my new 2 speed coaster brake Susie

[Matt Fitzgerald]

I've had my new Susie since June, but ordered the frame months earlier. This gave me a lot of time to consider the dream setup, and time to sell the Clem H I'd been riding for a couple of years. I loved that bike, but it was a bit too much of a Lincoln Town Car to qualify as the dream bike I dreamt of. This one fits the bill. It is a XL Susie in the green color. As I purchased parts, I realized I was pursuing an idealized version of my childhood bike. I grew up in the 1970's in northern michigan, riding a green Schwinn sting ray that my father refashioned into a "bmx" when that craze hit. The bike had a wild frame, fat tires, a coaster brake, single speed, with black handlebars, a black saddle, and green pedals. As an adult, my favorite (stolen) bike had been a Surly Cross Check set up as a single speed, with rim brakes and north road bars. I loved that bike's simplicity. 

I'd never built a bike up from the frame before buying the Susie, but youtube is my friend. While waiting on the frame, I bought a 2 speed kickback sturmey archer hub, a salsa gordo front wheel with a black rim and shimano dynamo hub, a black sugino RD2 crankset, a black seatpost, cheap green oversized mb pedals, a black quill stem, a dynamo headlight, black handlebar tape, and chunky black grips. All of these items were used but the rear hub. I had a brooks cambium saddle, Surly ET tires, and an older Nitto albatross handlebar on a bike I put together for my son. I switched these out for stuff in our garage and he hasn't yet complained. The photo below is of the bike with the Salsa sparrow handlebars I switched out for the nittos. When the rear hub arrived, I took it to the wonderful folks at Boulevard Bikes (I live in Chicago) and asked them to build a rear wheel. 

And then, when the frame was delivered I realized how difficult it is to set up a bike with vertical dropouts as a single speed! I bought a couple of chains, a chain tool, and a pile of rear cogs. After 500,000 attempts, I nailed it. 

My first ride was from our place on the north side, down through various paths in Lincoln Park, to State Street in the Gold Coast, into the loop, then South on Michigan to Hyde Park, and back home along the Lakefront. It was a gorgeous evening in mid-June, warm but not hot. The bike took me straight back to childhood. It was geared way too high, so each turn of the pedals rushed me forward. I've been riding a coaster brake Raleigh 20 for years, and am very comfortable with that setup. For city riding, it requires focus and a lot of anticipation, which are good practices regardless of how you stop. The 2 speed kickback wasn't immediately intuitive, but I immediately loved both the limitation it imposes, and the option it provides. After a few months, switching between the two gears has become second nature. 

We spent a month up in Michigan this summer. Before leaving, I took the bike back to Boulevard to make sure I hadn't done anything that would kill me. I asked them to switch the gearing, anticipating a lot of hills in Michigan. It didn't take them nearly as long as it took me, and they set up a perfect gear ratio. I rode a mix of pavement, dirt roads and forest trails daily, and grew to love the bike more with each ride. It is comfortable and aggressive, quite relaxed, but able to burst and leap. The hills made my legs stronger. I'll probably switch to a more conventional setup with rim brakes and a rear derailer eventually, but for now, I'm in bike heaven. 

Gratefully, 

Matt in Chicago

[Paul Choi]

Bike looks simple and fun. Appreciate the backstory on the Sting Ray. I have fond memories of riding my orange Raleigh Chopper down the street of East Lansing MI in 1978. I then switched to BMX racing with a gold FMF bike. Now I ride a Rosco. 

Good times! Enjoy the new Riv. Such a great time to be able to ride these great bikes. 

[J Imler]

Requesting more drivetrain pics.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:54:55 AM UTC-7 Matt Fitzgerald wrote:

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Matt, what a treat to read your story and see the bike. (I will echo the call for more photos of the Susie, please.) I haven’t seen a Susie like this one, ever, and I really like its quirkiness. I was especially delighted to read of the Michigan connection - I moved to Michigan in 2021 and have so enjoyed riding here. A bunch of Rivendell riders will gather for a ride in Grand Rapids October 15th, if you can join us with your Susie. PM me if you want the details. 

I know what it is to get the bike you want exactly, and the childhood connection is especially meaningful. Thank you for an enjoyable read, and I hope I get to see your bike in person next month!

Leah

[Joe Bernard]

I don't know if I could live with no front brake lever to grab in an emergency stop - what if I forget it's coaster brake only??! - but this is SO cool. I love the "only what you need and nothing more" look and vibe..nice work, Matt! 🙌

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:54:55 AM UTC-7 Matt Fitzgerald wrote:

[Matt Fitzgerald]

Thanks for the kind words, all! J and Leah, here is a photo of the drivetrain. 

[Mackenzy Albright]

This is one of my favorite riv builds on here in a while! it'd be great to see some more photo posted. 

[Patrick Moore]

Oh yes, please post more photos.

On Mon, Oct 10, 2022 at 6:02 PM Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

Matt: Kudos on the new 2-speed Susie. 

I've been tempted to try a 2-speed kickback hub on my Monocog, but I dislike the direct drive = low gear design of most on the market. I did hear not too long ago that Bendix (?) was developing a direct = high 2-speed hub in India; does anyone know about that?

Does your kickback give the usual 38% overdrive in High? What is the current gearing?

You should try the floating chainring chain slack takeup method for the ultimate in single ring/cog style:

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Patrick Moore]

Matt: Kudos on the new 2-speed Susie. 

I've been tempted to try a 2-speed kickback hub on my Monocog, but I dislike the direct drive = low gear design of most on the market. I did hear not too long ago that Bendix (?) was developing a direct = high 2-speed hub in India; does anyone know about that?

Does your kickback give the usual 38% overdrive in High? What is the current gearing?

You should try the floating chainring chain slack takeup method for the ultimate in single ring/cog style:

On Mon, Oct 10, 2022 at 1:04 PM Matt Fitzgerald <mfitz...@spucc.org> wrote:

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