Discussion
Just bought this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
Also bought some panaracer XC Fire tyres and a Juicy 7 rear brake off ebay to fit at the weekend.
May also need to get a new chainring as the on on it is 42 tooth and may be a bit big for off road but I'll see when I get it.
Just got to find somewhere to keep it now!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
Also bought some panaracer XC Fire tyres and a Juicy 7 rear brake off ebay to fit at the weekend.
May also need to get a new chainring as the on on it is 42 tooth and may be a bit big for off road but I'll see when I get it.
Just got to find somewhere to keep it now!
Unless your super fit I can't see the point of ss. A few local riders have this setup but they end up pushing them up hill! I'm all for reducing unwanted gubbins but this seems to far imo.
I only have one (middle) ring up front, using a rolhoff chain guide / stay. This eliminates the need for an extra shifter, der and cables. Big rings are no use off road, plus the granny ring is absurd. So that leaves me with a rear cassette of 9 gears. Of which I only use about 7, of the original 27. I did experiment by staying in the 2:1 ratio but it's a huge compromise - too slow downhill and impossible up some steep sections.
Paul
I only have one (middle) ring up front, using a rolhoff chain guide / stay. This eliminates the need for an extra shifter, der and cables. Big rings are no use off road, plus the granny ring is absurd. So that leaves me with a rear cassette of 9 gears. Of which I only use about 7, of the original 27. I did experiment by staying in the 2:1 ratio but it's a huge compromise - too slow downhill and impossible up some steep sections.
Paul
KUB3 said:
Unless your super fit I can't see the point of ss. A few local riders have this setup but they end up pushing them up hill! I'm all for reducing unwanted gubbins but this seems to far imo.
I only have one (middle) ring up front, using a rolhoff chain guide / stay. This eliminates the need for an extra shifter, der and cables. Big rings are no use off road, plus the granny ring is absurd. So that leaves me with a rear cassette of 9 gears. Of which I only use about 7, of the original 27. I did experiment by staying in the 2:1 ratio but it's a huge compromise - too slow downhill and impossible up some steep sections.
Paul
I only have one (middle) ring up front, using a rolhoff chain guide / stay. This eliminates the need for an extra shifter, der and cables. Big rings are no use off road, plus the granny ring is absurd. So that leaves me with a rear cassette of 9 gears. Of which I only use about 7, of the original 27. I did experiment by staying in the 2:1 ratio but it's a huge compromise - too slow downhill and impossible up some steep sections.
Paul
Each to their own, all I know is that I've had a go on my dads Kona unit and quite liked it.Where I live its pretty flat and I rekon I'll get on ok with a single speed, if I want to go up and down hills I'll take my Klein Mantra.
Even if I decide I don't like it, I can put gears on it and I've got myself a nice rigid bike.
Thanks,
Phill
phill,have got Panaracer XC's 2.1's on mine and in the mud are very hard work.Have put a pair of Mud tyres on at 1.9's and it seems far easier.
Singlespeed is fun.I ride with some local guys,who vary in age from early 20's to nearly 60's.It is a social meet and at times can be a 'bit' frustrating with getting a good work out.The singlespeed helps build that quicker than gears.Aerobic capacity is bigger,leg speed increases and muscle build up makes you stronger.This time of year,there are times when walking can be needed,but usually with the geared boys all walking too.It gives a better ability to judge momentum and control,by scrubbing off as little speed as possible.I also find the lack of gears to clean gives me an extra 3/4hr of doing other things.At first it seems a pretty illogical thing to do,but some of the guys I ride with, want to 'adopt' one of their other bikes to single speeds.If they don't like it,then they can put the gears back on.
The best part is,when you do go back to gears,you laugh at your mates,who on a small climb shout'ah no,can't overcome that gear here' as you spin any gear past them.
I only seem to loose the distance on the local canal path to me,the gears will win,although on a 2 to 1 gear,I can still top 25mph,as a recorded speed,so no slouch.Running out of leg cadence is in the mind and people who criticise something they have never tried,had better try it before commenting!!!
Singlespeed is fun.I ride with some local guys,who vary in age from early 20's to nearly 60's.It is a social meet and at times can be a 'bit' frustrating with getting a good work out.The singlespeed helps build that quicker than gears.Aerobic capacity is bigger,leg speed increases and muscle build up makes you stronger.This time of year,there are times when walking can be needed,but usually with the geared boys all walking too.It gives a better ability to judge momentum and control,by scrubbing off as little speed as possible.I also find the lack of gears to clean gives me an extra 3/4hr of doing other things.At first it seems a pretty illogical thing to do,but some of the guys I ride with, want to 'adopt' one of their other bikes to single speeds.If they don't like it,then they can put the gears back on.
The best part is,when you do go back to gears,you laugh at your mates,who on a small climb shout'ah no,can't overcome that gear here' as you spin any gear past them.
I only seem to loose the distance on the local canal path to me,the gears will win,although on a 2 to 1 gear,I can still top 25mph,as a recorded speed,so no slouch.Running out of leg cadence is in the mind and people who criticise something they have never tried,had better try it before commenting!!!
I commute on a SS - an old MTB with horizontal dropouts. Works great for me, it's not hard to find a gear that's low enough to get you up hills, high enough to get some speed on the flat, and who cares about down? Gravity accelerates you anyway. I find I actually commute much quicker on SS as there's no way to make the uphill bit any easier - you just have to get on with it.
It's done about 1000 miles since I put it together, it gets parked outside in the rain at work, and beyond some oil for the chain it's needed no maintenance whatsoever. When I've used geared bikes they've either needed regular faffing or quickly get noisy and start jumping cogs.
Been pondering an off-road SS for those quick hour-or-so blasts around the local woods. No massive hills to contend with there, and less maintenance over winter would be great. I was actually watching that Voodoo auction on ebay - great choice Phil!
It's done about 1000 miles since I put it together, it gets parked outside in the rain at work, and beyond some oil for the chain it's needed no maintenance whatsoever. When I've used geared bikes they've either needed regular faffing or quickly get noisy and start jumping cogs.
Been pondering an off-road SS for those quick hour-or-so blasts around the local woods. No massive hills to contend with there, and less maintenance over winter would be great. I was actually watching that Voodoo auction on ebay - great choice Phil!
Thank for the kind words, now got the juicy 7 on the back and a 32 toot ring on the front. My tyre should arrive today and hoefully I'll get out on it properly either tonight or tomorrow morning.
By the way, I went for the panaracers as I've got them on the Klein and seem to get on with them pretty well.
By the way, I went for the panaracers as I've got them on the Klein and seem to get on with them pretty well.
Well, the verdict. I took the bike around my usual route over at the lookout in Bracknell. I love it, alright you have to work a bit harder at times, sit back and accept you can't go so fast at others and occasionally push, but the overall experience is great. It took me about five minutes longer to do the 7 mile route than it does on my Klein.
Just been out in the snow this morning again and still very pleased
Recommended.
Phill
Just been out in the snow this morning again and still very pleased
Recommended.
Phill
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