Simple Poll, Do you Own a Single Speed MTB

[giant-one]

Started building one early this year, rode it around my works yard on my lunch, went away for the wkend and knacked my knee in again. Had 7 weeks of riding :roll:, decided to knock SS on the head and use my gears.

After that waffle, No is the answer. :roll:

 

[Unclejack]

Short answer no. don't get it.

Simplicity in design, yes, great. But, surely by definition an all terrain bicyle was a bike that was designed to go as far as possible , both up and down hills,over mixed terrain before the rider would have to get off and push. so if the frames light but so insubstantial that it folds on the first kerb, or so heavy you get a chairlift to the top of the hill, its not a mountain bike. if you fit tyres that are fine on road but won't pull you through the gloop, its not a mountain bike, or brakes that woon't stop you on that mountain decent in the rain, its not a mountain bike. so for me, with mortal legs and ability, not having the option to drop into that 18" bottom gear is going to limit performance and detract from the original purpose. and the bike becomes something else other than a mountainbike.

 

[velomaniac]

Your description of an mtb almost seems to rule out most stuff we call retro. Are you sure your on the right site

 

[Radoslaw]

Build few singlespeeds in the past and must say it's just not for me. For a commuter, road bike it's a brilliant idea but I've found it very annoying as off road thing. If I ever build another MTB as a singlespeed that will be only cheap/tryout project for not demanding local trials.

 

[theredchili]

If you answer "yes", there should be a supplementary poll "...and is it a Kona?" - I seem to see more Konas converted to singlespeed than any other brand. FWIW, mine's a Solitude.

: P

No ,but ive finished mine and are very happy with it

 

[Unclejack]

how do you figure that? I'm saying that in my opion going ss would reduce my ability to (atempt) to take the bike to all places i want to go on it, the limiting factor now being the strenght of my legs. So then it stops being a bike i can (atempt to) ride anywhere...[/quote]

 

[brocklanders023]

Don't have one and don't think I ever will as I can't see the point for the riding I do. I like gears and think a light geared bike can be built for not too much money.

 

[velomaniac]

I wasn't picking a fight Uncle Jack, your right SS often makes no sense, makes me smile though so its limitations are shrugged off

 

[Unclejack]

like you said at the start its a marmite thing.

 

[petertreglown]

Whilst out on my single speed rigid mountain bike I have noticed other people out on full sus rigs looking very tech and serious...I started riding off road bikes in the mid eighties and as I have rediscoverd with a 'retro rigid single speed bike' it is just as much fun as it ever was and now believe that 10 speed rapid fire and 140mm of travel is for those who have more money than sense!!