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I had my first ride out on the new to me On-One Pompino yesterday afternoon. I picked it up for next to nothing last year and then promptly ruined my back so haven't had a chance to use it!
Firstly, what a bike! Equipped with a Racing Ralph 33C up front and a Landcruiser 28C out back it zipped along through the lanes, I didn't need to worry about riding in the rubbish in the middle of the road where the hedge had grown out to far and I took on a few km of bridleway/byway without missing a beat. Fantastic!
I rode out from home, took a lane that I rarely take and found a byway that I've only been down once before on the mtb because it was a bit boring, headed off down it and came out 1km later grinning! Carried on into the village of Halse and took a right turn I've not taken before, headed up a short steep incline (first time up out the pedals, that stung!) and saw a bridleway heading back down hill on my left, followed this down until it turned fully overgrown and came out the bottom covered in sticky weed. Carried on down the road then followed the river back towards home, very lumpy and bumpy where the mud had dried quickly after lots of rain but all rideable. Quick sprint home to get back for tea! 27km in 1h20m with approx 200m ascent. First ride was a success and my position was pretty good, possibly a little stretched out as I couldn't really get down onto the drops.
Few observations
- Freewheel or BB was a bit graunchy, if it is freewheel does anybody have a recommendation that isn't £100
-Gearing was good but I wouldn't want to climb off road.
- Odd combo of tyres worked really well for dry trails, may find a larger size semi slick for the back
- It's going to take a while to build up to climbing anything worthy of being called a 'hill'
- Canti Brakes suck. I think I need to get on youtube and workout if I can set them up any better.
- I was going to get the frame resprayed, now I think I'll leave it as it was really great not to care about the paint work!
Any comments welcome!
I converted my Pompetamine (basically the same frame but with disk mounts) from Alfine hub to single speed. I bought a set of On-One wheels for £60 or something like that and got a single speed conversion kit, put some 28c tyres on and was good to go. I've since changed the tyres to WTB Riddler 37c and it still rolls fast enough on smooth tarmac but can handle reasonable off-road as well but it's erm "interesting" in mud!
That's interesting! I didn't know that 37 would fit!
-Gearing was good but I wouldn’t want to climb off road.
– Odd combo of tyres worked really well for dry trails, may find a larger size semi slick for the back
– It’s going to take a while to build up to climbing anything worthy of being called a ‘hill’
– Canti Brakes suck. I think I need to get on youtube and workout if I can set them up any better.
Sounds like what you really need is a mountain bike
The best Singlespeed freewheel that i have found for reasonable cash is a Halo Clickster, mine has lasted really well compared to others of same price:
That’s interesting! I didn’t know that 37 would fit!
Just! This is the wheelset, obviously disk specific.
Gearing is somewhat personal but I kept the original chainring at 39T and originally went with a 16T cog but it's now got 18T. As for hills - spin until it gets a bit like hard work then just stand up and see how far you get 🙂 It does depend on the hill profile as to how I'll do on it - the ones with the steep bit at the bottom are best. I can usually manage those hills with a single chevron but not those with double.
Try fixed gear, it's more fun. And maybe easier on the uphills. And will avoid any problems with freewheels.
I replaced the brakes on my Pompino with V brakes, and suitable levers. They work much better than the cantilevers.
The best Singlespeed freewheel that i have found for reasonable cash is a Halo Clickster
Agree. If you don't want to pay for a White Industries then the Clickster is the only other option.
Unless of course you are not that obsessive about smooth freewheels - the slight knocks, lumpiness and slow take up of cheaper freewheels ruin the single speed experience for me.
I'll give the halo a go. I'm actually not sure what gearing is on there at the moment but I am keen to give fixed a go!
I've got a pair of v brakes in the spares box, presumably I would need different levers to use them? I don't particularly like the levers that are fitted, they're a bit narrow so I may try the spare sora levers I have with the canti's first.
Weeksy - I have a mountain bike, it's a 160mm travel enduro gnar thing and it's made anything that's not pointing straight downhill really boring! I really wanted something with less travel but this came up for sale on chain reaction cheaper than I could get a second hand T-130 so I went for it.
When looking at other Pompino threads I notice a lot of people seem to have riser stems on, I've got a 7 degree stem on at the moment but feel like a bit more height would be nice, anybody using anything steeper? Presumably I would have to go slightly longer if I found a steeper stem?
Change the pads (for something decent) on the cantis first before anything drastic. They are a bit poop but are usually good enough, especially on road.
I am keen to give fixed a go!
Definitely worth it. I have ridden fixed gear off road for the last 10 years (because of the dull off road where I live).
You won't be worried about poor brakes as much because you won't be using them much. In fact you don't need them at all.
Singlespeeds are ace. Remember to take a packet of sweets out with you so you can offer them around to your friends at the top of any hill you've just blasted up, all nonchalant like, while trying not to cough a lung up.
<wheeze> Jelly baby? </wheeze>