I'll try and be brief.

The bike: Old Simoncini. Columbus tubing, rusting in spots. Campy hubs (Record) and rims. Campy (Breve??) cranks and rings. Modolo bars. Miche post. All in all a pretty nice bike.

I plan on a single speed, not fixed (yet).

The questions: What do I do first? I have taken almost everything off and started cleaning. Do I worry about painting yet or take it to the LBS and have them check it out? Do I keep the 40 ring and match it to a 16? Is that good for a first timer who is fairly fit and planning to ride mostly flat? I don't have the knowledge or tools to build the rear gear so what should I expect to pay to have them space the 16, shorten the chain and align the chain? I like the look of bullhorns so I plan on flipping the bars and cutting them down and using some cheap levers.

Any answers or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks for the time.