OldCruiser

I picked up my new Electra Cruiser 1 in Matte Brown today . The color looks more bronze than brown . I hope it grows on me . I probably should have bought another matte black .
I noticed the welds on this Electra aren’t as nice and smooth as the ones on my black C1 . Not the quality I expected . But Electra is owned by Trek now . I hope this one holds up as good as my older one that was made when Electra was Electra .
They had the seat setup for somebody with an inseam a lot longer than I have .
When I got it home , I snapped a picture of it stock as I picked it up .
Then I lowered the seat and took it for a short ride . I didn’t ride more than 1/2 mile , I didn’t care for the saddle or the position they had it set . Back to the garage.
I pulled the cruiser seat and installed my Brooks Antique brown B17 Imperial. Made it to the end of the driveway and realized the saddle was too low . Once adjusted I road about a mile and realized I missed my front brake that I have on my black C1 .
My new caliber for this bike hasn’t arrived yet , so I used the old salvaged caliber I’d had on the black one and installed a front brake on it and while I was at it , I installed my leather grips and Cateye 9 bike computer.
I wished I’d waited on ordering the Maxxis tires , the stock tires aren’t bad at all . I’ll hold off on installing them .
I wanted to put on my platform pedals but found out this bike has 1/2” pedals , so I had to order a set of 1/2”to 9/16” extenders .
I’ve got it setup enough to take for my morning ride tomorrow.

JehD

How do you like the bars? They look narrower compared to your other bike?

OldCruiser

They are different in shape , but I measured the distance between the bar ends this morning using a piece of string I had handy and they’re the same width .
After riding this morning my hands weren’t as numb as they had been after riding . Don’t know if it’s the bar shape or the leather grips . I have rubber gel grips on my black C1.
I may swap out the tires today and add my short stubby fenders . My platform pedals will have to wait until my 1/2 to 9/16 extenders get here . Waiting on the front brake caliper too.

FiftySix

That bronze/brown looks good to me. Congrats on the new ride.

OldCruiser

Thanks !

I swapped out the tires today today and was going to add the front brake , but some dummy ordered a rear caliper . So , with the bigger tires and my 280+ pounds , I think I’m going to add a front and rear brake . The build is coming along . Should be finished by the end of next week .
By the time I get finished changing out and adding parts , I probably could have bought the Lux 7 Fat Tire . But I wanted a SS .

FiftySix

I do the same thing. I'll buy a bike thinking I will like the machine as it comes, but within weeks I'm changing things out.

OldCruiser

I had plans for this one before I bought it . I just didn’t add up all of the prices before I started ordering. .

OldCruiser

I was able to install my platform pedals today . Then took it for a 3.5 mile cruise around the neighborhood. With the 2.5” Maxxis Hookworms, I need my front brake . I probably should park it and ride my Black C1 until I’m finished with it , but I have a hard time leaving it home .
The Maxxis do require a little more energy to get them rolling and stopped. I’m thinking I may not have liked the Fat Tire 7D Lux I almost bought .
I don’t mind the extra energy needed to ride my new C1 , because part of the reason I’m riding is for the exercise. Gives me a better workout .
My front brake should be here Tuesday . Maybe a picture Wednesday.

OldCruiser

Updated picture . The cheapo front caliper will be replaced Wednesday. This one isn’t even functional, it scrubs the tires when I attempt to use it .
I have a gold chain I need to swap out or a red one , I haven’t decided yet . I’d like some kind of handlebar or saddle bag . Need to attach a water bottle cage too .
Road the black C1 1.5 miles this morning, then swapped to the new C1 for 2.5. The 1.9 Kendas do roll a little easier , but don’t look as cool .

OldCruiser

The other side

FiftySix

Nice additions.

OldCruiser

Added a rear rack , and a bottle cage today . Also swapped out the seat post for a modern style . Adjusted the handlebars down a little . Top tube bag , and my parrot horn .

OldCruiser

Update : I pulled the Maxxis and installed some Kenda 1.9 semis . Had a flat on the rear yesterday with the Maxxis and decided while I had the wheel off , I’d swap them out .
It pedals easier now , but when a friend invited me to go riding with him on a cart path this morning, I chickened out taking my Cruiser 1 because of some hills I remembered on the route . I took my Specialized Hardrock I’ve got setup as a Cruiser but with gears . I did steal Brooks Imperial off my Black C1 and it helped me make the 9.5 miles . After the ride , it wasn’t as hilly as I remember, I should have taken one of the C1’s . Maybe next time .
may put the Maxxis’s on a Fuji frame I converted to Single speed and build it back into a Cruiser.
Longest distance I’ve ridden in four years . Hopefully I’m getting back in ride shape .
edit: I put the Maxxis Hookworms back on and decided to install a three speed Nexus hub .

OldCruiser

I swapped the rear hub out this morning for a Three Speed Shimano Nexus I had purchased a couple of years ago and remembered having trouble getting it to shift right .
I had also reinstalled the Maxxis Hookworms.
I spent a couple of hours working on it this morning.
I watched several videos and set it up just as suggested, but it just wouldn’t work right. Mostly stayed in first gear . Then first I screwed the adjustment screw a little further out , putting the yellow mark just on the second line , no go . After several removals and resetups , I got to playing around with the adjustment screw and changing gears each time I made an adjustment without test riding . I had only got it in third gear a couple of times .
As it turns out , I ignored the yellow mark and set the adjustment where the shifter would actually shift in and out of all three gears . Eureka! I finally got it to give me three speeds . It still doesn’t shift smooth all of the time , but it is working . I hope it just needs breaking in .
I like having the first two gears , doubt I’ll ever have a use for third .
Live ordered another wheel set with a three speed Nexus hub . I hope it sets up a little bit easier.

FiftySix

Did you already have the Nexus 3 in another wheel, or did you have to lace it into the existing Electra wheel?

OldCruiser

I already had the rear wheel from a wheel set I bought a couple years ago but got frustrated trying to get it to work and left my original C1 as a single speed and stored the wheels upstairs in my garage , until today .

coopman

Looks great. I can tell that you're a tinkerer!

OldCruiser

Just a little bit

FiftySix

I've got a spare 2-speed hub laying around and I originally wanted to install it into an existing wheel, but I'm going to have a whole 'nother wheel built for it.

I just got to decide if I'm going to make a project out of it and do it myself this coming fall or winter.

OldCruiser

I went for a short ride this morning . First time out with the three speed Nexus . The shifter worked maybe twice and then I was stuck in first gear .
I spent some more time searching and reading about issues with the Nexus 3S and I think this unit has the wrong size pushrod . I read there were several of them sold awhile back with the wrong part in them .
I’ll be pulling the rear hub today and going back to SS until I can get the part I need . I found the part on line but will wait and compare the rod to the one in the wheel set I have on order .
I’ve alway read these hubs are just about bomb proof , but my experience has not been a positive one .

OldCruiser

After the ride this morning, I got busy switching everything out . Gone is the Nexus 3S and the Maxxis Hookworms , replaced with the original SS wrapped with some Creme 1.9x26 Kenda City Slicks .
A new look . I think I like it !

3S1M

Looks real good. I like the color of the frame.

Doogan

Your bike looks really sharp. The whole color scheme looks great. I really like the leather grips. What kind are they?

OldCruiser

Thanks , I’ve removed the rear rack . I think it looks better without it . Saving the rear rack for my fat tire Lux in the near future.
The grips came from Amazon, they’re “ Alomejor Leather Bicycle Grips” they surprised me how nice they are and how good they lock on the bars . Time will tell how long they’ll last .

Doogan

Have you tried any of the leather grips made by Brooks?