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Yep. Always had one in the fleet, but buying my Jones Ti meant I could fill the SS spot with my previous best bike, the Stooge Ti. Supremely light, fast and fun.
SS is very polarising, when it should just be seen as an option.
Riding a SS, and I have a road one that I used to commute on, is a great feeling. Simplicity, silence, that direct feeling of a thick chain running in a straight line, and the extra pump from hammering the pedals to get off the line, are great.
Gears are great though. Hills are more enjoyable and it clearly does allow for increased performance and capability, without much downside.
I'm not in either camp. Both camps is far more fun.
Also, I wish there was a greater understanding of what a cheap bike should be in the UK. At the moment it's seen as a terrible £60 supermarket special with 21 nasty gears. I'd love it if we got the stage where the cheap option was single speed mountain bike style frame with capable, but still cheap components, without it having to be a "fixie" or "dutch bike".
I used to have a SS road bike for riding to work but unfortunately that was taken
My SS MTB is also rocking mudguards, I have much cleaner local muddy rides now and then just leave the muddy bike in my garage to dry completely guilt free (as I did last night)
worth spending a few pounds on the dawes.
Cannondale Trail 29 rigid set up half the time SS and the rest 1x11 is the main bike now. I commute as well on a BMC MC01 Gates Drive SS. Love it.
Well this thread inspired me to take the 1x1 out today for the first proper ride in ages. Did 10 miles on the flat with the family as a warmup and then left them with the car whilst I took the long and hilly route home on my own.
Put it this way, I’m no longer thinking about selling the singlespeed.
Most fun I’ve had out on the bike in ages. Even managed to get within one second of my fastest times on one of our regular off road climbs and don’t feel beaten up at all.
Genuinely smitten again. Cheers all.
Sprocketjockey
Well this thread inspired me to take the 1×1 out today for the first proper ride in ages....
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Most fun I’ve had out on the bike in ages....</span>
If you haven't put Dirt Wizards (or similar) on it yet, do so. The extra volume is really beneficial.
You'll be amazed at the transformation - even betterer. 🙂
I removed two chainrings from my FS, leaving me with a bottom gear of 32/34. It required a lot more force in the climbs of course, but I cleared most of it. I did however have to rest more at the tops, and I came home feeling more tired. But that's good on a 2.5 hour ride.
It required a lot more force in the climbs of course
It needed more power, not more force. You're still lifting the same mass up the same height, ie you're doing the same amount of work against gravity gurning 34/16 up as you would if you were spinning 22/50 up, you just had to do it in a shorter time. I think.
It needed more power, not more force.
No, more force and a bit more power. Force = torque, power = torque * cadence, in cycling terms. I pedalled with a lower cadence, but I went faster too. So much more force on the pedals, but lower cadence, meaning a bit more power.
Ah, ta 🙂
If you haven’t put Dirt Wizards (or similar) on it yet, do so. The extra volume is really beneficial.
You’ll be amazed at the transformation – even betterer. 🙂
Currently running Schwalbe Big Apples in 2.35 but Dirt Wizards are on the wish list. Will need to replace rims / wheels though as mine are too narrow for them at the moment.
SS ? wtf,silly idea.
tried it for a while,about 15 years..... not quite sure yet,maybe give it another 15 years,then make a decision...
Latest gravel ride was on SS
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(1932 Sunbeam Road Racer)
I love your collection of bikes epicyclo. I aspire to owning some great historical bikes and like you, I plan to ride them the way they were meant to be used
worth spending a few pounds on the dawes.
just needs a BB, external freehub, brake blocks, headset, cables, higher bars and longer seatpost (I'm at the limit and need 20mm extra)
think I need to sell it as rolling platform and find an io or summink
I've had loads of them and would love to be back on one, alas with a burgeoning family and being more confined to the local trails they aren't really practical. It's steep enough even with gears around here. Happy memories of SSUK and SSWC though and always say I'm going to try to get to one again.
I swear my shoulders are getting broader. But am also walking a lot more than I'd like to. Not that walking isn't enjoyable, but ... you know, cycling..
Currently running 32-16 on 26ers with 2.4" Mountain King.
The Dingle in Malvern beats me, even on the tarmac stretch. Forget the Beacon. Am I just unfit/weak like a kitten? Should I persevere or go 17T or even 18T up back?
Brutes, the lot of you's 😓
Malvern Rider.
Although walking, or more accurately pushing, is a legitimate SS gear, (sit down, stand up, push) it's far more enjoyable to be riding, so in your case change the ratio a bit and see how you go.
You also need a Charlie the Bike Monger sticker. "Toughen up Princess"
pick the correct gear for your location - there are only two climbs I cannot do locally on 32:16 - both of which i do on about 32:32 on the geared bike and one of them is still a 50/50 chance
Its always a bit of a balance to get the correct gear* and select a route you can do
* best fit they are a compromised at some point
My SS comes out one or twice a year since moving to the lakes 6 years ago it hurts far to much to ride on a regular basis as a crumbly 51 yr old.
Still love riding it
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/37021714895_3dbc7c72f3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/37021714895_3dbc7c72f3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YptY2e ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Raced mine at today’s Gorrick.
Yep still use mine for winter service but have to admit been using the geared of late due to fitness :-/
Should I persevere or go 17T or even 18T up back?
You should try a 17t. I experimented with my gearing a lot and settled on 59GI for my gravel fixed gear. That included changing front ring as a 1 tooth change on chainring gives finer tuning that 1 tooth on cog. When I rode SS MTB I used 54GI. A lot of small hills where I live but no mountains.
Always a balance between being too spinny or too grindy
Still a bit too low on the flat bits of road (especially if trying to keeping up with road rider) but I can get everywhere apart from one 30 metre sharp road hill which I rarely ride anyway.
I had a Pompino and an inbred back in the day on-one was really onone.
I really prefer the 1x stuff nowadays as although I do likeand miss the the simplicity of SS it was everything you need for a commuter the hills just ended up giving my knees grief and it was pain resting them up to only bugger them up the next time you got carried away on a hill.
What handlebars are they epicyclo? I'm looking to change the risers on my paddywagon to something a bit more upright.
I ruddy love my singlespeed - probably my most bling bike now!!
Started off as a cheap DMR steel frame 26er thingy, then got a 29er Scandal with Rebas - it TRANSFORMED my view of bikes..I immediately fell in love with 29ers!
Then it went rigid and I started winning races on it.. So I updated the frame and other parts, and now it's a Travers Angus SS specific Ti frame, with carbon forks, adn Thomson and carbon bits!!
My other SS is a shitty steel gas pipe fixie! I love that too!!
I'll happily ride SS all year round - not just for winter!!
DrP
I shall be out on my High Latitude at the MNPR tonight. Mainly because the forks on the full susser are in bits as I didn't have sufficient shock oil to re-build them yesterday. Oops.
It's on 36/16 at the moment, and I've no time when I get home to change it. I hope Harry's new route isn't too steep.
tails
What handlebars are they epicyclo? I’m looking to change the risers on my paddywagon to something a bit more upright.
They are celluloid cover original Great North Road bars from 1932. It's a shape I have used a lot over the years.
The nearest I can find these days are branded Satori or One23 with names like Minotaur, Bullbar, or Smooth Drop.
http://www.satoribike.com/pro.php?m=d&pid=33&cid=18&f=2
EG on my latest bike for gravel and green roads:
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The USP for me is that not only is that a bend I find comfortable, but the bar diameter is for mtb size controls, and as far as I'm concerned mtb levers are superior to road - less flex.
I need to set mine up as a winter bike again. And toughen up princess.
Where we used to live it was my most ridden bike as it was always ready(ish) to ride due to teh total lack of maintenance on it.
Everywhere here requires a bit more of a road spin to get anywhere, which kind of kills the fun a bit.