 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
After much debate on knees and whether it would help or hinder my training I finally built up my Cotic Simple (26") a couple of months ago. Here are a few observations from a SS newbie.
Single speed builds are easy
A shimano QR and a chain tug are sufficient to keep things in place
My thumbs keep on changing gear
32:19 (15mph at 125rpm)is spinny until you arrive at a Chilterns climb
Removing the ability change gear makes you work HARD both physically and, more surprisingly to me, mentally. There are times I've been convinced I cannot make it and yet, with some MTFU, I gradually grind my way up climbs I ordinarily use 24:36. Each revolution is a victory.
Rides become a series of intervals
Not giving a shit about drivetrain stops all the skirting around mud issues and allows you to get out when you might otherwise consider turbo/road boringness
People who race these things are nuts
It's a lot of FUN and a great way of getting a different riding experience if you're a bit bored.
Might I do this often enough to warrant a 29er.......
I built my first SS early last year to use as a commuter. Liked it so much i've been using it more than any other bike through the winter. I think it has made me a better climber as it forces you to keep out of the saddle for longer.
SS + Rigid has been a lot of fun. Really makes you think about your lines and technique more.
32:19 on a 26! That'd drive me insane. Get a 16t on there and deal with it 😉
If you're gradually grinding it's clearly too low, SS should be all about smashing the climbs into submission 😉
Also, surely if it's harder than normal, you're not normally riding hard enough?...
Welcome to the club .... Prepare to get an influx of female attention too 😉
A beard will suddenly appear followed by a craving for real ale.
Welcome to the world of sandal wearing 🙂
It's a nice way to travel, love mine, but it's been neglected of late due to it gaining a rather fat sister in the shed.
Benji - i've had the same problem since the fat sister arrived
However, i decided over the weekend that its time to make the Puffin a Singlespeed
Can't wait!! 🙂
32:16 on a 26er is the law.
What gearing you planning on using Jon? I went for a Specialized Fatboy, liked the look of your Puffin at that very wet Brass Monkey.
32:18 on 26"
32:20 on Fat
seems to suit me fine in the Dark Peak
32:16 is fine on the Malverns with alot of gnarrr!!!!! 😈
32:16 in mud on Chilterns climbs = walking. I'd rather spin out on the flats and just get up most of the climbs (eg Hill Road, Wormesly etc). No beard, ale or sandals yet 🙂
32:16 on a 26er is the law.
Is that the case for my 32:18 29er? Just interested.
Welcome to the club, but why'd it take you so long to see the light?
Is that the case for my 32:18 29er? Just interested.
You're legally in the clear there.
Is that the case for my 32:18 29er? Just interested.
You're legally in the clear there.
Phew!!
I love my rigid single speed and was just about to join this thread and share the enthusiasm. The talk of gear ratios and beards has put me off.
ok, i use 33:12 on my SS commuter rigid 29er. A few small hills on the way but all doable with some effort. Couldn't take it off road as need the momentum from the road!
why'd it take you so long to see the light
Worried about knees
surely if it's harder than normal, you're not normally riding hard enough?...
It's hard to make yourself nearly vomit when you have the bail out of gears
Really makes you think about your lines and technique more
This!
Oh no ! This has just prompted me to decide, Next ride on my 26" full suss, I shall see just how well I can get on by leaving it in 32 / 16.
Have been hankering for a build project....mutter, mutter,.....thanks.
36:15 on a light, rigid 26er. Perfect for the Surry Hills/Gorricks etc.
How hilly are the Chilterns?
I started with 32:18 (26") in the lakes. Had the same ratio on the 29er, but dropped down to 19t. I don't gurn quite as hard any more.
32:16 on a 29er works really well for our bearded, sandal wearing, real ale farting, Singlespeeders and its quick enough to escape the screaming hoardes of ladies on the climbs in the Chilterns 😉
Worried about knees
I actually find it's geared riding that knacks my knees, cos I sit and spin more. SS forces changes in position all the time, which helps me loads (and better on my back too).
32:17 here, does me fine on the South Downs and Welsh Trail centres.
Took me about two years to stop fannying about and swapping the bike between SS and an Alfine.
Regarding knee's, I only find it a problem during prolonged high cadence spinning (i.e. road sections), I think its almost better on my knees off road as you tend to stand for the tougher bits which means your knees are at a kinder angle, with gears you tend to drop down the cassette and then grind away anyway but in a seated position.
Each to their own I s'pose. I must be a spinner by nature - I've got my fair share of top 10 stravas on these S.Oxon hills and am sometimes not a million miles away from Pedalhead and I'm still faster spinning on gears than putting max into single speed gearing.
Anyhoo that's not the point it's hard work and it's fun!
32:16 rigid (heavy) 26er here, built for commuting, taken of road occasionally. Good fun, but I'm not selling my geared bikes yet! There are too many climbs about which are only just about doable in 36:42 and I'd end up compromising routes and leaving good descents out because of it.
36-18 rigid,first ride tonight with fashion victim ovalised chainring.
SS is good for my knees (and one of my knees is particularly knackered)
32-16 rigid soul.. hmmmmmm gotta strip those gears off again, I nearly took 'em off last week but relented
gonna make it happen
Hiya Benji!!
Glad i inspired you!!
I try not to get bogged down in all the science so will just be using the SS components of the other SS bike
I guess it'll be a 32:16 🙂
32:17 at the moment (just because it's easier) on 26" rigid Kilaeua. Can't fault it. Been converted (me, and the bike) for years. Glad to have converted many others along the way - including the LBS owner 🙂
sparkyrhino - Member36-18 rigid,first ride tonight with fashion victim [b]ovalised chainring[/b].
Eh? Hows that work?
jimster01 - Member
32:16 is fine on the Malverns with alot of gnarrr!!!!!
A 29er with 32:18 in the Malverns is also a lot of gnarrrr!!!
34-20 rigid 26er 32-20 rigid 29er, beard and quite angry looking.
The bike I ride the most is a single speed. But full sus. It teaches you to carry speed, and allows you to put the power down out of corner with instant pick up.
For many years I had a single speed DH bike. This was even better. DH is all about focus. Taking gears out of equation meant I could concentrate more and feel the flow! Surprisingly, the only negatives were on flat out sections where you could spin out. I did a few races single speed and think it was actually an advantage, for a mid pack duffer like myself anyway.
It may well grind the knees a little, but it gives you strong legs and body to wrench it up a hill.
But most importantly, it gives you an excuse to push on really steep hills!
grunt ? gnarrrr!!!
For my 26" SS
34x17 for general off road
34x15 for cyclocross (now that IS hard)
I run them both together on a Hope hub with QR (and rear facing tension bolts on the horizontal dropouts) and can swap between them as needed. Also have a 16T if I want three rings on the back.
I'm a spinner with a natural peak power at 105 RPM. Surprisingly, by being out of the saddle a lot more on a SS, I find the absence of gears off road not to be a problem. I'd have thought otherwise to be honest.
Welcome to the club. You'll be wanting some decent shaped bars to make honking that bit easier next.
34:15 here on 26" Duster (admittedly almost exclusively around Thetford, so that's probably viewed as a bit lightweight by some!) and I more often than not wheel that out before the 29" Scale. The Scale is great for commuting to work across the forest though! (4.5 miles to and anything up to 20 on the way home! :D)
sparkyrhino - Member
36-18 rigid,first ride tonight with fashion victim ovalised chainring.
Eh? Hows that work?
will let you know tommora