## Searching and understanding lorentzian metrics w/ timelike closed curves on cylinder

I defined a covering map ℝ^2 → S^1 x ℝ in order to work with the manifold.

1) How can I find lorentzian metrics (=metric tensors) on S^1 x ℝ (cylinder that is a 2-dimensional manifold)?
I know that the diagonal matrix (2x2 matrix) of such a lorentzian metric must have signature 1. and there are some famous metrics like g= -dx^2 + dy^2. but how can i find/ define lorentzian metrics myself?

Approach: I know that a lorentzian metric has signature 1. This means the matrix elements of the normal form are g11= +1, g22= -1, g12= g21= 0.
But how can I find DIFFERENT lorentzian metrics? And since they all have the same normal form with signature 1, how can I distinguish them?

2) How does a timelike closed curve looks like on S^1 x ℝ ?
Let's take the metric above g= -dx^2 + dy^2.
How can I figure out if a curve on the cylinder with this metric is closed (and timelike; see examples below)?

Approach:
I defined some curves on the cylinder (= I define them in the ℝ^2 since the cylinder is a 2-manifold). What does "closed curve" mean in this case? Is a curve c: [0, 2∏ ] → ℝ^2 closed when c(0) =c(2∏)?
Even if in the ℝ^2 they do not look closed? but they are closed on the cylinder? Is this right?
Are the following ideas correct?

i)

c(x) = (x, sinx) and c'(x)= ( 1, -cosx)
=> <c'(x), c'(x)> = -1 + cos^2 (x) ≤ 0
but this means the curve is not timelike and not spacelike? How is this possible?

ii)
d(x) = (0,x) and d'(x)= (0,1)
=> <d'(x), d'(x)> = 1 >0
this means this curve is timelike

iii)

e(x)= (x,x)
but this curve is not closed? Right?

iv)

f(x)= (cosx, sinx) and f'(x)= (sinx, -cosx)
=> <f'(x), f'(x)> = -sin^2(x) + cos^2(x)
what does this mean? is f(x) not a closed curve?

etc.

It would be very helpful if somebody could just show me all steps using a simple example.