Newb setting up a bike
 

I'm 47. Last bike was a gigantic 3 speed cruiser.
Short daily neighborhood utility riding mostly...Grocery/bank etc.
Lots of hills. Nice workout.

Just picked up a used SE Lager with a PlanetBike rear rack on it.
Flipped wheel to Fixed, removed rear brake, raised saddle and handlebars so they could be USED (last owner had interesting ideas for his setup :)

I put some Cinelli cork tape on the bars and one Wald folding basket.
Just riding a couple of miles a day and adjusting everything still.
Only been riding it a couple of days but I'm hooked.
Already planning my 'real bike'.

It has pretty fresh ThickSlick tires and Jagwire Brakepads on the front (look like "Basics Road" pads) and I think they are ProMax brakes.
Stock pedals, chain, saddle, cranks and Bullhorns.

The chain has some rust on it. Going to clean it off and inspect.
Anything I should immediately look at upgrading/replacing?
I don't know much of anything about bike component quality.

One more question...should I get clipped pedals?
My guess is that it would help for climbing but I've never used them.

I'm doing lots of reading but don't always know what to search for.
Learning....

THANKS
JSD

you might like a comfy saddle and I (at least personally) wouldn't spring for clipless pedals and shoes if you're only using it for short rides and grocer runs. also ditch the chain and get a new one if its already rusted.

Thanks.
I've been holding off passing judgement on the saddle until I get back into riding shape and get it adjusted better.
And I'm definitely not a candidate for cycling shoes.
Maybe I'll try pedal straps.

If the chain's rusted, I would definitely go on replacing it. Maybe mess around with saddles, handlebars, and pedals. Find a balance you really like. Perhaps you're a bullhorns type of guy, and you like a good toe-clip setup.

My first question: Does the bike have foot retention?. If it doesn't, I highly recommend purchasing some pedals, clips, and straps.

The Bullhorns feel good. Nice leverage and I can see well in traffic.
Just not sure about the Brake lever placement yet. Living with it for a while but i can imagine liking Bar-End brakes.

These pedals don't have any foot retention.
Are the velcro straps good for casual riding?
It looks like I could probably thread through the sides of these pedals.

For the handlebars, the type of brake's you're interested in are called "TT brakes". They were originally designed for time-trial race bikes, but are also now appropriate for bullhorns on the street. Tektro makes some decent tt brakes.

You should definitely consider getting foot retention. Velcro straps with BMX pedals will be fine for casual riding. In fact, some people prefer them for their snug and comfortable fit. If you have BMX style platform pedals, i'm pretty sure it will fit velcro pedal straps.

If you wanted to, you could experiment with risers and drop handlebars. For a casual bike, its fun to experiment with everything!

I plan to learn on this bike so I'll have a better idea of what I want.
It took some willpower to pass on an old Motobecane frame and go straight into a conversion....

I have a good LBS and will be dropping in there a lot.
But I need to man up and learn how to do as much on my own as I can.

So I just cleaned the chain with Simple Green and some CLP (*** cleaner lube).
It was just gunked up a bit. Will repeat tomorrow after riding.
Also checked the chain with a ruler and it was dead on. No sign of wear.

Baby steps!

Is this going to be a fixed gear or a single speed?

In either case, foot retention of some sort is always a nice thing to have. However, on a fixed-gear, it is more of necessity than on a single speed. If you do opt for foot retention, go with whatever you're most comfortable with, be it clips or clipless.

You can also try drops with hoods. Helps with the uphill and fun for the downhill. Remember to not hit the brakes suddenly.

I'm running it Fixed. Way more fun....I immediately got why people like it.
I've been sticking to the flatter routes while getting acclimated to the bike and getting the fit right.
Going to run a few hills today and see how it goes.
I've got some pedal straps coming in tomorrow.

Today I really cleaned the chain with Simple Green and degunked the teeth.
Also removed the decals (I hate graphics) and just spot primed the bare metal spots on the frame.
Previous owner had a chain hanging on the frame that dented the finish down to bare metal.
I don't know if I'll go to the trouble to repaint it....might end up being a Flat Camo bike :)

I would be careful with the hills until you get the hang of fixed. It's the downhill that is a bigger issue. This is one place where some sort of foot retention is really helpful. Keep in mind your cranks keep moving when you are going downhill so your legs have to keep moving and most likely at a much higher cadence then you are used to. If you have a momentary lapse in concentration you feet could get bucked off the pedals and then you are in trouble (hence the foot retention).

You might also need to change your cog size or chain ring size for a better gear ratio suitable for hilly places. Keep in mind that if you do change the cog to a bigger size then spinning down hill would be faster.

Hopefully this link helps. http://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...r-bicycle.html

Gear math does get confusing.
This bike is 46x17 which I have seen is a pretty common combo.
The whole "Skid Patches" thing is interesting as well.
The 17T cog seems to be good in that respect: Urban Velo #9 - Fixed Gear Skid Marks

46x17 is 72.4 inches and 17 skid patches
46x18 is 68.4 inches and 9 skid patches
46x19 would give me 64.8 inches and 19 skid patches?

I am using a front brake but I like the idea that my tire wear could be more even.

Nashville definitely has hills but it isn't San Francisco.
After I get my pedal straps and build up my legs a bit I will have an opinion.

This bike already has way more usable torque than my boat anchor 3 speed had in 1st gear.

Rode some hills today.
46x17 is going to be fine for me for a while.
Even if I have to walk a couple of hills, the downhills would get a little hairy for me with much lower gearing.
Would be interesting to feel the difference.

Post up a pick or two so we can give it a look!

Learn to brake without skidding. Your tires will be thankful.

47x17 = 72.6, 17 skid patches
47x18 = 68.6, 18 skid patches
47x19 = 65.0, 19 skid patches

Makes you wonder why 47T chainrings aren't used more often.

That's an Army surplus Radio pouch in the frame, a MOLLE Dump pouch on the handlebars (unrolls to Nalgene Bottle or a '40"). I have a folding Wald basket on for groceries but am on the lookout for something that carries larger bags.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424544