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Post by wcoastbo on Jan 8, 2005 12:42:07 GMT 8
I've now been riding a single speed for about 6 months and wanted to put down my thoughts and get some feedback from others who are also SSers.
At the start of my SS experiment I did not know what to expect. I did not know any other SS riders to ask questions, but did read some of the posts from mtbr. I figured it would not cost me much money to convert my hardtail and could always put the gears back on if I wanted.
First, some background. I'm an OK technical rider and comfortable going down most steep rocky trails, but don't do any hucking or jumping. I was never a good climber and always felt like I was running out of gears all the time since the granny gear never seemed low enough for me. Most of the time I rode a full suspension 8sp with 22:32 as my lowest gear.
I normally ride once per week and did not seem to be getting stronger. Even after riding regularly for 2+ years, my fitness level did not change and my work schedule did not allow me to fit in additional rides. My thought was to make each ride harder by removing my ability to shift to low gears.
Fast forward 6 months... I didn't realize how much I would enjoy this type of riding. Don't get me wrong, the first 3 months were painful during the long climbs and I was always at the back of the pack. To compensate I have learned new riding techniques to help me overcome the lack of gears. I've become a stronger climber, and even lost a bit of weight.
I don't miss rear suspension and gears, my SS requires very little maintenance and is very light. I only have 80mm of front susp so I'm not blasting through rocks, but picking the best lines possible to maintain my momentum for the next uphill (this is making me a better rider, I think).
The gear I'm using is 34:20 and I find it low enough to ride most of my old trails. I do have to stop frequently and rest on the steep climbs, but it's still rideable. Riding in flats the gear is too low, but that is a small percentage of the ride.
Are the other SSers here having the same experience as I am? What can I do to further enhance the SS ride? Since my steep climbs are more anerobic than aerobic am I sacrificing endurance training for the gain in strength and muscle?
I did run into an experienced and strong SSer on one of my early climbs. I was able to stay with him for the first mile, but finally blewup and had to rest. I never could recover fully from starting out too fast and had to take it easy the rest of the ride. So I now ride at my own pace instead of trying to race.
Any others with SS experiences they want to share?
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Post by gulliver on Jan 10, 2005 13:10:47 GMT 8
bo, nag re-retro ka na rin pala hehehe... wait for mcvarki to come back, SS'er din yun  |
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Post by skarhed on Jan 11, 2005 0:59:54 GMT 8
Actually, I'm planning on building a single speed too! But I'm building a freeride single speed hardtail... sorta like an overgrown BMX bike! ;D ;D ;D
Just waiting for a few more parts... I kinda like the simplicity of no shifters and probably just a rear brake... since I do most of my riding in and around Metro Manila!
one freakin gear! can't wait to get things together!
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Post by wcoastbo on Jan 11, 2005 23:11:52 GMT 8
skarhed - enjoy the project. it's always fun building up a new bike. SS is great for urban riding. I have a second set of wheels just for the streets... slicks and different gearing. By changing the wheels and chain I have a completely different bike, all it takes is 5 mins. post some pics when you finish.
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Post by skarhed on Jan 14, 2005 3:33:39 GMT 8
skarhed - enjoy the project. it's always fun building up a new bike. SS is great for urban riding. I have a second set of wheels just for the streets... slicks and different gearing. By changing the wheels and chain I have a completely different bike, all it takes is 5 mins. post some pics when you finish. brad! Just got my grubby little hands on a pair of maxxis hookworms! suhweeeeeeet! Can't wait for everything to come together! I'll send ya a pik when my bike's done! ;D True! True! Simplicity is the key! |
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Post by alien_scream on Mar 16, 2005 18:41:21 GMT 8
i've got a single speed for my urban assults... the gearing is 36:16, and i've read alot about single speed bikes and they say that is the best gearing
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Post by wcoastbo on Mar 19, 2005 11:59:07 GMT 8
I've experimented with a few gear combos and my body seems to adjust well to a variety of different ones. Ride what works for you. In my local trails 34X20 works well. Others use 32X16 in areas with less steep trails. I don't ride much urban assault so I don't know what works best, try experimenting.
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Post by fattire on Mar 19, 2005 18:39:24 GMT 8
i got to use my SS on the trail first time ever during the penetencia ride!
i used 42:16 doing the roadie and changed to 32:16 before hitting the trails. 2 steeps in sta. rosa made me walk but overall, it was really one great ride.
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Post by wcoastbo on Mar 21, 2005 1:53:10 GMT 8
hey Owen
I like it! how did you accomodate the gear change? do you carry a small piece of chain and a SRAM quick link for the change from middle ring to big ring? or do your horizontal dropouts slide far enough to accomodate the size difference?
I'm guessing your rear cog is spaced between the middle and big ring and the tall teeth on the cog, BMX style, keeps the chain from dropping. is this correct or do you have another setup?
Since my frame is not singlespeed specific I won't be able to do the same setup without a tensioner. 34X20 is the perfect gear combo for my converted frame and I don't need a tensioner. I'd have to do some experimenting, maybe a 40X14 will give me the exact same chain length. it would be nice to have a usable road gear and mtb gear on the same bike.
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Post by gulliver on Mar 21, 2005 14:15:21 GMT 8
it would be nice to have a usable road gear and mtb gear on the same bike. Bo, seems like a multi-gear bike is what you'll eventually end up with hehehe |
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Post by wcoastbo on Mar 23, 2005 3:28:20 GMT 8
You're right! I like gears, just been very anti-derailleur since my BMX days. They're messy, noisy, add weight, breakdown and need constant tuning. I'm waiting for a belt driven, light weight, Rolloff type transmission where the mechanism is sealed and located in the bottom bracket area. I'm not asking for much, am I? Some of the proto-types are coming closer to what I desire.
There's something Zen-like when riding without derailleurs or tensioner. I wish I could better explain the feeling.
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Post by fattire on Mar 23, 2005 7:45:31 GMT 8
i just brought with me the 32 teeth chainring and replaced it with 42T exactly where it placed: middle chainring position. took about 5 links off the chain and adjusted the chain tugs. not the brightest idea but i was going for foolproof and not to have a mech problem on a very large group ride. also, first time for everything, isn't it? zen-like? lot's in an SS! do a weenie hop, jump, gap without bringin' tha noize. now try to ace that on 27 speed sneak up on a buddy on a very fast and bumpy fire road, again, without being heard! list goes on! going back to the project ss: next phase will be to have double chainring (mid and big position) without any rear cog adjustment. will still use bmx chain (IZUMI's!). if chain slip happens, will experiment with mtb chains |
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Post by alien_scream on Mar 23, 2005 13:13:07 GMT 8
i also use a BMX chain for my SS rig!!!!!! planing to replace my cranks to a truvative luftalarm cranks
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Post by syciprider on Mar 23, 2005 16:22:23 GMT 8
My SS is basically a two speed bike. I built a rear wheel using those Surly hubs that take sprockets on both sides. I have an 18 and a 16. If the ride is on a fast trail I use the 16. If it has a bit of climbing I use the 18. My tire is bi directional. Sometimes I just don't care which way is which  The Singulator takes care of the slack when I flip the wheel. The beauty of SSing is how it makes you a better technical climber. You see lines that your geared bros don't see. Most of the time you don't have a choice really because maintaining your momentum is your life. So you tend not to steer around things. Just gas it and go over. ;D I too use a BMX chain. Those 9 spd chains will snap. I also have very wide bars (26"). I think it helps when I'm really torquing out of the saddle. |
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Post by alien_scream on Mar 28, 2005 10:46:05 GMT 8
so thechnically that is not a single speed 'coz you have a two speed bike!!!!!!!
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Post by wcoastbo on Apr 10, 2005 1:32:44 GMT 8
I've been reading articles about gearboxes. It will be hard, if not impossible to acheive the efficiency of a singlespeed, but I hope that derailleur-less technology progresses. Right now gearbox technology is heavy, but is nearing the power loss/efficiency of derailleur systems.
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Post by skarhed on May 8, 2005 22:52:12 GMT 8
It's finally built!!! MWahahahaAfter month's of just pilled up parts and almost nearly giving up and selling everything... (sorry gabe!!!) fate and a bit of luck landed me a the parts I needed! She's up n runnin'... my suhweeet little freeride singlespeed! Easy to get around in too... even with the seatpost lowered... 38 x 18 gearing and a 24 inch rear! Will post pixs soon! ;D ;D ;D ;D  
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Post by alien_scream on May 9, 2005 7:54:45 GMT 8
It's finally built!!! MWahahahaAfter month's of just pilled up parts and almost nearly giving up and selling everything... (sorry gabe!!!) fate and a bit of luck landed me a the parts I needed! She's up n runnin'... my suhweeet little freeride singlespeed! Easy to get around in too... even with the seatpost lowered... 38 x 18 gearing and a 24 inch rear! Will post pixs soon! ;D ;D ;D ;D congrat!!!!!! lets do some single-speed freeriding!!!!!!!!! |
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Post by wcoastbo on Aug 3, 2005 9:17:45 GMT 8
I haven't been able to ride the SS for a few weeks due to a separated shoulder. When pulling up on the bars while climbing, there was too much pain to enjoy the ride. I had to ride my geared bike for the first time in months.
On climbs I found my legs much stronger due to all the saddle time riding the SS and feel faster on the geared bike. Train on an SS, but race with gears.
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Post by skarhed on Aug 4, 2005 2:10:24 GMT 8
I haven't been able to ride the SS for a few weeks due to a separated shoulder. When pulling up on the bars while climbing, there was too much pain to enjoy the ride. I had to ride my geared bike for the first time in months. On climbs I found my legs much stronger due to all the saddle time riding the SS and feel faster on the geared bike. Train on an SS, but race with gears. That sucks big time brad! Get well soon... been noticing that I've been riding my single speed more often. Even when I'm riding a geared bike, I tend to forget shifting and just mash up the hills. Hahaha |
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Post by alien_scream on Aug 4, 2005 9:33:03 GMT 8
I haven't been able to ride the SS for a few weeks due to a separated shoulder. When pulling up on the bars while climbing, there was too much pain to enjoy the ride. I had to ride my geared bike for the first time in months. On climbs I found my legs much stronger due to all the saddle time riding the SS and feel faster on the geared bike. Train on an SS, but race with gears. That sucks big time brad! Get well soon... been noticing that I've been riding my single speed more often. Even when I'm riding a geared bike, I tend to forget shifting and just mash up the hills. Hahaha you said it brad!!!!! been riding my SS bike (urban) most of the time!!!!! then when using my FS bike with gears i never bother to shift any more even on climbs!!!!!!! |
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Post by vic on Aug 4, 2005 11:53:17 GMT 8
Sir Skarhed wers the pix? can't wait to see ur SS bike..
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Post by wcoastbo on Aug 5, 2005 7:18:32 GMT 8
Thanks skarhed, there is less and less pain each day and should be 100% soon. I'll be back on the SS in a week, but it was good to get reacqainted with the geared bike... she was feeling neglected.
Keep spreading the SS love and remind people to convert the hardtail when they upgrade to an f/s bike. SS conversions are cheap, easy, low maintenance and makes you a stronger rider.
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Post by raven on Aug 5, 2005 22:15:48 GMT 8
i have my ss.still in project...but rather in a cruiser side..i love choppers..so i built one myself,actually, its a size 26 cruiser frame, and all parts is mtb...its a 24" and multi-spokes...still looking for some sissy bar and cruiser saddle..just to complete...
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Post by wcoastbo on Aug 9, 2005 5:32:54 GMT 8
hey raven
have you posted pictures yet? i'd like to check out your latest project. sounds cool!
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Post by cherrybomber on Sept 13, 2005 19:58:43 GMT 8
skarhed - enjoy the project. it's always fun building up a new bike. SS is great for urban riding. I have a second set of wheels just for the streets... slicks and different gearing. By changing the wheels and chain I have a completely different bike, all it takes is 5 mins. post some pics when you finish. brad! Just got my grubby little hands on a pair of maxxis hookworms! suhweeeeeeet! Can't wait for everything to come together! I'll send ya a pik when my bike's done! ;D True! True! Simplicity is the key! hey waitaminnit!! i thought you where on the lookout for hookworms for me to demmet!! hook me up dude! yeah and SS rocks! |
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Post by 'Bee' on Mar 29, 2006 10:00:48 GMT 8
just finish building my single speed with a 32x18 gear as beginner's setup. I used it last night on our typical night ride route of mostly paved but lots of uphill, downhill and flat sections. Did a lot of pushing on the long uphills but its a great first experience in general. ;D I think I will be riding this baby more often. ;D ;D ;D Bee  |
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Post by alien_scream on Mar 29, 2006 11:15:10 GMT 8
i should post my single speeds!!!!!! my first single speed  my second single speed!!!!!  and my single speed now!!!!  |
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Post by BrusKO on Mar 29, 2006 13:15:50 GMT 8
cant help but remember the Bagets genre... check out the get up! saucony rubber shoes ba yan o grosby? aga!? is that you?!?!? |
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Post by wcoastbo on Mar 29, 2006 15:01:52 GMT 8
nice jump alien! sweet bikes. do you still have the BMX? I wish I had mine.
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