Singlespeed 29er - should I really?
Discussion
Something like this.
I've got an 8 1/2 mile commute to work, mostly tow path with a bit of tarmac and crossing one grassy field. It's all relatively flat (at least, as flat as you can get in South Wales).
At the moment I'm riding it on my Orange Crush, which is rather unsuitable - big nobblies and a long travel fork don't really work so optimally in that environment.
However, something like the ebay bike above would do the task admirably, right?
I've got an 8 1/2 mile commute to work, mostly tow path with a bit of tarmac and crossing one grassy field. It's all relatively flat (at least, as flat as you can get in South Wales).
At the moment I'm riding it on my Orange Crush, which is rather unsuitable - big nobblies and a long travel fork don't really work so optimally in that environment.
However, something like the ebay bike above would do the task admirably, right?
Edited by GHW on Thursday 5th June 22:56
I have a single speed MTB with 26" wheels with slicks for commuting and it's absolutely fine. lack of gears make it really "point & shoot" and hills aren't too much of a problem either once your legs get used to it.
From the ebay description the gearing on this bike might be a bit low for mainly flat road/track use, perhaps being more suited to getting up steep hills off road. I kept mine on the 42 tooth (or 44, can't quite remember) front chainring with a smaller rear cog than the one featured on that GT (16 tooth I think?) at the rear, which allows me to pedal to about 33 or 34 kmh before my legs spin uselessly.
You coudl always buy a smaller rear cog (13 tooth perhaps) if you find you're spinning too much, as the bike looks great!
From the ebay description the gearing on this bike might be a bit low for mainly flat road/track use, perhaps being more suited to getting up steep hills off road. I kept mine on the 42 tooth (or 44, can't quite remember) front chainring with a smaller rear cog than the one featured on that GT (16 tooth I think?) at the rear, which allows me to pedal to about 33 or 34 kmh before my legs spin uselessly.
You coudl always buy a smaller rear cog (13 tooth perhaps) if you find you're spinning too much, as the bike looks great!
At the moment I'm trying to use the Orange as if its a singlespeed - leaving it in top gear everywhere. I think that gives me a 32/11 ratio (no big ring on it 'cos of the bash guard), which isn't too difficult at all on the wee hills I have to climb, and is pretty easy to spin out when I get on the flat.
Another option of course is to try to blag myself onto the company cycle to work scheme (they usually only accept applicants in March in time for the next financial year) and get myself something spanky new and get a few accessories with it at the same time. Hmmm.
Another option of course is to try to blag myself onto the company cycle to work scheme (they usually only accept applicants in March in time for the next financial year) and get myself something spanky new and get a few accessories with it at the same time. Hmmm.
I can see the enthusiasm for single speed ,its kinda different,simple and an easy excuse to oneself not to have to ride the same as most other cyclists.However, i have a 29er and have come to the opinion that they're slow.Its a marketing fad and there is no benefit...at all.The roll over the bumps thing is neither here nor there, the added weight in the wheels and tyres kill it for acceleration and as for rolling better, what you gain in mass you loose in areo dynamics.Against the clock and on the power meter, they take more energy to move up hill and on the flat.It was an interesting idea ,and they look cool!
Well, the singlespeed idea was mostly just to keep maintenance as simple as possible - this is a bike that is going to be used in the rain and I don't want to have to worry about mechs getting gummed up with wet grot.
29er... well, everyone's banging on about them at the moment, and it seems if I want an off-the-shelf singlespeed rig, it's going to be a 29er. I'm trying to avoid going for a 700c road bike since I want something a little more rugged - it'll need to go up and down kerbs, across fields and down lumpy gravel canal paths.
29er... well, everyone's banging on about them at the moment, and it seems if I want an off-the-shelf singlespeed rig, it's going to be a 29er. I'm trying to avoid going for a 700c road bike since I want something a little more rugged - it'll need to go up and down kerbs, across fields and down lumpy gravel canal paths.
How about the Specialized Tricross single-speed? http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=... It's a single-speed cyclo-cross bike. Light, decent clearances, aluminium frame with carbon forks, costs £450 new.
Edited by wl606 on Sunday 8th June 11:49
Edited by wl606 on Sunday 8th June 11:52
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