Single Speed.... convince me please

[utahdog2003]

In the end, my other misgivings aside, you're just taking away things that make a bike cover ground faster and easier 99% of the time.
So if thats cool, do it; just don't hack an old bike up to do it.

There are places in my state, the great flat state of Florida, where suspension and gears are overkill...any suspension, any gears...period. One of my local trails is a nest of tight twisty singletrack with sharp banked switchback after sharp banked switchback. Sure, there are the odd logs or roots and the like, but for the most part, taking a hardtail or a full suspension bike with 24-27 gears is just a waste. You never shift, and the suspension is just weight. Why not make that trail as fun as possible by hitting it with a single speed rigid bike. Instant interest in a dull local park. Fast, light, and a giggly good time. No hacking...this conversion is all bolt-on parts, a Surly Fixxer (which replaces the cassette body on a Shimano hub with a cartridge bearing and a thread-on body to accept BMX freewheels). Singlespeeds aren't for everywhere, and they aren't intended to be. Would I own a singlespeed as my only bike? No. It's just another option in the quiver.

 

[al]

OOOOOOOOH! Pretty.







Thats all!


Al.

 

[Defiant]

Thanx for all the replies sofar, I've sort of ordered mine allready..... will take a couple of weeks though to show it of here
Will mainly be a commuter..... a VERY SWEET commuter :!:

Is the Yo ready?

 

[Wold Ranger]

SS

What ratio U running on that chap? I second your view too! I recently asked a youngish lad in my LBS who runs some SS bikes and he came back with a pretty intelligent reply I thought. "Its a state of mind is SS, when U ride for pleasure, which we all do, you choose your route and terrain, so for shallowish Fire road blasting and old railway track/ canal towpaths style speed riding an SS is perfect. If you were off up to Dalby, The Dales or The Peak you would choose a geared bike"

 

[yo-eddy]

Thanx for all the replies sofar, I've sort of ordered mine allready..... will take a couple of weeks though to show it of here
Will mainly be a commuter..... a VERY SWEET commuter :!:

Is the Yo ready?

What YO :?: :roll: ......... no serious, the YO went to Rody to see if anything might be possible with it.......it was pretty rusted, dented etc...
My Singlespeed will not be a YO

 

[Defiant]

What YO :?: :roll: ......... no serious, the YO went to Rody to see if anything might be possible with it.......it was pretty rusted, dented etc...
My Singlespeed will not be a YO

could you save the Yo?,....

 

[yo-eddy]

What YO :?: :roll: ......... no serious, the YO went to Rody to see if anything might be possible with it.......it was pretty rusted, dented etc...
My Singlespeed will not be a YO

could you save the Yo?,....

I couldn't :cry: it's up to Rody (GROOVY) now

 

[reanimation]

If I get a SS it will be for the same reason as the retrobiker who started this thread. I left MTB for BMX, almost soley cos my bike was too fragile and big to muck about on.

How lucky we are in 2008 to have all these options, so many diverse bikes can be built now, often choosing is the hardest bit!

Currently I have two 8 speed bikes, one for road and one for trail/tracks

the SS hater will be pleased to know my new retro one will have either 21 or 14 gears. for old times sakes

I was gonna start a thread like this as now i'm in the flats of manchester rather than hilly Yorkshire, a SS could be a bit of simplistic fun, and I'd probably use a retro to do it on. However, i also fancy a hard core XC bike, so who knows.

Finally when we used to use BMX's to knock about on road and off in fuggin hilly Yorks, really did give a weight lifting kind of training to the legs and upper body, rather than wheelie up in 1st 1990 style!

Well thats if we didn't get off and push first!

long live fun.

 

[utahdog2003]

Re: SS

What ratio U running on that chap? I second your view too! I recently asked a youngish lad in my LBS who runs some SS bikes and he came back with a pretty intelligent reply I thought. "Its a state of mind is SS, when U ride for pleasure, which we all do, you choose your route and terrain, so for shallowish Fire road blasting and old railway track/ canal towpaths style speed riding an SS is perfect. If you were off up to Dalby, The Dales or The Peak you would choose a geared bike"

If you're asking me about the white EWR, it's a 32-16. The ubiquitous 2-1!

 

[Wold Ranger]

Ratio

Thanks for the reply bro, its just I'm setting up my own SS and having a fairly flat rides option locally(or mega hills if I choose ) I wondered what ratio U were running. I found 2:1 a bit low so am currently running 36:16 but thats maybe a bit high so may split it with 36:17. I've SS'd a Zaskar LE Team Edition so could be in big trouble now!