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I am single speed curious at the moment. For the Winter ahead I want a bike that has the minimum ongoing maintenance for as little outlay as possible. This has to be done on a budget as meagre as a Tory Benefit package.
Rough vision is a rigid disc brake equipped parts bin and classified bike suited to easy trails and bridles.
First thing to decide on is the frame. Current options are a Boardman Pro HT(I bought of the classifieds when under the influence. A Scott Yecora that lives in the garage rafters or a Hard Rock that I can get my hands on for a nominal sum.
What would be the best bet and why?
The lightest to really benefit from SS.Or the one that has the best mud clearances.
I use my SS Cx bike more than all the others put together. Now running a SS mtb with rigid forks. Bugger all fixing to do. Cheap. You'll cope 95% of the time as well as your mates on full sus stuff.
hardrock, tough and fun. plus would make a much cooler singlespeed 😀
You'll cope 95% of the time as well as your mates on full sus stuff.
either you are a riding god or your mates are sh1t
Sell all of them on the classifieds, then buy a Singular Swift, or maybe one of those On-one SS frames. Then you won't have the ugliness of a chain tensioner clinging to the back of your bike like some kind of primeval parasite.
(Real answer: probably doesn't make a blind bit of difference).
It really should be a 15 year old steel kona frame, but I'd probably go for the lightest otherwise, you're going to spend a fair bit of time out of the saddle if that makes any difference.
I ran my medium Boardman Team as SS last autumn/winter, with a DMR tensioner, freehub spacers, a 22t ring robbed from a cheapo cassette, a 9sp chain, some short chainring bolts, and an unramped 32t chainring. It worked fine.
Initially, I didn't need a tensioner as it hit the magic ratio with 22t/32t (it was a bit spinny), but the chain wore and lengthened quickly so I had to add one. A BMX chain might have fared better.
So the consensus so far is for the lightest of the three. I guess I will have to get the kitchen scales out tomorrow then. Will weight them and have a little rumination before reporting back.
First thoughts are that I will need to find some disc ready forks. Seem to recall the Scott was made for 80mm fork and the Boardman I guess 100mm. From memory the Scott will need a longer steerer too. Best I check tomorrow.
sell em all, buy an on-one