Thank you all so much for your help these past few weeks. I have learned a lot more than I expected, and I am excited to get to know the ins and outs of maintenance, repair, and parts upgrades.

For those interested, here's the bike:

https://offerupnow.com/item/detail/1...ixed-gear-bike

Rode around town for a while today, already got about 50 low speed skid stops under my belt. I can tell I don't have the muscles for a high speed stop yet, but the technique is coming along. SO MUCH FUN!

I only payed $200, which will make it the PERFECT commuter/first FG/campus cruiser/lock up/beater. I want to find some videos for how to disassemble bottom bracket, and get both the wheels off to look at the bearings and just do a really deep cleaning and lube. I am so excited to get a new saddle, maybe new bars and/or tape, and really make it my own. I think I'm officially hooked on FG. Looks like you guys haven't gotten rid of this newbie yet, as I'll be looking for a lot of help with parts upgrades.

Nice, enjoy it. To do the work you mentioned, you'll need a few tools, namely a crank puller and bottom bracket tool (of which there are several kinds, and the one you need will depend on the bottom bracket in the frame), and maybe cone wrenches if your hubs have loose ball bearings rather than cartridge type.

I don't want to get too into the mechanics portion, unless people are willing. Basically, the bike makes a less than desirable noise once I get it moving. It might be chain (tension), might be dirty bike noise, or it might be bottom bracket. Is it overkill to just take things apart and clean them, then reassemble? Do most bottom brackets go back in pretty easily once they are taken out?

I don't think it's overkill. Removing and reinstalling a bottom bracket is an easy job as long as it's not seized in the frame.

The bottom bracket is probably a sealed cartridge, so there is no need to remove it. I would just make sure the crank arms are tight. If the wheel hubs are loose bearing, then you will need to get some cone wrenches to clean, repack with grease and adjust the bearings. For sure you should clean and relube the chain.

Awesome! It's going to be Christmas before we know it, so I gotta compile the list of tools for people to spoil me with. I think I'll get an inexpensive mechanic stand, too. The one thing I need to change immediately are the pedals/straps. It has some wellgo variety with metal cages, but I can't stand the cages. The pedals seem fine for now. I'm thinking I might like some hipster FGFS straps like the hold fast ones, but I'm soooo open to suggestions. I don't want to skid stop all the time and burn through tires, but it has proved to be addicting, and I think I'll use it here and there when I can. I will be mostly commuting, maybe even doing some 20 mile leisure rides here and there.

It might be a good idea to get the basic tools - chain tool,lockring tool, chainwhip , a set of allenkeys and definitely a 15mm wrench.

It came with a brake, you can use it.

Not if you want to be a cool hipster.

Yeah, I'll definitely use the brake. But I will also definitely skid sometimes for schlitz and giggles. Just because hipsters do something, doesn't make everyone that does it a hipster

But seriously... what do people like for foot retention? Do the velcro straps have a downside? I imagine they are easy and comfortable compared to cages.

SPD, yo.

I want to say skidding is easier with the straps cause I can pull up a bit more mid-foot rather than from the toe, but I can't skid that well..

I really would like to know how you learned to skid so quickly form the sounds of it?! It took me months and now I can barely do it .. and I thought my legs were strong squatting immense weight in the gym.. yet I can barely skid

I've never done videos before, but I'm thinking I might chronicle my fixed gear journey on YouTube. So many experts out there post videos on how to track stand, skid, etc... but they've forgotten what it's like to be a beginner. "Beginner's mind" is everything when trying to teach a novice audience a new skill. I'm no expert, but maybe that's the ticket.

I don't like the velcro straps, but that's mostly because I think they look stupid. If you don't like the steel clips, maybe nylon clips with double straps would be more comfy.

Example: All-City Nylon Double Toe Clip > Components > Pedals > Toe Clips & Straps | Jenson USA

You are my pedal brother. Personally, I love the sound it makes as I engage my Shimano M520 SPD pedal. That is really satisfying. The fact that the foot retention is awesome is just a bonus. At some point, I would like to try SPD-SL.

That's a great idea. Coming from mountain biking most of my life it's been engrained to have most of your weight over the rear wheel for so many maneuvers so it's really counter-intuitive for me to skid so beginner tips are in some cases very beneficial.

I think what I need is a new saddle. Brooks B17 is so sexy. Are they as Godly people suggest? I'm so paranoid about it being stolen off my bike at campus. My main problem is, if I don't get this one, I have no idea where to start.

There are ways to prevent saddle theft. I rock this on my beater/lock-up bike:

I've also heard of folks packing a ball bearing inside the seatpost binder and saddle clamp bolts with wax or solder to make them impossible to pull off instantaneously.

Plenty of people HATE Brooks saddles. Saddles are a very personal thing. What you love, the next guy/gal will hate, and vice versa. Do not buy a saddle based on a recommendation.

What if the thief also has a chain tool ?

Bolt cutters go through a chain like butter.

If past history is any indication then saddle theft isn't a problem on a Bianchi Pista.

https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...seat-stay.html

Then he can have it.

I like that answer. You do your best, but if they want it bad enough, they will get it.