How much does your SS weigh?

[7rider]

Okay...
So I ride a Klein Palomino dualie. It's a great trail bike and I really like it. But at about 27 pounds, it's a bit of a tank. Especially compared to my roadbike, which I just weighed at the LBS and it comes in at around 16.75 pounds. So, hauling the Klein around in the woods is a bit of a chore.
So then I see all you "outlaws" ridin' your single speeds. The ultimate K.I.S.S. ride (Keep It Simple, Stupid). And, it's got me thinking.......
I really don't like uber-technical riding. If there's a log in front of me with an easy work-around, sometimes I go over the log, sometimes I don't.
I've been Jones-ing for a simpler ride. I ride primarily at Rosaryville (the outter loop) and Schaeffer. Nothing crazy.
I've been scanning Craigslist for some simple SS bikes - suspended or not - and have my eye on a few. Mainly just looking.
Was at my LBS today, and DH lets on to the mechanic that I'm thinking of going to look at a Surly 1x1 for sale. DH is wary. Mechanic starts spinning horror stories about single speeds (do I really want to be walking my bike up hills? Heck...it's not like I haven't pushed the Klein up a few!). They think the weight advantage is not that great...I'd still see a bike in the 25 pound range. I may not like it, they say.
They're right. I might not like it. Which is why I want to get a cheap, beater bike to try out first. The mechanic and the owner (both personal friends of ours) think I should demo their shop bike in the woods before I decide if I really want a SS. They want me to ride their bike - a ti Seven Sola with a carbon rigid fork, disc brakes, and all high-end stuff. Yikes! I'd be the ultimate poser on that thing, to say nothing of being afraid of getting it dirty (or stolen).
So..long story (still steaming over my recent trip to the LBS), what does your bike weigh? Do you run rigid or suspended? RIght now, I'm thinking 26" - maybe a 29'er in my future, but let's talk 26 now. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having a SS mtb?
Thanks for the input. Sorry this is so long.
Regina

[jabberwocky]

SS mtbs make excellent second bikes. Complete bikes can be had or built pretty cheap, they are reliable and are fun to ride. Not only are they fun, but they require a different riding style than FS geared bikes, so riding your usual trails is almost like riding them for the first time all over again.

My personal singlespeed is rigid. I've never weighed it, but its probably somewhere in the mid-20s. My FS trail bike is around 30, but I don't really notice the difference between the two that much.

I will say that around here, the penalty for riding a singlespeed just isn't that big. Generally, if I can climb it on my full suspension, I can climb it on my singlespeed (with a little more work). I wouldn't pay much attention to people telling you that you'll need to walk a whole lot more.

[langer]

Honestly I have no idea what my bike weighs right now. Probably a little portly with Kenda nevs and rampage on there. Plus I just converted it to gears a few months ago. I'm thinking around 26 lbs or so...maybe more. Could probably drop a few pounds with lighter Stan's'ed tires and my Am Class/Stans wheels. But, I don't care. Unless you're racing, why bother? I'd rather have the peace of mind that my wheel isn't going to fold on me when I'm 20 miles from the car...especially out here in Colorado where there typically isn't a quick, easy exit from the trail. If (a big if) I get a lottery spot in the Leadville 100 I'll definitely be taking a look at the weight and shaving where I can...mostly wheels and tires and maybe a rigid fork.
-jonny lang

[jed]

My Phil Wood Kiss OFF weighs in around 22 lbs. It is a steel frame with mid to high end parts on it, 26" wheels, and a Fox F80X fork. It didn't start that way, but I put on hand-me-down parts from my XC race bikes so it got lighter over time. I also run light XC race tires tubeless with Stans (last year's race tires, basically). My wheels are not that light, (Phil Wood hubs laced to Bontrager Mustang UST rims), but they are durable.

Even a cheapish SS with 26" wheels can weigh in around 23-24 lbs without a lot of trouble, especially if you run a rigid fork. Light tires are the easiest way to drop a lot of important weight, you will notice and it doesn't cost a lot of money. If you are just riding local trails and not venturing out to Gambrill or Elizabeth Furnace, light XC tires are the best bet.

[yueq]

Surly 1x1 with rigid fork, hydraulic disc brakes, bashguard, tubeless tires, etc., 25.5 lb.

Vicious Monolith with rigid fork, mechanic disc brakes, carbon handlebars, no bashguard, 22.5 lb.

My full suspension bike is 31.5 lb, so I do appreciate the light weight of the SS bikes.

[redclayrambler]

My SS is converted from a geared bike (steel hardtail), that weighed a little over 26lbs to start. It now has a rigid fork as well as shedding all the other parts, so I think it's a least in the low 20s. My full suspension weighs right at 30lbs.

I've only had the SS less then a year now.

What I like:
1. The simplicity.
2. The way it seems to be a more total body exercise (lots more pulling on the bars), I think it uses your core muscles more.
3. The rigid experience makes old trails new again and more challenging.

What I don't like:
1. Spinning out on the flats or when I ride pavement to get to some local trails.
2. Some hills are harder (for me) and my ego won't let me walk, so my shaky knees end up taking the hit for my ego.

Because of the knee thing I don't think I could ride SS all the time, but I love having the option and it really is a different feeling while riding.
Thats my experience after a few months of riding the SS.
I haven't been to Rosaryville on the SS yet, but I imagine it would be a great place to get started.
Hope that helps a little.

[Dirt]

My Niner SIR9 as about 26 pounds. It is size XL and has pretty heavy tires on it. I could probably drop a little weight on the bike, but I'd do better to drop about 20 pounds off the rider. :D

Pete

[camp]

I have no idea, but I'd love to know.
I don't have a scale,
I don't even know what I weigh these days.
Maybe I oughta drag it into the gym one day and use their scale.

for some reason, i think it's over 25 lbs.

[TiRyder]

rigid 29er Ti vassago with Vicious Cycles steel fork - 21.5 lbs

[joep]

Rigid ti 29er with ti fork, ti seatpost, ti bars (but not light), some decent parts: about 19.832 lbs. Just a guess. Cos only weenies weigh their bikes. ;)

[camp]

damn,
I have weight weenie envy now

[allencb]

My Surly 1x1 is about 26lbs, but I have large, heavy tires on it and the rear wheel is pretty heavy as well.

As for walking up hills, the only hills I've had to walk so far are the ones I was walking on a geared bike.

Chris

[saxman]

I have a homebuilt SS. I built it off a '98 Mongoose Maneuver. Before converting it to SS, it weighed 31 pounds. After the conversion, which included installing many "cast-off" parts that I upgraded on my Klein Pulse Comp, the bike weighed 24 pounds! That's just basically a low-end bike stripped off its derailleurs, and having lighter wheels, cranks, saddle and bar installed. I also put on new brakes and levers, but I think the weight difference was negligible. I wouldn't want an SS as my main bike, but as a change-up it's a lot of fun. On most trails in this area, an SS is just fine.

By comparision, my hardtail Klein runs around 25 - 26 pounds, and my heavily upgraded Trek Fuel full suspensions is around 29 pounds (stock it was 32 pounds).

[eloach]

My Salsa Juan Solo Rigid 69er with CF Fork and big Kendas is 20.5 pounds.
Giant Reign goes closer to 33 pounds
GF Paragon about 27
Road and cross bikes around 20 (depending on config)
Commuters around 30

SZ large MTB or 56-58 road.

At 6', 180 pounds of rider, I DO notice the bike weight, but it's more in the handling of the bike and the feel of the ride than going up hills. I usually only end up walking hills from loss of traction or determination. I had the SS at 36:18 for a while and I walked up more stuff than I do at 34:18 or 32:18.

The smaller you are, the bigger the factor bike weight is in terms of percent of your body weight. I think for anyone below ~130, bike weight can be a BIG deal.

All the weights above are approximate. I don't own a bike scale, so I weight the bike by weighing me, then weighing me + the bike and doing the math.

A steel SS with good components in a medium size should be right around 25 pounds, give or take a pound or two either way.

[eloach]

The advantage is it's a lot of fun. Just you and pedaling. Certainly don't sell your geared bike, but if you can afford a single speed, go for it. It's just plain fun.

It also builds up your leg strength, and could also be harder on your knees than a dually. However, I am 45 with so-so knees and have not had any problems so far after about a year.

Fully rigid is a lot of fun too, but in a different way. Jumping right into BOTH at once might make it take a little longer to enjoy all that fun. ;)

Riding a demo bike that doesn't fit isn't a good way to judge anything. If the bike is you're size, then great, if not, borrow a bike from someone close to your size. A SS that is too large for you is not a good test bike. The cockpit has to fit decently.

The thing I have noticed with my light bike is that is "floats" better and the handling is much sharper because it's very easy for me to control the bike with my body. That's probably about it in regard to weight. Yes, it does go uphill ten pound lighter.

If you demo a SS, think "I am not going to SPIN up that hill, so I better stand and pump into it and up it as FAST as I can".

[mabagal]

Hey Regina! So you're thinking about an SS? I've been riding mine for a little less than a year. I don't know how much it weighs, I converted my geared bike to SS - but the gears have found their way back on. :) I have another SS - it is a hand-me down from another MORE-on who moved away, which is a little big, but works for now.

I agree w others that it really does work a whole slew of other body parts! It really is a different riding experience, but so far @ Rosaryville, Schaeffer and some other trails, it has been ok. Standing up and climbing is something that you learn quickly. There are some hills that I have to walk, but I try not to worry about that... too much.

[7rider]

Hey Regina! So you're thinking about an SS? I've been riding mine for a little less than a year. I don't know how much it weighs, I converted my geared bike to SS - but the gears have found their way back on. :) I have another SS - it is a hand-me down from another MORE-on who moved away, which is a little big, but works for now.

I agree w others that it really does work a whole slew of other body parts! It really is a different riding experience, but so far @ Rosaryville, Schaeffer and some other trails, it has been ok. Standing up and climbing is something that you learn quickly. There are some hills that I have to walk, but I try not to worry about that... too much.

Yeah...I guess I'm suffering a bit from "the grass is alway greener" syndrome. :rolleyes: Or...Maybe it's just an OC need to keep buying bikes! :rolleyes::rolleyes: I guess I'll take the shop bike to Rosey sometime soon if it's dry or after mud season (yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll fit me). Sounds like the weight benes of a ss suspended bike vs. my Klein isn't all that great. And yeah...it would be cheaper in the long run for me to take 10 pounds off MY frame than 5 pounds off the bike's frame!