Lascauxcaveman 

Great starter bike. If the saddle feels good, keep it for now. As you become more conditioned to riding longer distances on a regular basis, you may want to change over to a faster, racier bike, but that's up to you. You'll know it when you get there.

I'm another vote for Pasela tires, I have them on a a half dozen bikes and they are a good compromise between supple and durable. Those Contis you ordered weigh about twice what Paselas weigh, and will likely be rather heavy and stiff, is my guess. But also indestructible.

oneclick 

Later pics show a freewheel-shaped hub.

Hondo6

IMO you're correct. Some very early Shimano Uniglide hubs (e.g., most but not all having the pressed-on freehub) are shaped similarly, but I'm reasonably certain the rear sprockets pictured above aren't Uniglide sprockets.

SmoggyTwinkles

I'm not looking to get into long distance riding. I just want to cruise and take it slow. Perhaps socialize a bit more. That type of thing. This bike seems to suit that and I'm totally having a great time both learning about cycling again and also doing it instead of thinking about doing it.

Just trying to get this "up to speed" as best I can, pun intended. It's more about the experience for me vs. exercise............and that is the part that has blown me away. Just even being a casual bike rider, you are getting great exercise while having a good time. It's win win.

SmoggyTwinkles

This thread was and is super supportive.

Tomorrow I'm doing what I was probably subconciously wanting to do by getting my own bicycle.

Why did I stop riding or even having a bicycle when I turned 11 years old?

This is so fun!

I'm throwing this thing in my trunk tomorrow morning, hanging an orange flag so I am legal, taking the train into the big city, and cruising around the lake front until I get bored of that.

Then going back home.

Adventure time. Bless me nice weather. Happy Canada Day btw.

52telecaster

Great to hear you're having fun. Few things are as fun as riding your bike.
​​​​

SmoggyTwinkles

I had an absolute blast!

Had such an awesome Canada Day yesterday............

This video............maybe not cool to some people, but I had a good time, and took my time, and yeah.

Nishiki is in the background.

Bad Lag

I like Schwalbe KOJAK tires.

SmoggyTwinkles

Any suggestions for a gooseneck mirror for my bike?

Love this thing btw. Maybe I should update some photos. Really just the tires are awesome, and I have a phone mount which is also awesome.

This thing is a cruiser bike though. It shifts great, and I just take my time going places and it's a blast.

Maybe something better in the future but happy with this for now.

SmoggyTwinkles

Still enjoying this bike. Got rid of the bouncy suspension thing because this must be a Large size bicycle, a little too big for me with that seat thing. But it's fine without it.

I'll get a better bike someday hopefully but not anytime soon. A bit down on the list of things I want to spend money on when I'm satisfied with this for now.

SmoggyTwinkles

I'll tell you why not Panaracer Paselas.............

And it's not Panaracer's fault.

Before I had this bike I was trying to refurbish my fathers old Raleigh. And the tires suggested to me were Panaracer's.

So I took it to this place I go, well the rims.....

They installed the Panaracer's on the spot. I had an appointment at a nearby barber and I don't mess around there, and they did it on the spot (I didn't try to push them btw, they were super cool and understanding)

So I get the rims back with my new tires on there, put them in the back seat, drive to the barber which is five minutes away, and start hearing a crazy sound and then BOOM.

Like shotgun going off. So no Parasellas for me ever again. They made it right btw, I'm just saying...........scarred for life haha. The Continentals are awesome. I'm sure Parasellas are great but yeah that one blowing up while I'm driving did me in as far as considering that tire (and it wasn't the tire that was the problem I know that, the service guy clearly screwed something up)

daverup 

This is probably the bike shop putting folding tires on old hookless rims that needed wire bead tires.
Plenty of older bikes have rims without hooks to hold the tire beads in place.
Also, plenty of bike shops with younger guys working in the back who don't know this.

SmoggyTwinkles

Yeah this is basically exactly what happened.

They made it right. I returned the Paselas (bought them off Amazon) and they put some Specialized tires on there for free.

I just like the Continental stuff personally. So far so good. And the ones I got were $40 each and look and feel like they should be double that price. They ride nice.

sd5782 

You want the Mirrycle bar end mirror. Out for at least 40 years and still the best. Inexpensive too.

SmoggyTwinkles

I'm not sure that will work with my grips though.............

Appreciate the suggestion.

I need to go take some more photos. BRB (maybe throw some vintage Brooks content in there?)

SmoggyTwinkles

I could move the bell to the right side, and install a mirror on the left?

I'm in Canada, left hand drive, thus I want a mirror for my left just for extra safety.

sd5782 

With that mirror, you would need to cut a hole in end of the grips. Sounds drastic, but once you have used these mirrors, nothing else will do, and accommodations including new grips are well worth it. Your hole in left grip where it needs to be might be just a bit small. Mirror in hand will let you know. It tightens like a quill stem with a wedge expander. Cost is about $20.

zukahn1 

Looks great I do like the look of mixte MTB frame and color should work great for years as a basic rider.