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Singlespeed Mountain Biking
Got one of these (steel frame, 32X18 gearing) on Friday, rode it Saturday and Sunday and am now a total convert. Great fun, lung bursting/leg shredding workout and hardly any cleaning/maintenance to worry about! Amazed at what I could get up on it and only really spun out on road sections. Have packed geared mountain bike away for winter happy in the knowledge that the grit stone mud won't be eating its components and costing me a fortune to replace.... save money, get fit, have fun,:) go singlespeed!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Did you build it up yourself or buy complete? Often mused on singlespeed but Mr Shimano does make such lovely shiny kit. What do you do on the downhills when you would normally use gear resistance for balance and control, esp on corners? So many questions.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
SS mountain biking is great, if you go fixed watch your knees!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
32 x 18? Puff!
Get 32 x 16 like a proper singlespeeder. ;)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
'Like a proper singlespeeder', hints of an organisation hiding out there somewhere - is there a dedicated site to save me making a fool of myself here?:o
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
skennaugh
if you go fixed watch your knees!
Bollocks. Old wive's tale.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Save some cash and just rip the gears off and shorten the chain!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lola
Did you build it up yourself or buy complete? Often mused on singlespeed but Mr Shimano does make such lovely shiny kit. What do you do on the downhills when you would normally use gear resistance for balance and control, esp on corners? So many questions.
Bought Sanderson steel frame and then sat down for a happy few hours in my local bike shop speccing it out and got them to build it as I'm mechanically inept! My theory is by riding it over the winter I'll save or the nice shiny kit on my real bike. Downhills seemed fine apart from hitting snowdrift.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fishbulb
32 x 18? Puff!
Get 32 x 16 like a proper singlespeeder. ;)
I know shameful but, having taken a poll of other riders in area (Hayfield/Chinley), 32X18 seemed to be the consensus of opinion and it seemed ok to me. Also, did Trans-Wales this year and both of the SS guys there were on 32X18.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
skennaugh
SS mountain biking is great, if you go fixed watch your knees!
Ride fixed on the road (suppose my 48X18 gear is poofy FishBulb!?) and no problems there but surely fixed off-road is simply insanity and you're knees would be the least of your worries!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nikalas
Ride fixed on the road (suppose my 48X18 gear is poofy FishBulb!?) and no problems
The people who say riding fixed is bad for the knees are the same people who say running up and down hills is bad for the knees. Exactly the opposite is true in my experience.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
It's surprising what you can do fixed off road, mostly in a 'because it's there' kind of way admittedly. Welsh trail centres like the Marin, Llandegla, Cockerham triathlon, a friend of mine did the 3 Peaks 2 years ago. Some silliness...
http://www.63xc.com/sriley/warp.htm
http://www.63xc.com/sriley/jonwyatt.htm
It's rubbish when it gets technical, obviously :)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Lola, I am on my third SS now. First one was an old Kona I converted with a chain tensioner, a cog and cassette spacers and ran 'til the frame died. I then bought a second hand Inbred frame off Brant Richards and, although it's a bit shonky it's my favourite bike. Just soaks up abuse and lack of maintenance. Hmm, must remember to service the headset...
I am now building a Voodoo Wanga with some reasonably nice kit on it as I got fed up with the crap brakes on the Inbred and wanted some decent discs.
Anyway, in answer to some of your questions, as with any other bike you just ride it and work it out. Do it.
The 32 x 16 thing is just a 'nice' ration i.e. 2 to 1. Works reasonably well on most things.
Idler - you know Samuri too, do you? I did the Three Peaks the year Jon did it on his fixie. Quite an achievement!
Nikalas - don't know much about riding SS on the road. That ratio looks ok to me. I know riding a SS mtb on the road is spintastic!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Fishbulb,
I have an old Trek Superlight frame that has had 2 rebuilds so far but the groupset is completely finished now; the wheels etc are still good for a year or 2 though so I'm fired with the SS idea. I have the time over Christmas and all the tools etc so how to make the conversion? Presumably the single ring has to be crank compatible or else the cost will be huge surely. The block is an 8 speed, who to go to for the spacers and the single cog?
If I move quick I can have a new bike for Christmas - how cool is that!!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Lola: On One do a nice conversion kit... http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/...Convertor.html with a Christmas bonus. You'll probably want an unramped chainring from someone like Chainreaction too. Just make sure you get the right bolt pattern for your chainset.
Fishbulb: Small world! I've known Jon for ages. Sound fella. Are you on the other place too?
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Got one of these, 42 chainring, 18 sprocket. Great fun on and off road, hardly owt to go wrong and low maintainence. Can get up some steep hills on it and was good training for the Lakeland Loop. 2007 on a 39-27 gear had to get off and push up Hardknott Pass, 2008, after grunting up climbs on SS, pedaled all the way up on same gear:)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
idler
Fishbulb: Small world! I've known Jon for ages. Sound fella. Are you on the other place too?
Read about Jon on Dave Haygarth's blog, top character:)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
idler
Lola: On One do a nice conversion kit...
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/...Convertor.html with a Christmas bonus. You'll probably want an unramped chainring from someone like Chainreaction too. Just make sure you get the right bolt pattern for your chainset.
Fishbulb: Small world! I've known Jon for ages. Sound fella. Are you on the other place too?
That's what's on my bike pictured above. I couldn't use the sprocket as the wheel is a really old screw on freewheel, rather than a new style free hub. I was going to get a new pair of wheels and do it properly, but it works okay as it is.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Essential add on for my Singlespeed, a Surly Tugnutt chain tensioner, cos it opens bottles of beer:cool:
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Lola - the late, lamented Sheldon Brown is your friend: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html
Idler - if you mean STW then yes, I have been known to frequent. I am Mr Sparkle on there. If you don't mean STW then I know nothing of any 'specialist' sites... ;)
Merrylegs - I found riding SS really strengthened my climbing. I was always reasonable at it but I'm sure I improved. Pretty sure it improved my leg strength and endurance for fell running too. Getting up Hardknott still on the bike is always a satisfying experience, well done fella.
Oh, and if you want to do it 'properly' you need one of these bad boys: http://www.sidewayscycles.co.uk/prod...?id=26&clid=12
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Fishbulb,
Cheers, brilliant link to Sheldon Brown. Got to get home early though cos our work IT security protocols won't allow me to order from the net and Planet-x don't appear to have a telephone number!!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
merrylegs
Essential add on for my Singlespeed, a Surly Tugnutt chain tensioner, cos it opens bottles of beer:cool:
Do you ever fall off opening the bottles ? :D
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nikalas
Ride fixed on the road (suppose my 48X18 gear is poofy FishBulb!?) and no problems there but surely fixed off-road is simply insanity and you're knees would be the least of your worries!
Hurt me a couple of times, only because i forgot i couldn't freewheel.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mxhornet
Do you ever fall off opening the bottles ? :D
I can fall off doing anything;):D:D
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Must be very frustrating for your missus...;)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Confused now.
Charlie wants over £50 for a conversion kit (chain included)
Planet-X only want £15 plus a chain.
Are the quality differences so great or is Charlie having problems with his mortgage?
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
The Planet X one seems to be a decent bit of kit - no idea if it's comparable to Charlies kit. Planet X didn't have chains in stock when I bought mine so I just shortened the original one.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
I feel a bit happier with a dedicated SS chain such as this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=22772
or a decent BMX chain.
Iirc, the PC1's are a fair bit cheaper at Decathlon. Think I paid about £3 for one.
Lola, Wooley hat shop do a cheapo conversion thing: http://www.woollyhatshop.com/acatalog/main_page.htm Takes a bit of finding but it's the Dead Head Single Speed Kit
Dead Head Single speed kit converts your existing 7/8/9 Speed hub to single speed includes to rings and all spacers... But at a more realistic price..
Kit Includes :
16 and 18 tooth Sprockets
Spacers
Lock Ring
IN STOCK AND POST FREE
£9.99
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Fishbulb,
Thanks once again. I have taken my bike home, stripped the back end and ordered a kit from Planet-X. I plan to go with Dominion's idea first time out and see how we go then change the ring and chain if/when req'd. The downloads ref the setting up were the most use and have printed them off for the inevitable 'fettling' process.
Although I can't quite work out why, I am thinking that riding 'clipped in' is a must on a SS, on or off road - is there any accepted wisdom? I have more spare sets of pedals than enough so it makes little difference to me except convenience.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
I'd say use the pedals you normally use, I kinda prefer clipless but have used both. The potential downside of flats is you can sort of leave the pedal behind on the upstroke in those udgy moments when you're grinding away at 1/2 an RPM.
Also, get your chain as short as possible (esp with a ramped chainring) and try and get a good chainline. You might even think about a half-link in the chain if you don't fall lucky with the chain length. Charlie bike monger has them.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fishbulb
Must be very frustrating for your missus...
:D:D:D:cool: Nice one!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
I went through a phase of using flats for a year or so when I was attempting to ride 'aggressively' on technical stuff. I have now gone back to clipless for everything. I think it's handy at times to get all the 'drive' you can on a SS, especially when 'thrutching' (technical term) up big hills.
The one thing I will say about riding SS is it makes you (well, me at least) very prone to pushing big gears when (if??) you do go back to geared bikes.
Merrylegs - was getting a bit worried there in case I'd put my cyber foot in it!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fishbulb
I went through a phase of using flats for a year or so when I was attempting to ride 'aggressively' on technical stuff. I have now gone back to clipless for everything. I think it's handy at times to get all the 'drive' you can on a SS, especially when 'thrutching' (technical term) up big hills.
The one thing I will say about riding SS is it makes you (well, me at least) very prone to pushing big gears when (if??) you do go back to geared bikes.
Merrylegs - was getting a bit worried there in case I'd put my cyber foot in it!
I agree, push bigger gears now than i used to.
And don't worry mate, its me that puts my foot in it with the Mrs.
All best Simon:)
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Weird
The only word for it. My conversion kit arrived yesterday morning (less than 36 hrs after I ordered it complete with a free plastic 'pooping reindeer' full of jelly beans AND a packet of decaf Yorshire Tea) so fitted it last night after festive (not) dinner with Mother. All fitted really well and alignment was excellent but old ramped 32 cahinring concerns me.
Just come back from first ride and I'm shagged. I can't spin fast enough downhill and the climbs are going to give me quads like a speed skater. Pleased that all the bike mechanicals worked perfectly tho so highly recommend £15 from On-One.
Thanks for all the advice, no idea where this will take me but it is fun.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Perserverance is the key with Singlespeeding. What doesn't kill you will, quite literally, make you stronger!
RE Chainrings I can recommend these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=22619
As to where it takes you, it might be here: http://ssuk09.com/ or the SS world cup!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Fishbulb,
You don't freelance for the Jehovah's Witness by chance do you?
I'm feeling that conversion to the faith of Single Speed will save my Ti Grip Shift soul from eternal damnation and ligament ruination!
Joking aside, much gratitude for the help; once they are really trashed I will replace both chainring and chain for something more specific.
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Well, I've had a few doors slammed in my face over the years... ;)
I must be veering from enthusiastic to evangelical which is only one step away from boring so I'll shut up now.
Hallelujah!
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
http://www.industrialfellbiking.co.u...2/dsc_4141.jpg
Me t'other day coming off Garburn Pass. Singlespeed isn't exactly ideal for going up there - it's a bit eroded to say the least! Was a nice ride though, despite being 'under biked' compared to some of the others...
Account of the ride here: http://www.industrialfellbiking.co.u...burn/#more-332
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Re: Singlespeed Mountain Bikin
Still loving the singlespeed and doubting if I'll even bother getting my geared bike out of its box again come the summer. Never fails to amaze me what I can get up on it with a bit of grunting, swearing and occasional vomiting on handlebars.... quick question.. off to spend a couple of days at Coed-Y-Brenin at the end of the month and am sorely tempted to take the singlespeed... have any of you ridden yours at CYB or similar trail centre and how did you get on?