Single speeding,what do I need to know.

[liltommy]

Ok my curiosity is aroused.
Where would be a good place to start to learn what I need to know about thinking about a SS.

Quick questions that come to mind
-Do i wanna have a frame custom builit ?
-By who?
-Can a SS frame be converted back to geared?
-Do I wanna convert a geared frame to SS?
-What the h3ll are horizontal drop-outs and what are the other options?
-Where is that Carmen lady?


I'm not necessarily looking for someone to answer these questions but I'm looking for a one-site-tells all.

If you'd like to answer anyways, what I do know about what I want....
-29"er
-no I'm not getting a rig. I've had enough tire rubbing and seatpost cracking.
-money? Depends on my mood?
-would rather have a frame I know would stand up to my abuse rather than being a weight weenie.
-hardtail. Rigid is for people that still have cartilidge left in there joints.

Tommy

[langer]

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html is your one stop shopping site.

I jumped right into 29er single speed with a Rig, but I would recommend a hardtail conversion before dumping money into a ss specific frame that you may not like. All you need for a conversion are gears and a chain tensioner on which sheldon brown does a great job.
Good luck!

[markie]

Why not just borrow a SS from someone for a week or two. Normally one or two rides is enough for most people to see the light.

Whilst you are at it right not try rigid with a nice big front tyre with a fairly low PSI.

If you like it or are still "curious" why not get a cheap bike with a good resale value to work out what you like about riding. I would recommend a redline 29er. I got one and I was surprised how good it is (apart from the crappy headset).

[liltommy]

I guess first I should try a ride without shifting.
What gears would a wimp start out SS'ing on.

I'll try that first and see how it goes.

Tommy

[jed]

If you don't have an old hardtail around, try a Surly Karate Monkey: cheap, 29er, can be multigeared if you decide you don't like SS. It rides surpisingly nicely for as cheap as it is. Comes with a rigid fork, which you can replace with suspension later if you want. You might find that with 29" wheels you won't really need a suspension fork for places like Schaeffers, Wakotink, etc., i.e., places you're likely to start out with SS. Once you start riding places like Gambrill you'll probably want one. I know I'll get flamed for saying that, but hey, I've been riding long enough to remember when it was rigid or nothing. I appreciate suspension. The downhills at Gambrill are brutal on a rigid if you like to go fast.

For gearing, you'll probably be fine with 32x19. if you end up converting a 26" go with 32x18. That is low enough to get up most hills but not so low that you spin out immediately in the flats. Climbing on SS isn't supposed to be easy, anyway. Sometimes the gear will be great, but often it won't. That's the challenge of SS.

I got into SS by converting a Trek 8900 hardtail with a Singlelator, a 16T Shimano BMX cog, and some cassette spacers. I used that setup with the 32T middle ring up front, removing the extra chainrings, cassette, and of course shifters. That worked pretty well. I rode it for a year and then got my Phil Wood Kiss-Off once I was sure I liked the SS thing. Shimano BMX cogs are cheap, so if you use one with spacers on a geared freehub you have the option of playing around with the gearing to find something you like.

[dklayman]

Surly is a great company. The Karate Monkey is a 29er, great on dirt. Mine was custom assembled at Basic Cycles in Charlottesville, which is now out of business. But City Bikes and others will order the frame. If you're handy, go through webcyclery. You won't be dissapointed with the frame.

[rmac]

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/singlespeed.html is a good place to start as is riderx's site - singlespeedoutlaw.com.

I picked up a used 26" ss specific SoloOne for under $250 shipped off mtbr. It's low end, but I've upgraded almost all but the frame. It's a blast & my intense is collecting dust. I'd go 29" if I was starting fresh - I ride w/a few 29ers & they aren't complaining. If you want to start cheap, convert a 26". I prefer a steel frame cause I'm not as young as I used to be. Others can weigh in on the steel VS alum ss debate. If you are really leaning toward ss'ing, I'd consider a 29er. Just for the record, how tall are you?

[liltommy]

I've been a 29er now for a couple of years.
Currently on a Fisher Paragon and I've been through the whole tire clearence bull and a broken seatpost.

6'3" and 240.
The paragons nice but I dont think its really cut for my weight and riding style.

[CRAIG2]

I'll say it - I think if I were really going to commit, I would opt for a 29er, and probably go with a Surly because I'm on a budget. And 29er because I'm tall. And I hear Surly makes a decent frame, ableit on the heavy side, and everyone knows steel is real. But, as much fun as they ARE to ride, I haven't really committed yet, and I really don't need a 5th bike sitting around my one-bedroom apartment. Four is a crowd.

So, I did the poor man's thing and bastardized my hardtail. Pete Beers built me a pretty nice wheel (thanks Pete!), and I got a Surly tensioner (you'll need one of these if you go for the conversion) because of the standard vertical drops on geared bikes. True SS frames more often than not have horizontal drops - I see you asked about that earlier. I run a wussie 32 x 18; it makes most hills very doable around here, but does tend to make you really spin on the flats. Downhill? Just coast. :) And, I too embrace suspension. Technology is hear to help us.

Just my 2 cents...

[halfinch]

tommy,
i have a 20" zion. steel hardtail. ebb for tensioning and it has all the cable stops so you can run gears or no gears. (i'm in to bikes that can serve many-a-purpose).
wicked cheap from jenson usa - 249. zion is in the process of having their 29"er on the market in october (same price).

a karate monkey is also a fine choice. stout frame, utilitarian, built for tall people - they're not know for tons of standover. wee bit pricer, but you might find one for a decent price.

redline has a 29"er at a silly cheap price point. downside is you'd have to use clamp on cable stops if you wanted gears. probably have to lace a new rear wheel with an axle based rear derailluer - i.e. saint or hope.

when i first tried the ss thing, i cobbled together an old frame and used a singulator. i've owned a frame with horz dropouts, and decided i prefer an eccentric bottom bracket.


that said, you can borrow my zion ss if'n you'd like. 20" frame, so so fork, moderate gearing, hayes stoppers.

michael

[Dirt]

I guess I can make a guest appearance on this thread.

I like the Karate Monkey a lot, but I wouldn't suggest it if you're going to run a suspension fork. I believe they've got frame interferance problems. If, god forbid, you crash, you'll whack your down tube with the top of the fork adjuster knobs. It'll do great things to your fork and weaken your frame at exactly the wrong place that you'll want it weakened. Oh wait... its a karatey monkey. It'll just take the top off your fork with nothing but paint dammage to the frame. :D

There are solutions to that problem. I think Sherwood Gibson (Ventana) sells King crown washers that are thicker and raise the frame up a bit so the fork doesn't hit the down tube. That is more of a "fix" than a real solution though because it raises the front end a 3 or 4mm higher which affects the handling.

Don't go with a custom frame for your first SS. Before you get a custom frame, you need to know what to ask for. Custom frames fit a niche that stock frames can't fit. I guess I've always looked at custom frames as one of those "If you have to ask, then you don't need one" sort of things. If you can't tell me why you need a custom frame, then I'm guessing you don't need one.

I couldn't be happier with my Niner. I was thinking about switching it to a geared bike until I read this post. If the H-bars aren't too weird, we could meet up and ride a little together this weekend and you could see if you like it. It isn't remarkably light. It has a nice, springy feel to it because it is steel. It has the benefit of working well as a single speed or a geared bike. The EBB works well for me, but it requires regular maintenance. I do a lot of riding in places that get the EBB wet, muddy and dirty. That means that I'm tearing it down once or twice per month to clean and lubricate it. That process takes me 20 minutes. If I don't do it, the BB makes a lot of creaking noises.

Talk to you soon.

Pete

[BikerMiker]

You are a big dude so go 29'er. Jamis has a sub-$1k 29'er with tire clearance (it comes with 2.3" tires) and a sexy steel fork. I put one on order for myself but I fear mine won't fit you.

See ya out there.

mike

[Vecsus]

Tommy, you should take Pete up on the offer to try his Niner. I took it for a very short spin at Schaeffer a while back and liked it. That was one of the steps that is leading me to have a custom frame built. As Pete indicated, if you have to ask if you need a custom frame than the answer is probably no. Nevertheless, I am ordering one anyway. I looked at the Niner frame for $799 but for $1160 I am having a steel frame custom made from Waltworks (http://waltworks.com) (850 frame +120 for paragon sliders and 190 for custom steel rigid fork).

I decided to go with the paragon sliders because I will have the option of running geared or SS plus the ability to keep disc brakes. I will be setting the bike up as a SS to start with to see if the koolaid tastes as good as everyone says it does. Bike won't be here til February or so....that will give me a lot of time to anguish about it. :D

[liltommy]

Tommy, you should take Pete up on the offer to try his Niner. I took it for a very short spin at Schaeffer a while back and liked it. That was one of the steps that is leading me to have a custom frame built. As Pete indicated, if you have to ask if you need a custom frame than the answer is probably no. Nevertheless, I am ordering one anyway. I looked at the Niner frame for $799 but for $1160 I am having a steel frame custom made from Waltworks (http://waltworks.com) (850 frame +120 for paragon sliders and 190 for custom steel rigid fork).

I decided to go with the paragon sliders because I will have the option of running geared or SS plus the ability to keep disc brakes. I will be setting the bike up as a SS to start with to see if the koolaid tastes as good as everyone says it does. Bike won't be here til February or so....that will give me a lot of time to anguish about it. :D

I'm trying to not be lazy but cant find (so far) info on these.

Oh I see, your good enough for a custom, I'm not. :p

At the moment I'm looking at a few ideas pete threw at me, a on-one .
Still trying to figure out the small details though.
Thanks everybody.
I still have to look up... Jamis?

[joep]

I'm trying to not be lazy but cant find (so far) info on these.


Tommy, look here: http://www.paragonmachineworks.com/

They come in SS and geared versions. I have a set on my bike.

[Vecsus]

Sorry if I implied you are not good enough for custom. Everyone is good enough for custom. My only concern is that I will dork it up and end up with a fugly bike.

[2big2ride]

If you are really looking around for bikes to try out, try calling Family bike shop in Crofton. They are just up the road from Rosaryville from you. Chances are there is an extra-large niner there for you to try. One of the guys that work there is a large individual like yourself and he rides an XL orange niner with a reba fork. If you call up there, talk to Jonathan (owner) and tell him you wouldn't mind checking out "Sean's bike" in the parking lot. That would give you at least something start from.

I also have a niner and they are great frames, rigid or susp. you can't go wrong with a steel frame.

The shop's number is 301-261-3618

Good luck.

[crashmore]

Tommy, you should take Pete up on the offer to try his Niner. :D

I second that. Get out and spend some time on a SS before you jump all in.
If you really dig it cool buy one, if not you won't have wasted a bunch of cash. Contrary to popular belief not everyone who throws their leg over a SS thinks it's the second coming.

[RetroG]

http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml

[liltommy]

Got in a whole 1-1/2 of single speeding. Sort of.
Did a ride at Cedarville tonight using 32-18.
Didn't touch the shifters once.
And for you purists, the rigid nuts, I locked out the fork.

I'll see how the knees feel tomowrow.

[saxman]

I went with the "convert an old gearie into a SS route". Advantages: It's cheap, your risks are low if you don't like it. Disadvantages: Trying to take a bike that wasn't really designed to be an SS can be a frustrating experience to "get right". Now that I actually have it "right", I'm having a blast with it. There are shortcomings, notably the inability to change from anything but a 16 tooth cog in the back. Most of my SS riding is on the Lower Magruder section of the Greenway, so 33:16 is pretty close to perfect for that terrain. I'm still considering getting a properly designed SS bike, but I think I want to see if I can kill this one first. :eek:

[liltommy]

I've made my mind up that I'm gonna get either a Redline Monocog Flight, or if thats not going to be avaliable, an On-One Inbred.

So I'm thinking ahead.

Are the stock gears on the back (cogs?), heavier,tougher, sturdier than a cog on a cassette. In other words, is it better able to stand up to my mashing than my mashing on a single cog on a cassette?

I've been riding lately psuedo SS. No gear changing and tonight something started skipping under heavy mashing. It had me thinking that the rings on a ss had better be beefier than what I have now.

Tommy

[Atomic_cocktail]

I bought a MonoCog Flight off of Ebay, a few months back, It was a new 2004 frame..when I bought the frame I thought that it would have the standard 135mm chain stay spacing, but it had a 110mm-120mm so if you go to buy one inquire about the spacing. I ended up selling the Flight and bought a Monocog frame from Bike doctors in Linthicum for $200, a set of WTB Speed disk wheels from Jenson for $60..I had heard of problems with the headset that comes stock on the Monocog, so I bought a FSA Pig head set for $20, I bought the Gussett Conversion kit that came with a 16 & 18 tooth rear cog...both have been very sturdy and have taken a pounding at Patapsco..also you'll need a BMX Chain, the rear tooth spacing on the rear cog is bigger than on a standard cassette.....These ae the issues that I faced when building up my Single speed.
I'm not a big 29'r fan...you have to order tires, tubes, special wheels..your not going to find anything off the shelf if you need something right away...and besides picking lines thru a rock garden is more fun than rolling over all the technical stuff. I hope this helps a fellow newbie SS'r




http://jensonusa.com/store/product/WH406A00-Wtb+Speed+Disc+With+Formula+Hubs.as px

http://jensonusa.com/search/?s=FSA+Pig+head+set&btnSearch.x=16&btnSearch.y=11

http://jensonusa.com/store/product/CS611B00-Gusset+Single+Speed+Conversion+Kit. aspx

[joep]

I'm not a big 29'r fan...you have to order tires, tubes, special wheels..your not going to find anything off the shelf if you need something right away...

Might have been true a year ago, but a number of good local shops stock 29er tubes, tires, and rims nowadays. Not only that, but also those funky bars and big cogs that the ss 29er dorks seems to like so much. Check the shops on the MORE sponsor board for example.

[RetroG]

The Flight definitely has some nicer parts where it counts, brakes, rims,cranks, bottom bracket, seatpost, cockpit, compared to the base model Mono 29. Looks like Family Bike Shop (www.familybikeshop.com/) in Crofton is a Redline dealer.

[notrelatedtoted]

I've been eyeing that one as well.

[liltommy]

JoeP, I just noticed your sig.
Where did you get the idea for that?
I smell plagarism.

Mr. (or Ms.?) Atomic, I'm already riding a 29 so that won't be a change for me.

If my B.Doc can get me one I'm going to give them the business. They've been way too good to me.

Seeyall

[RetroG]

Retail $899

[joep]

JoeP, I just noticed your sig.
Where did you get the idea for that?
I smell plagarism.


Oops, I thought I was being original. Sorry about that. :)

[liltommy]

Oops, I thought I was being original. Sorry about that. :)

We will meet again at a trailwork day and then..... :p

[DKEG]

Allright Lil' Tommy is getting a SS. Well I guess SSing is not cool anymore so we will have to sell our SS and find something else that is cool. Any sugestions? :confused:

___________________________________ __
Lil' Tommy kills all things cool along with Baby seals, whales, and Squrriels. Also he smells, wears funny clothes and picks his nose

[crashmore]

I think you should take up the Unicycle.

Allright Lil' Tommy is getting a SS. Well I guess SSing is not cool anymore so we will have to sell our SS and find something else that is cool. Any sugestions? :confused:

[liltommy]

Allright Lil' Tommy is getting a SS. Well I guess SSing is not cool anymore so we will have to sell our SS and find something else that is cool. Any sugestions? :confused:

___________________________________ __
Lil' Tommy kills all things cool along with Baby seals, whales, and Squrriels. Also he smells, wears funny clothes and picks his nose

I plan on next wearing bib shorts, shaving my legs, and getting a bike under 10lbs.
You should be safe with the uni-cycle....for now.

I see the big picture now.
Its not the damned roadies with the attitude.
Its you elitist SSers.

I see why you haven't gone 29er yet Dave.
P&ssy.

[DKEG]

I plan on next wearing bib shorts, shaving my legs, and getting a bike under 10lbs.
You should be safe with the uni-cycle....for now.

I see the big picture now.
Its not the damned roadies with the attitude.
Its you elitist SSers.

I see why you haven't gone 29er yet Dave.
P&ssy.
When you get your new SS are you going to a SS specific saddle? :D

Your all ugly and MTB'ng is dumb.

Oh no he didn't-Gorrillaonabike

[liltommy]

Placed the order, put down the deposit, now just gotta wait 3 or 4 weeks.
So yall have that long till SS is no longer cool.

Dave, ya gotta help me!
I'll be damned if I can find the SS saddle.

seeyall

[DKEG]

Placed the order, put down the deposit, now just gotta wait 3 or 4 weeks.
So yall have that long till SS is no longer cool.

Dave, ya gotta help me!
I'll be damned if I can find the SS saddle.

seeyall
It's on Price Point next to the SS specific water bottle cages :D

[riderx]

When you get your new SS are you going to a SS specific saddle? :D

Dave - did you order one of those slimline models like the one on BikeCentric?

[DKEG]

Dave - did you order one of those slimline models like the one on BikeCentric?
Yes, but in black, to match my bike.