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
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!
Last edited by fishbulb; 10-12-2008 at 10:15 PM.
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!!
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?
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
Hills and Guinness!
Essential add on for my Singlespeed, a Surly Tugnutt chain tensioner, cos it opens bottles of beer
Hills and Guinness!
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
Last edited by fishbulb; 11-12-2008 at 11:46 AM.