washington (Central if you live in WA). Beautiful day, beautiful backdrop, and even a pick of the new shoes (Spesh 2FOs and they are great if you are looking for platform shoes).

SquidPuppet

Yes, there are rules.

Three, count them, three NDS photos = three failures.

Obey the rules. Drive side pics only.

Kindaslow

I will do better next time, maybe, given I am getting forgetful.

jlafitte 

There are rules, and good luck to those obsessed with building up their museum pieces. I mean that, because "what price art" is a value that should be held by someone, somewhere.

But for the rest of us, life is too short. I have a frame on order from Colossi, the finest Italian builder in China. Gonna have mostly Japanese components because that's what generally resembles vintage, that is actually available for purchase. Compromise and be happy -- know what I mean?

During yesterday's ride I met an older guy, getting ready to head out on his vintage Trek 760. He unloaded it from his car trunk, not bothering with a rack. I have a 360 from about the same year, so the bike caught my eye. Also caught my eye because it had no bar tape, lever hoods mostly destroyed, scratched to hell frame, duct tape holding the saddle together, etc etc. But the stock Campy groupset was working perfectly well enough, it was a fine day to ride, and the dude's stoke was infectious. We talked for a minute about vintage and he listed some of his collection. 2 Paramounts, a Raleigh track, DeRosa, Mercx, etc. Stuff he acquired over a lifetime of hard riding, stuff which over time comes to reflect the true meaning of wabi/sabi, or "beausage" as Mr. Peterson calls it. Ready to ride, the dude shut his car trunk and clipped in. With a hearty laugh he took off into the headwind, tearing up the ramp onto the trail.

Maybe tomorrow I'll ride my 360.

Moral of the story: money doesn't buy authenticity, rules notwithstanding.

prooftheory

Rules: Wrap your bars or get grips. Plug your bar ends. If fixed get foot retention. If ss have both front and back brakes. Don't ask for opinions on color. Don't squat while wearing spurs. Don't spit in the wind.

Kindaslow

Grips, no gripes. Two brakes, I am not light. Red and black, duh. Not flexible enough to worry. It was a tailwind, and great distance mind you....

FakeFuji

I ride a fixed with 32s and mountain bike bars, and if you think there is a bike more fun to commute 17 miles on, you are crazy.

Kindaslow

I have now had two people ask me why the hell are you wearing that helmet to ride a SS. Some folks have a lot of rules that some of us do not know about, and would not care if we did know. Prize to anyone who knows why I wear it to ride my SS.

prooftheory

Is it because you like your brain?

Kindaslow

I do, but the reason why this helmet is really simple.

Pixieshakes

I see nothing wrong here. At all. Bloody nice ride man. Am partial to the thicker bottom tube look too. Same as my own no name frame setup.

Kindaslow

Yeah, I am loving this bike. I bought it just to run errands and now I am planning more rides. With a partially fused neck, I just do not enjoy road bars. It still surprises me how much fun it is.

hairnet

Just don't filter through the stopped cars with 800mm bars, you might hit a mirror with your fist. Don't ask how I know.

Kindaslow

Do you think it will make any difference that they are 780s...... Didn't think so....Hopefully it was a folding mirror.