It isn't needed but wouldn't hurt IMO

Bingo. I'll snag one with my next order. My LBS doesn't have the Park chain whip in stock (had to rotafix my 16t off and my 17t on today) and Scrod has as nice a price as any. Been eyein' a black cycling cap to go with my gray one anyhow. Those suckers get salty quick.
https://www.retro-gression.com/product/halo-fix-t-cover

And it looks cool.

Yeah why not. I like the look. My stickerless frame recently got a Retrogression decal on the top tube
https://www.retro-gression.com/produc...-die-cut-decal
and a another on the seatpost tube.
https://www.retro-gression.com/produc...n-logo-sticker
Totally classed up my ride. I don't like a lot of stickers but I dig that shop/site and dig the color scheme. win/win.

I vote no.

Add Kilo TT decals FTW.

get those really massive leader decals

LOL... almost spat my food out.

I have a white frame, should I go black and red on the rest, or purple?

choose quality over color.

I like the look of straight up black/white. Lots of people do that, but so what.

I am definitely am not going super neon obnoxious. B/W is dope too

I'd go bright pink with flowers if it was the best quality and a good deal, any day.

Should I...

Paint my bike this color? I effing LOVE this frame and lust for it hourly. But I can't afford it, and if I'm honest with myself, I just really dig the look/color. I know nothing about what the frame/geometry would do for me.
So yeah. Paintjob? Or not worth the trouble? I don't want to be bikeless while I wait for it. Then I'll be worried about babying the newpaintjob. It'll be more attractive to thieves - especially since I'd probably buy some Milwaukee decals to slap on there just for fun.

Go to Urban Powder Coat in Rogers Park. When I got my frame did up it was $70 (+$30 for fork) and the turn around time was 2 days. Things might have changed since then (~1.5 years), but I'm sure they're still cool guys.

Thank you kind sir! I'd definitely do that. I'll wait for a real stormy crappy weekend.
I'd probably need to remove the headset and BB myself right?

Also, any address or number for them? Having the damnedest time finding them via Google.

Found them on FB. I don't have their phone # or address yet but the info they give on FB says $120 for frame/fork which includes stripping the old frame and painting it. Not sure if they're still in business or what though...

Should I buy all the parts online and finish this Raleigh frame/fixed gear build? Or buy a Motobecane Track from BD and put my current wheelset on it and upgrade later? Trying to do this the cheap way but it seems like it'll be about $300 either way! Plus i'll have to get the Raleigh frame painted.

Assuming you didn't have trouble finding the English-spec parts, I'd not only use the Raleigh, but rock the OG paint as well.

Agreed. I originally planned out a purple "grimace" bike, but this vintage look has grown on me!

im seriously considering going clipless, should i start with spd and move up to sl later on or just go straight to sl?

kinda starting to hate all the moving around my feet do in clip/straps, and i feel like my pedal stroke would be a lot cleaner and efficient with clipless
ive been paying attention to my knees a lot and i seem to have a good amount of knee tracking on my left side

is there any real benefit from one to the other or is it just mainly the shoes?
i like the fact that spd allows you to wear more normal shoes that i might not have to change, i like not carrying crap around

Road clipless is awesome, but it depends what kind of riding you're doing. Are you stopping a lot and on/off the bike a lot? If so, MTB may be for you. If you're more on the bike than off the bike, then road clipless is worth it.

definitely more time on than off, i have no friends so once i start rolling i stay rolling for a few hrs, just snack/water breaks

i could keep some regular shoes in my locker at work for commuting actually, dunno why i havent thought of that

is the learning curve from clipless any different between spd or sl?
since clipless are pretty much one sided pedals anyway im thinking mtb pedals might be more more different than anything

its funny, before i started riding fg i was so paranoid of having my feet attached to the pedals, now all i want is my feet welded onto the damn things

If anything sl/look style pedals are easier to get into because they generally always tilt up. SPD pedals usually clip in on either side and sometimes take a little hunting around to get the clip in. Neither of them take much practice though.

It's 94 f, 103 heat index. I have to log into work in an hour and a half. I'm 52 years old. Should I ride, or change my rear tube so both tubes are presta's? Should I drop $100 on lights so I can ride the MUP at 1 A.M. after work when it's cooler? Actually I shoulda gotten my butt out of bed at sunrise and rode. *sigh*

You should change the rear tube for sure. Get up early tomorrow.

Done. This time I lined up the tire decal with the valve stem. And just checked the temp - it's up to 97 / 107.