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I posted a few months ago asking for suggestions of what frames there were out there that I could run as a single speed without a tensioner. I hd lots of really helpful suggestions, and advice on new geometry that helped to narrow down what I was looking for. I looked into all the suggestions and now have a Brother Big Bro. I love it, and it feels perfect for me and the kind of riding I do. I'd never heard of the brand, so thank you to those who suggested it and also to Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst who were cheerful and professional throughout the ordering and building process 🙂
img src="
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>" alt="big bro" />
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<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>" alt="big bro again" />
That’s a great looking bike. This place is a gold mine of advice and information. Glad to see it paid off for you.
thank you 🙂
Bloody hell. Flickr is still a thing - who knew? 😄
Nice looking bike is that. Well done. 🙂
Another admirer here! Love it!
This place is slipping:
Grass needs cut and your wood pile is lacking.
Nice bike though 👍
haha flickr! yes I resurrected my login just to post these photos 😀 Don't know what how else to...
looks nice skinny steel that, lovely.
sadex punk - I've conquered sourdough too thanks to your contributed wisdom! 🙂
Love that, looks brilliant 🙂
thanks all 🙂
Loving the looks, but more background needed, why SS?
sadex punk – I’ve conquered sourdough too thanks to your contributed wisdom! 🙂
conquered it? youve done better than me then 😀
Loving the looks, but more background needed, why SS?
Not a question that has ever required an answer. Looks fun, can't say i adore the colourscheme but other than that i would put it on my list.
Looks really nice that 🙂 Perfect for long, lazy days in the countryside. Build it yourself?
That looks really great! Hope you really enjoy it
Looks nice, I quite like the understated but classy colour scheme. Can't go wrong with a steel rigid ss as long as it fits well and you like the geometry. It looks like a versatile machine with all its mounts so even in 5-10 years time when you've replaced it with something more shinny it'll still be doing bike packing and trips to Tesco.
Keep posting with your adventures 👌
but more background needed, why SS?
That's one of: "If you have to ask the question, you won't understand the answer" type things. SS would appear to untick all the boxes: harder work; always in the wrong gear; etc. but once you build a bit of leg strength and extend your cadence range it's only really the extremes of gradient that are a problem - pan flat is frustrating if you are geared for the hills and vice-versa.
I had an SS road bike that I moved on a couple of years ago and been hankering after another ever since so a month or so ago I converted the fat bike to SS. Makes a silly bike even sillier, it's an absolute hoot!
“If you have to ask the question, you won’t understand the answer“
As a single speed and fixed gear rider, this is the absolute best answer to the dreaded ‘why?’ question I’ve seen to date.
Richpenny I didn’t build it, whilst I could, I can’t wait a year and a half to do that 😆
Ref the colour, it’s black and gold speckle and looks lovely in real life. I wasn’t sure about the idea of gold, possibly too blingy, but I’m glad I did.
I love SS, you need to try it to understand it!
Johnny RM I couldn’t see your photo - did you sell your pipe dream? This is a Medium frame and fits me really well 😊
“If you have to ask the question, you won’t understand the answer“
As a single speed and fixed gear rider, this is the absolute best answer to the dreaded ‘why?’ question I’ve seen to date.
Same here, but without the fixed bit. That's just weird... 😉
Looks lovely.enjoy.great to have a follow up
without the fixed bit. That’s just weird… 😉
Yup, completely daft - great fun though!
Looks fantastic Anna. Well done. Good to back on teh big wheels? 🙂
hope this works...
Aggressive AF, nice work!
Thanks Andy. I love it! It does yes, 29er and rigid forks really work. You’ve actually cycled down the track in the 2nd pic on your Ford cortina beige on-one ss.... many moons ago!
Have had a singlespeed or fixie since about 2006, can't see me ever being without one.
But I wouldn't want one as my only bike as they're not great when you're feeling a bit rough and when riding with others who are on geared bikes. Can seem to be a bit antisocial at times due to the different speeds at which you ride at.
Also after a ride this morning I spent half an hour cleaning my geared cross bike which wouldn't have been the case if I'd have taken my (much loved and abused) singlespeed Stooge.
Why (rigid) singlespeed speed?
I'm in the wrong gear
I left my forks locked out on that last descent
Chain suck
I've bent my rear mech 😭
My suspension is a bit hard
I'm not that knackered so why am I climbing this hill in 2nd gear at 4mph
How has that singlespeed just overtaken me?! 🤔
Singlespeed means there is no shame in pushing
More than two hoses from your bars is a mess
Light Strong or Cheap...pick all three
Singlespeed makes you faster
I think you will find it was “Volvo Biscuit Beige” and 133 Moons ago 😉
Thats it, stealth single speed 😁 133 moons yes, though I haven’t checked your maths for leap years 😉
So is the formatting on this thread broken for everyone or just me? I've reported it as I suspect it was my 'list' that broke it 🙂
It’s ok now 😊 like the list, not quite sure about the last but one having just swapped an old alu frame with tensioner for a brand new steel frame with Hope stuff 😆
they work well with a drop bar too
I can’t think of anything worse rocketdog, an off road bike with drop bars. To be fair though I have said that about both ss and night riding in the distant past, both of which I now love 😁 I like to look at stuff when I’m cycling, people with drop bars seem to just look at the ground.
133 moons yes, though I haven’t checked your maths for leap years 😉
Yeah, ok difference calendar/ lunar so 137 moons ago. 🙂
Hmmm still using that Ti Brooks saddle #investment. Anyway, nice bike mate, enjoy!
If anybody has to ask "why singlespeed", the answer is "to make our annual trip to Afan, in January, more interesting"
I blame Spooky_329 - he made me do it.