Single Speed

CTB said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking. The
nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome. I
don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can help
you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and for
real mountain biking it's needed.

It's the same mind set that say's "Steel is Real". I've never tried
single since I was 10 or 11 yrs old. Some people like the added
challange I guess. Maybe some day I give it a try. Can't be that bad
since it's still mnt biking.

CTB said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking. The
nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome. I
don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can help
you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and for
real mountain biking it's needed.

I said the same thing until I actually tried it. It's more fun then you
think. Granted I wouldn't hit a 1/2 mile 40% incline on it. You are
far more focused on the trail and how to handle what is coming at you,
rather than worrying about what gear to choose and when to shift. I'll
still probably ride the full gear rig more than the SS, but you can bet
I'll have just as much fun, if not more on the SS.

Oh yeah, all my derailleur and chain suck issues disappeared on the SS 🙂.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking. The
nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome.
I
don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can help
you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your
legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get
off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and
for
real mountain biking it's needed.

There is a pure honesty about riding a single speed. You need to ride it to
undrstand the peace and humility behind it.

There is a oneness with the rider and nature one a SS.

I have a road bike (which I want to convert to a fixed gear) , a hard tail
Kona, and my favorite is my Bianchi S.A.S.S. I love to ride the SS even if
I can't make it up the hill without walking. It has nothing to do with
weight, it is just the pure simplicity of life inthat one example of riding.

Try it, then judge it, you may be surprised. Besides, the SS has increased
my enduranbce and ability on the hardtail.

Ride-A-Lot said:

CTB said:

If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your
legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the
gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to
get off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing
and for
real mountain biking it's needed.

Real mountain biking. What exactly is that?

Obviously, it can mean many things to many different participants.
Conventions aside, if you merely look at the stuff in all the rags then
certainly gears seem like a necessity to compete in the sport. But I
bet that for every gal/guy who relies on gears to compete well in the
sport, there is probably half a dozen people outside of the 'sport' from
different parts of the world who are out on the trails with single speed
rigs and have no idea about it being in "vogue." They simply know of no
other way to do it but with a single speed. Besides, before we had
gears I am sure there were knuckleheads who tried to ride a single speed
up and down and all around terrain not really meant for a single speed
just because it was fun. Single speeds are fun partly because there is
a lot less maintenance to keep them going.

Here's a little story. In the late eighties three piece cranks started
to pop up on all sorts of bikes, from beach cruisers to bmx to road
bikes. Just to put things into perspective, I spent many, many an
afternoon when I was a kid racing my friends from the bottom to the top
of this very steep hill in town. One of the bikes I used to like to use
would be best described as a park bike. A road bike with wider tires,
coaster brake and no gears. Every rig I owned with three piece cranks
(including the park bike) were wrecked in a matter of weeks. The torque
I would generate would force them to eventually strip. Finally, the
shop started putting those one piece jobbies on there (the ones that
were really thick and heavy - but were indestructible) especially when
my Mom and Dad would scream! LOL

My point is that I would never do very steep climbing in a single speed
unless the rig had very strong cranks. Most mountain bike cranks are
built pretty strong so no worry. True, things might get so steep that I
would have to hop off and put the bike on my shoulder. But would that
really prevent me from getting to the top of the hill? I'm not a pro
racer but common sense tells me that if the mountain is that steep, the
person who has the bike on his shoulder and is climbing on foot will be
faster than the dude who is pedaling his ass off on his bike ascending
at a snail's pace. So what is real mountain biking? For me it is
getting your ass up to the top of that mountain using your bike, simple
as that. Call me crazy.

Peace.

--
David R Marlborough
DJ Mackelicious
http://walkingwounded.blogspot.com/

firewolf65 said:

Try it, then judge it, you may be surprised. Besides, the SS has increased
my enduranbce and ability on the hardtail.

Hell yeah, dude. You wanna see a body builder cry? Just have him do
some steep hills in a single speed and his quads are gonna burn baby
burn! 🙂

Peace.

--
David R Marlborough
DJ Mackelicious
http://walkingwounded.blogspot.com/

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking. The
nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome.

I

Quoted message said:

don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can help
you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your

legs

Quoted message said:

will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get

off

Quoted message said:

and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and

for

Quoted message said:

real mountain biking it's needed.

A year ago I thought the same way, but just last weekend I found myself
competing in the SS national championship[1] (admitedly I was dressed in
pink and riding as a team time trial...)

For a lot of tracks in my area one gear is all you need. On those tracks
the single speed makes you rethink your whole flow through the trail.
You're forced to carry more speed in many areas as you have no low gear to
spin yourself out of trouble.
Mountain biking is all about challenges and SSing throws up some new and
entertaining ones.

I've been commuting on a fixie lately which I have raced off-road once, but
as my friend said "you'd have to be pretty bored with XC to do that all the
time".

[1] Sorry JD, I never did that first all day SS RR I promised.

firewolf65 said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a

velodrome.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I
don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear

can help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat.

If the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely

your

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the

gearing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary

to get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my

gearing and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for
real mountain biking it's needed.

There is a pure honesty about riding a single speed. You need to

ride it to

Quoted message said:

undrstand the peace and humility behind it.

There is a oneness with the rider and nature one a SS.

The sound of silence.

Quoted message said:

I have a road bike (which I want to convert to a fixed gear) , a hard

tail

Quoted message said:

Kona, and my favorite is my Bianchi S.A.S.S. I love to ride the SS

even if

Quoted message said:

I can't make it up the hill without walking. It has nothing to do

with

Quoted message said:

weight, it is just the pure simplicity of life inthat one example of

riding.

<http://www.fixedgearhooligans.com/>

Ride-A-Lot said:

I said the same thing until I actually tried it. It's more fun then you
think. Granted I wouldn't hit a 1/2 mile 40% incline on it.

That's not surprising - you wouldn't make it up a 100 foot 40% incline
on a MTB with gears either, since there's no way you'd ever keep the
front end from going skyward.

But yeah, SS bikes can be a blast - they're just not the answer to
every riding opportunity.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

Mark Hickey said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

I said the same thing until I actually tried it. It's more fun then you
think. Granted I wouldn't hit a 1/2 mile 40% incline on it.

That's not surprising - you wouldn't make it up a 100 foot 40% incline
on a MTB with gears either, since there's no way you'd ever keep the
front end from going skyward.

I think you get my point.

Quoted message said:

But yeah, SS bikes can be a blast - they're just not the answer to
every riding opportunity.

Exactly!

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Duncan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome.

I

Quoted message said:

don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your

legs

Quoted message said:

will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the

gearing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get

off

Quoted message said:

and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and

for

Quoted message said:

real mountain biking it's needed.

A year ago I thought the same way, but just last weekend I found myself
competing in the SS national championship[1] (admitedly I was dressed in
pink and riding as a team time trial...)

For a lot of tracks in my area one gear is all you need. On those tracks
the single speed makes you rethink your whole flow through the trail.
You're forced to carry more speed in many areas as you have no low gear to
spin yourself out of trouble.
Mountain biking is all about challenges and SSing throws up some new and
entertaining ones.

I've been commuting on a fixie lately which I have raced off-road once,

but

Quoted message said:

as my friend said "you'd have to be pretty bored with XC to do that all

the

Quoted message said:

time".

[1] Sorry JD, I never did that first all day SS RR I promised.

Yeah I see your point.. After all I used to have a great time on my BMX
when I was young, even recently considered getting one just for fun.

Dave said:

Single speeds are fun partly because there is
a lot less maintenance to keep them going.

so I hear:

Quoted message said:

Here's a little story. In the late eighties three piece cranks started
to pop up on all sorts of bikes, from beach cruisers to bmx to road
bikes.

Sheesh, try mid to late 70's. I had Ashtabula 3 pc cranks on all my
BMX bikes as a kid.

firewolf65 said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking. The
nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome.
I
don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can help
you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your
legs
will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the gearing
allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get
off
and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and
for
real mountain biking it's needed.

There is a pure honesty about riding a single speed. You need to ride it to
undrstand the peace and humility behind it.

There is a oneness with the rider and nature one a SS.

I have a road bike (which I want to convert to a fixed gear) , a hard tail
Kona, and my favorite is my Bianchi S.A.S.S. I love to ride the SS even if
I can't make it up the hill without walking. It has nothing to do with
weight, it is just the pure simplicity of life inthat one example of riding.

Try it, then judge it, you may be surprised. Besides, the SS has increased
my enduranbce and ability on the hardtail.

This reads like a bad episode of Kung-Fu to me...

Quoted message said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Duncan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking.

The

Quoted message said:

Yeah I see your point.. After all I used to have a great time on my BMX
when I was young, even recently considered getting one just for fun.

Yeah, I just picked mine up for the first time in years recently. It's all
I've been riding around campus. It's just like a little toy you can throw
around. Fun.

cc

Dave W said:

Dave said:

Single speeds are fun partly because there is
a lot less maintenance to keep them going.

so I hear:

Quoted message said:

Here's a little story. In the late eighties three piece cranks started
to pop up on all sorts of bikes, from beach cruisers to bmx to road
bikes.

Sheesh, try mid to late 70's. I had Ashtabula 3 pc cranks on all my
BMX bikes as a kid.

Well for you, yes. But since I was born in '75 most of the first bikes
I had after I learned how to ride were department store bikes without
the best or latest componentry. Three piece crank experience didn't
start for me until I got my first Redline (BMX) and Peugeot (12-speed)
around mid-eighties.

And before I could ride a bike the only cranking I did was on the
Sit-N-Spin while my parents were still bumpin' Earth Wind and Fire.

Peace.

--
David R Marlborough
DJ Mackelicious
http://walkingwounded.blogspot.com/

CTB said:

"Duncan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"CTB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really don't get why singlespeeds can be good for mountain biking.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nature of mountain biking is far from that of riding around a velodrome.

I

Quoted message said:

don't understand how having a slightly lighter bike with one gear can

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you climb a steep rocky hill and then power along the next flat. If the
gearing is allowing you to climb the steep rocky hill then surely your

legs

Quoted message said:

will be spinning wildly trying to get speed up on a flat. If the

gearing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

allowed for fast flat riding, then I'm sure it would be necessary to get

off

Quoted message said:

and walk. Ahh well, I'm not even slightly tempted, I use my gearing and

for

Quoted message said:

real mountain biking it's needed.

A year ago I thought the same way, but just last weekend I found myself
competing in the SS national championship[1] (admitedly I was dressed in
pink and riding as a team time trial...)

For a lot of tracks in my area one gear is all you need. On those tracks
the single speed makes you rethink your whole flow through the trail.
You're forced to carry more speed in many areas as you have no low gear to
spin yourself out of trouble.
Mountain biking is all about challenges and SSing throws up some new and
entertaining ones.

I've been commuting on a fixie lately which I have raced off-road once,

but

Quoted message said:

as my friend said "you'd have to be pretty bored with XC to do that all

the

Quoted message said:

time".

[1] Sorry JD, I never did that first all day SS RR I promised.

Yeah I see your point.. After all I used to have a great time on my BMX
when I was young, even recently considered getting one just for fun.

Yeah, I was thinking about getting a single speeder in the near future.
But I think for my size the closest thing I would get on is something
like a P3. Good sturdy frame for jumping and bashing around and
strictly single speed. Seen a couple at the LBS and they look like fun.

Peace.

--
David R Marlborough
DJ Mackelicious
http://walkingwounded.blogspot.com/