nonfriction

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jeneralist 

Sweet looking bike! Enjoy it!

Terryble

Looks like a great ride! I kind of wish I had gone with a single speed cruiser style to start myself. All the upgrades you suggested sound good to me. I ended up going with 40 spoke cliffhangers.

jetboy 

I would be very surprised if the seat post does not allow you to adjust the angle of the seat. there should be a bolt - usually an allen (hex) head under the seat post that both loosens the seat rail clamps AND allows for angle adjustment (loosen and push on it and it will move). some posts have more than one bolt, or its on the side, or whatever.. but you can adjust it.

nonfriction

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jetboy 

it will allow the seat to slide back and forth before it allows it to tilt. so you may have to loosen more- and also it can get "stuck" as it uses little friction teeth to hold it in place. so loosen and then hit it upward (usually your hand strength can do it) to disengage the teeth so it can tilt.

Hawgsnawt

at 365 pounds I found I had to go to a solid seat post..mine folded up on me like a cheap lawn chair the first time I hit a good size bump in the road....I replaced it with one of these and it's much safer for someone my size to ride now....might be a cheap upgrade worth looking into. He sells all different sizes and types of posts, straight, lay back 45, lay back 90, etc etc and can do custom length if you need more elevation...

I ordered a 7/8th solid post 16 inches total, 5 inch 45 degree layback with intent to sink 6 inches and elevate 5...can even get them in stainless steel if you prefer, I just got the primer black and hit it with a spray can of gloss black and called it good.

Mine ran 27.00 delivered ..... money well spent for my safety and comfort.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cruiser-bicy...item28058593e0

Nikon shooter

Cool looking bike, should be a blast to ride. Keep us updated as how things are going. We love hearing everybody's story here.

nonfriction

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BigMo59

Looks good! Go for it!!

Clyde1820

A great saddle can make a world of difference as well. A seatpost/seat combination that allows fore/aft adjustment along with tilt adjustment is, IMO, a vital feature to have on a bike. Even a couple millimeters of raising or lowering can be the difference between marginal pain and fairly decent comfort. Same with the fore/aft positioning. As your strength changes, you'll likely find adjusting that can help with comfort and with power you put down.

If replacing the seat tube, definitely look to its load-carrying capacity.

At the load your bike will be carrying, I'd certainly evaluate the wheels. If questionable for the loads, absolutely look into a wheel build geared around bomb-proof features. A larger tire can also help suck up the bumps, smooth out the ride. A 48H hub and rim can be a bit of a pig, weight-wise, but a high-quality 40H or 48H build can also be pretty darned bomb-proof. (Note: not all wheel builders are of high quality, or all that exacting.)

A good set of full-length fenders can help extend the time you ride, allowing you to avoid the "skunk stripe" of mud up the backside on damp days or when riding through a puddle or wet spot.

As for brakes ... Disk brakes require specific attachment points. So do caliper/v-brake setups as well. Depends on what your bike's seat stays and fork have in the way of such attachment points. That'll drive the decision. Keep in mind, too, that if you do put on full-length fenders along with big tires, you might be a bit pressed for reach on the brake's arms. They might not get high enough above the fender. Can easily acquire v-brakes with longer arms, or change to center-pull cantilever style brakes.

Have ridden a simple knock-around single-speed bike for years, here and there. They've always had a coaster brake. And I've occasionally not been in the realm of a svelte 150#. They've worked fine. Not the most powerful brakes, but then until you really start zipping around they ought to suffice. Easy to work on such hubs (all things considered), inexpensive to replace if need be. If doing a wheel rebuild, you can also consider putting in a contemporary, multi-speed internal-gear hub in the rear (ie, Shimano Nexus 8spd with coaster or roller brake).

glider54

Can't add any advice, but I wish you a lot of enjoyment from your new bike.

nonfriction

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andr0id

Look for Milwaukee Polo hubs.
They are 48 hole and single speed and reasonably priced.

nonfriction

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bluegoatwoods

I don't have anything to offer at the moment. But just like a poster above said, we'll be glad to hear how things are going as time progresses.

Do you live in a winter climate? And do you plan to ride when the weather gets rough? I could help with a handful of winter 'hacks'.

nonfriction

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bluegoatwoods

Yup! You want fenders.

Next thing that comes to mind is Bar-Mitts. Having warm and dry hands, as opposed to cold and wet hands, makes a whole world of difference. I make my own. Mostly because I'm cheap. But also because I can make sure that they fit my bars, my hands and my arms exactly the way that I want them.

I'd be glad to offer a few photos and instructions. Right now I'll spend a bit of time deciding whether to do it by PM in order to avoid cluttering up this thread. Or I might post it in this thread in case other readers might be interested.

Beic

Welcome from the other side of the pond.

Looks a great bike for cruising and commuting, we don't see many like that over here.

It looks like the type of bike you can take your time on and enjoy the ride without having to prove anything.

I'd stick with the coaster brake, add some mudguards aka fenders and a rear rack to carry items on.

You'll also need to think about fitting lights soon too.

48 spoke wheels as suggested would be a good upgrade.

Good luck and enjoy the bike!