Single speed MTB.

quote:

Anyone here using one? Any advice?

Don't do it mate - singlespeeding is perverse and shouldn't be considered!

I know quite a few people who run singlespeed and the main problem they find on our runs to places like Glentress is not the climbs but actually the descents as the limitations of the gearing mean that they've no alternative but to freewheel on the faster sections. They tend to climb pretty quickly because they've no choice and it certainly doesn't look fun to me.

For somewhere flat like Thetford I suppose a singlespeed would probably be ok with something like a 2:1 ratio, which is probably about what you were using.

On-One do their excellent Inbred in a singlespeed version (they're very pro-singlespeed) either frame only or as a complete bike. They also do matching rigid forks if you're so inclined. I used to run a geared Inbred:



Most of the time I just had a cheap set of 105mm Marzocchi MX Comp ETA's fitted (something like £80 2nd hand) and they were a very good match to the bike. The bike was mostly built from 2nd hand bits, incuding the frame, as a winter hack bike and even with disc brakes only cost about £400 to put together.

If God had meant us to run single speed he would never have shown Adam Shimano gears. With one gear you have no choice but to stand up instead of twiddling up steep inclines. Standing up often means wheelspin and loss of energy. Or even injuries.

No, not that Adam! The other one.

But as I stated above, the bike will be a Thetford special. I still have my Trek for hilly places.

Tony

ps. God doesn't have to cope with the downsides of multiple gears!

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
ps. God doesn't have to cope with the downsides of multiple gears!

Which are?

Well….I have been riding MTB for a number of years (10+), been through all XC to DH developments etc, raced on and off for a number years in both disciplines. When my Mountain Cycles San Andreas was stolen in 2002, I had to get something on a temporary basis - so I bought a Kona Unit.

And my god I have enjoyed riding it more than any other bike I have owned (including other Kona’s). As mentioned it was a temporary solution, but it has turned into my main/only ride and I have done more miles on it and kept it longer than any other bike I have owned. I am even running fully rigid with Pace forks. It transformed what was my dulling attitude towards mountain biking. Also the ease of maintenance is a joy, no slipping gears, no broken shifters. What would normally be a new shifter, cassette, cables, chain, rear mech cost me £25 for chain and cog.

While fitness is a factor, it isn’t anywhere near as bad as people make out, I suffered for my first few long rides but have been fine ever since, even after longish gaps in riding.

More recently I have converted my brother in law, who is now doing the London to Brighton on one. He has no plans on turning back either.

The only downfall is as mentioned above, downhilling has become slower but since I have been running rigid this hasn’t been an issue at all.

There is no chance I would run gears again.

Riding:
Kona Unit
Pace Rigids
Splattering of carbon and Ti
20.5lbs

I can sort of see the reason for doing without gears somewhere like Thetford, but it's rather hilly up here in Scotland. Even if I was fit enough to cope on the uphills I've seen just how slow singlespeed is on the downhills and it's not for me.

We were talking about bike weight in our MTB group recently and one chap has a bike which only weighs 16.75lbs in current trim! It's a titanium frame with Pace carbon forks but it does have gears. He runs it in that trim for commuting but in off-road mode, with Pace suspension forks, it's probably still under 20lbs.

I had a 22.5lb bike for a while but I find that I prefer mountain bikes a bit heavier and both my full-suss and hardtail are around 27lbs now.

Check out this months MBR mag.( or was it WHAT MB?).One of the two, anyway. It has a review/comparison of a group of oners.My (v.fit) mate uses one,& we ride thetford as well. You can only really go at one speed, the bikes are lighter, & perverse yes, but getting trendy now.Bad points I guess are that they may go out of vogue, & I tried to get up ditchling beacon on a oner, & failed dismally.I'm another 15+ stoner though & the ale might 've had an influence. Give it a go. The oner that is, not the ale
cheers, matt.

I'm not the best rider around, far from it, so I'd probably break a sub-20Lb bike in about 1 mile!

As an aside, I was speaking to a good friend tonight, a very keen cyclist and scary sport addict. He has picked up a fair number of injuries over the years, so was happy to stumble upon this place:

http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/

£125 and over two hours later, his comfort and performance have improved greatly, and for the long term.

Tony

Tony

One of the very best training bikes I owned (when I raced) was a fixed wheel road bike (front brake only).

Forget the freewheeling issue, concentrate on the cadence and inclines - that's what will get you fitter.

Now that I have regained a lot of my fitness and confidence (essential after a skull fracture), I am seriously considering another .................

quote:

Originally posted by Steve G:
I can sort of see the reason for doing without gears somewhere like Thetford, but it's rather hilly up here in Scotland. Even if I was fit enough to cope on the uphills I've seen just how slow singlespeed

Can you not freewheel AT ALL on a singlespeed then - is this a "fixie" you guys are referring to, or can a standard bike have a single gear with freewheel?

BTW - what's 21lb in metric? Just curious? I dread to think how much my (stock) Specialized HardRock weighs - but for a dirt-cheap bike it's nice to ride (though it's too easy to pull a wheelie on it when going up steep hills).

quote:

Originally posted by domfjbrown:
Can you not freewheel AT ALL on a singlespeed then - is this a "fixie" you guys are referring to, or can a standard bike have a single gear with freewheel?

You can freewheel on a singlespeed, but it can mean making very slow progress compared to those more sensible people that have bikes with gears.

A stock Specialized Hardrock will be in the range of 30-32lbs I'd expect.

"You can freewheel on a singlespeed"

Some of the cycle couriers in London appear to have fixed hubs so you cant freewheel. I have no idea of the supposed benefit of this other than a fixed hub single speed with SPDs doesn't need a lock as you can just wait for the thief to fall off.

"what's 21lb in metric?"

1kg = 2.2lb

"though it's too easy to pull a wheelie on it when going up steep hills"

Shift your weight forward by moving your upper body towards the front wheel.

Matthew

quote:

Originally posted by notMatthew:
"though it's too easy to pull a wheelie on it when going up steep hills"

Shift your weight forward by moving your upper body towards the front wheel.

He he - I do that already; IIRC, the Hardrock is designed more for downhill sprint, so most of the body weight is on the rear wheel by design. If I lean too far forward on really steep bits (like the end of the rear lane just behind our houses) the front suspension sucks up loads of torgue.

Catch22 though - you NEED the suspension on Exeter's roads - they've got more potholes than a grass farm!

quote:

Originally posted by domfjbrown:
He he - I do that already; IIRC, the Hardrock is designed more for downhill sprint, so most of the body weight is on the rear wheel by design.

The Hardrock is a long, long way away from being a downhill bike. It's a decent frame with a component fit which is good value but fairly heavy. Budget forks do tend to be rather bouncy is well, which is what you'll be noticing when leaning forward on steep climbs. To counter that you could try spinning a lower gear on the climbs.

Aha - I was just going on what I heard (it seems to be a lot of bike for not too much money - but yeah, IS heavy). I can get a fairly good whack of speed out of it, even uphill, though, and would be scared stiff to use a carbon-fibre bike

I certainly wouldn't say no to upgrading the front forks to fixed or more solid suspension though

Tony - if you want a cheap complete singlespeed bike then I've just noticed that On-One are selling off bikes for £399 at the moment. If I had the knees for it I'd be tempted myself at that price. They even do a fixed upgrade for another £75 if you're really, really mental!

Tony,

I think it's a great idea to build up a ss if you can also keep a geared bike. I'm very tempted to do it, and if I ever get a full-sus I will convert my Gunnar over to ss. A friend just built up a Redline monocog ss mtb, and were off for a spin tomorrow morning. For rolling trails, where momentum is the key, a single speed is ideal. You'll never be caught hunting for the "right" gear, you'll run quieter, and your mind will be able to focus more on technique. I used to ride a fixed gear road bike in the winter months, and it's liberating to not be reaching for the gear lever every minute to optimize cadence.

Have fun and enjoy your new build project.

Dan