Mountain Bikers - Any SS riders?

[Roasted]

What's up fellas? I got an 08 Diamondback Response Sport with some minor aftermarket upgrades. The more time goes on, the more I wanted to try a single speed conversion kit - So I ordered one this weekend. :P

But meanwhile as I was waiting for the parts to come in early next week, I figured I'd ask and see if any Ubuntu'ers are mt bikers on the weekends... and better yet, if any of those mountain bikers are single speed riders. In particular, I'm curious if anybody out there has tried what I'm trying - converting a 21/24/27 speed mt bike to a single.

Any input?

[Firestem4]

What's up fellas? I got an 08 Diamondback Response Sport with some minor aftermarket upgrades. The more time goes on, the more I wanted to try a single speed conversion kit - So I ordered one this weekend. :P

But meanwhile as I was waiting for the parts to come in early next week, I figured I'd ask and see if any Ubuntu'ers are mt bikers on the weekends... and better yet, if any of those mountain bikers are single speed riders. In particular, I'm curious if anybody out there has tried what I'm trying - converting a 21/24/27 speed mt bike to a single.

Any input?

Well, I will be fairly soon. I haven't ridden a bicycle in a few years and a few weeks ago i put a deposit on an 09 Gary Fisher Cobia. I'm not going to be making it a single-speed though. I plan to do a lot of trail riding and road-burning with the bike so i'll need my gears lol.

[Roasted]

Well, I will be fairly soon. I haven't ridden a bicycle in a few years and a few weeks ago i put a deposit on an 09 Gary Fisher Cobia. I'm not going to be making it a single-speed though. I plan to do a lot of trail riding and road-burning with the bike so i'll need my gears lol.

Ironically enough, that's what I do. I went biking with a single speed rider a few weeks back and I thought I'd burn him up. He actually ended up eating me alive.

It didn't occur to me how much time and mental energy I spend trying to get into the right gear, as opposed to just mashing up a hill with your only option available.

I haven't ridden an SS extensively to say whether or not it's amazing or a complete bust, but I've read enough good reviews to give it a whirl... I'm excited to see how things turn out.

[Firestem4]

I can see the advantages but at least the gears offer you options that the SS won't be able to. You will end up exerting more energy in different situations on an SS while you can find a gear that'll keep that at a minimum.

Though, I haven't ridden a single speed since i was like 6 lol.

[The Real Dave]

SS just aint a gud idea IMHO :S Gears are great like :D The more gears you have, the more your bike can adapt to a specific terrain.

I used mountain bike alot, but Im more of a tarmac burner now :D got an old racer, huge gear ratios, light aluminium frame, free :D The gears are something else, the second speed cog is triple the size of the first, the thing can fly with no effort from me at all :D

[Roasted]

Though, I haven't ridden a single speed since i was like 6 lol.

A single speed on a walmart bike with 16 inch wheels is significantly different from a real bike with a real single speed freehub setup.

I was pretty shocked at the difference... and I was also shocked at how much more efficient I was at riding, despite having only 1 gear.

Though, I didn't ride on MY bike with this setup. It was another bike my buddy has. Once I get mine in I want to mash around a couple hills and see how things go. In the short time I DID ride that SS, I could see how much nicer it was to ride considering I didn't have my chain popping off every time I came in contact with a stick or the side of a bush.

But I'm really anxious to get this thing rolling and see how it goes. So far for every 10 people who praise SS bikes, there's only about 1 person who prefers the gear setup, which I found kinda shocking...

[Spike-X]

I do ride mountain bikes, but I'm nowhere near fit enough to even try SS on the road, let alone off-road. I may try it at some stage in the future though, if only for the sheer mechanical simplicity. Damned if I'm ever going to follow the fixie fad, though!



My XC bike (more of a commuter these days) -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Spike-X/52_1.jpg

(I've upgraded the wheels to some shiny red Alex rims with Deore hubs)

My downhill-ish bike -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Spike-X/six_three_green.jpg

(Now with MTX front rim after I taco-ed the original. I plan to convert to a single chainring setup eventually - the dual ring with derailleur is prone to letting the chain come off at the most inopportune times)

[v8YKxgHe]

Sure, I run single speed on my bike ... but then again, my bike also has no seat! I ride street trials mostly, so I'm hurling my self up and down walls/steps/benches, anything I can find.

I did use to have a street/dirt jump bike as well which was single speed - it is great for that. You just get used to going up hills in 1 gear, you just go for it because you know if you slow down you're going to stop.

If all you're doing is trail centers, commuting around then I wouldn't really advise single speed. Get a nice 9 speed setup (single chainring up front) and that's all you need.

[dje]

I used to ride SS for XC/all mountain or whatever until I grew out of my singlespeed machine :(. I definitely like singlespeed bikes, partly due to the mechanical simplicity and ultimate reliability but also because you just ride rather than messing round with gears, after converting to singlespeed the bike just felt more lively. i could definitely do most things i do on my new geared bike on my old singlespeed. The number one thing with singlespeeds is carrying speed well. However riding on roads on a singlespeed mountain bike is terrible due to the gear ratio. Pics on my profile (http://ubuntuforums.org/album.php?albumid=258) (although my caldera has changed quite a bit since that photo)

[drawkcab]

The important thing is to have a gear ratio that's suited to your terrain. When I lived in Pennsylvania there was a ride just outside of town that was perfect for a single speed.

The problem is that most of the weekend rides were out in the mountains where you would be left in the dust on some steep, technical climb.

Back when I lived in Montana, I wouldn't have even considered a singlespeed. One gear in the rocky mountains is death.

So if your terrain is amenable, go for it.

[Roasted]

The important thing is to have a gear ratio that's suited to your terrain. When I lived in Pennsylvania there was a ride just outside of town that was perfect for a single speed.

The problem is that most of the weekend rides were out in the mountains where you would be left in the dust on some steep, technical climb.

Back when I lived in Montana, I wouldn't have even considered a singlespeed. One gear in the rocky mountains is death.

So if your terrain is amenable, go for it.

Yeah. I definitely agree. There's two common things I am continuously hearing and reading about Single Speed bikes.

A - It's not the answer to every situation, just like a geared bike may not be the answer to every situation.

B - However, it seems a Single Speed is underrated, in terms of its capability. I couldn't BELIEVE it when I saw an 800 dollar single speed mountain bike in the bike shop. Who on earth would buy it? But damn was it a nice ride... After riding it, it made more sense...

[ice60]

if i was going to get a bike like that i'd definately get one of those old BMX cruisers. they were never too popular and i'm not too sure if anyone makes them still, but they are far nicer than a mountain bike i think.

here's a picture of one -
http://26bmx.com/Brands_IMGS_26BMX/GT%20BMX%2026/GT%2026%20Bars%202004%2002%20013_26BMX.jpg

when i was a lot younger i think the gearing i used was 44/16, it was fine everywhere. i've no idea what a single speed conversion kit is though??

[ice60]

this convertion looks cool, is that what you're doing? -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/wds178/Bikes/92GTRic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/wds178/Bikes/GTAfter.jpg

from here -
http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index.php?showtopic=27000833

some of my old bmx friends are on that site lol

edit: i won't take this anymore OT, but i just remembered about those BMX sidecar things lol -
http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/1st-turn-redline.jpg

http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/2008/08/dj-greyboys-sidehack/

[Firestem4]

A single speed on a walmart bike with 16 inch wheels is significantly different from a real bike with a real single speed freehub setup.

Hey...take that back! I think it was target!!! :P

[Roasted]

this convertion looks cool, is that what you're doing? -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/wds178/Bikes/92GTRic.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/wds178/Bikes/GTAfter.jpg

from here -
http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index.php?showtopic=27000833

some of my old bmx friends are on that site lol

edit: i won't take this anymore OT, but i just remembered about those BMX sidecar things lol -
http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/1st-turn-redline.jpg

http://www.vaporsmagazine.com/2008/08/dj-greyboys-sidehack/

Hmm, what I'm seeing in that picture doesn't seem to be up my alley as to what I'm doing.

Here's a direct picture to what I'm doing.

http://www.sammyrusso.com/wp-content/gallery/singlespeed/dsc01466.jpg

Step 1 - Remove the 3 chainrings up front and change it to a single.
Step 2 - Remove the rear derailleur. Replace with chain tensioner (shown in that picture).
Step 3 - Ride.

Essentially you throw 1 gear in front, 1 gear in rear, and pull the chain tight with the tensioner. That's what I'm after.

I did some riding tonight with the gears on my cassette comparing 32-15 to 32-16. I think I'm going to start with 32-15 and see where it goes. 16 is just a bit too high for me.

What do you SS riders run?

[ice60]

Hmm, what I'm seeing in that picture doesn't seem to be up my alley as to what I'm doing.

Here's a direct picture to what I'm doing.

http://www.sammyrusso.com/wp-content/gallery/singlespeed/dsc01466.jpg

Step 1 - Remove the 3 chainrings up front and change it to a single.
Step 2 - Remove the rear derailleur. Replace with chain tensioner (shown in that picture).
Step 3 - Ride.

Essentially you throw 1 gear in front, 1 gear in rear, and pull the chain tight with the tensioner. That's what I'm after.

I did some riding tonight with the gears on my cassette comparing 32-15 to 32-16. I think I'm going to start with 32-15 and see where it goes. 16 is just a bit too high for me.

What do you SS riders run?
right, i love those bigger bmx's, i think i'm going to get one, i'm definitely going to get one actually. i'm glad you posted about bikes!

i think the convertion still looks good, if you find the right gearing you won't miss gears, especially in a city where you start and stop more, i think on long roads you might want lower gearing?

i just clicked through some bike links and saw this -

Former champion downhill mountain biker Missy Giove charged with marijuana distribution...

"Drug trafficking can lead you downhill fast," Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent John Gilbride said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/17/2009-06-17_mountain_biker.html

lol

[dmizer]

Converting a geared bike into a SS bike is okay, but the dropouts become an issue as the chain stretches. SS dropouts allow for adjustment in order to compensate for chain length as it stretches, but geard bikes do not.

This (despite the fact that the bike is geared) is a single speed dropout:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3432673244_0f06b09bdd.jpg
As you can see the dropout allows for rearward movement.

This is a geared dropout:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2953135657_28105a2567.jpg?v=0
Rearward adjustment is very limited.

Lots more information here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

As to everything else ... I'm a hardcore roadie ;)

[Roasted]

Converting a geared bike into a SS bike is okay, but the dropouts become an issue as the chain stretches. SS dropouts allow for adjustment in order to compensate for chain length as it stretches, but geard bikes do not.

This (despite the fact that the bike is geared) is a single speed dropout:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3432673244_0f06b09bdd.jpg
As you can see the dropout allows for rearward movement.

This is a geared dropout:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2953135657_28105a2567.jpg?v=0
Rearward adjustment is very limited.

Lots more information here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

As to everything else ... I'm a hardcore roadie ;)

Yeah... a true SS bike has the horizontal dropouts. However, this could be a good or bad thing if you're somebody who wants to experiment with geared versus SS... because a true SS bike isn't exactly easy to throw on a derailleur and a cassette of 8 speeds due to the common lack of a derailleur hanger in the first place.

However, for someone like me with a typical hardtail bike and vertical dropouts, there's a solution.

http://www.sammyrusso.com/wp-content/gallery/singlespeed/dsc01466.jpg

It's like a derailleur but without the drama. Just keeps the gear in line and pulls it tight.

[Blacklightbulb]

Well I used to be a pretty hard core roadie too before I got my first motorcycle:p.

What I road an 18 speed walmart like quality 40$ bike on which I did (356.25days X 16miles X 7.5years) 42750miles (pretty good for you heart lol).

Well it wasn't a top quality bike but I road it sun and run and wind (i hate wind it slows you down so much) uphill and downhill (here's pretty much all hills) and I only broke down 2 times (rear rim and chain broke).

After all that what can I say, get a MOTORCYCLE. It's so much much much more fun, 30mph vs 140mph :p

[Roasted]

Motorcycle? You can only do so much on a motorcycle. I mean I can see how they're fun and all but, to take a motorcycle on some of the trails I've been on... just aint happening :P.

So, I forget where I was at with my bike when I first posted but, my hardtail is done. 2008 Diamondback Response Sport. 18 inch frame 26 inch wheels. Originally a 24 speed, now it's a single. I have a 32T chainring up front, single speed chain, and a 16T cog in the back, along with a Sette Chain Guide II Tensioner, which works wonderfully. It's a fixed tensioner, so it's pretty beastly. I took it for a ride on friday with my buddy who has a Diamondback almost identical to mine, except geared. We both had a good time and surprisingly, I did incredibly well with 1 gear. I realized how much of an edge I had every time I heard him shift. While the proper gear was trying to be situated, I was gaining momentum since I was already powering up with the only gear I had.

It was so much fun going over jumping and stairways without the chain whipping around and derailling. Anybody who wants to give it a shot, I recommend it. It has its pros and cons, but my gosh it's a lot more fun than I expected it would be.

[blur xc]

I mtn bike but I do it on a geared full suspension bike...

SS makes you mash up the climbs but you get to relax a lot more on the flats and decents, because you spin out and run out of gear so going faster is not an option. On a geared bike, you (at least I) upshift and keep mashing. Speed is like a drug, the faster I go, the faster I want to go, so the harder I pedal. I sometimes (depending on the loop) achieve my highest heart rates on the descents that way...

Yeah- and there are mtb trails you'd be very had pressed to ride a moto on unless you've got mad trials skills. And there are moto trails you'd be hard pressed to ride a mtb on... the trick is to keep the motos of the mtb trails, turning them into unrideable (I guess that's not a real word?) moto trails...

BM

[Roasted]

Maybe it's just the kind of riding I do, but the trails I go on don't warrant the use of many of the gears you would use when flying down a paved hill. I know what you mean in that respect, but the more I ride single the more I see how much I hated gears. But then again, I do jumps off of every single thing I see, so just the novelty of a guaranteed chain staying on the gears is a significant +1.

I typically switch cogs depending on the riding I'm doing. If I'm sticking to trails, I ride 32-16, which is pretty much the recommended average for SS riders to start on if they're not sure where their sweet spot is. If I ride on the street, I typically swap out the 16 cog for a 13 or 14. That's a decent ratio to keep the wheels spinning decently without me looking like a hamster on crack while still being able to mash up hills without needing inhumanely huge legs.

I do plan to swap out my 32T chainring eventually to a 36 or 38 so I can have a wider variety of sizing options available, but even still the ratios will remain the same (32-16 vs 36-18, etc).

If I were riding on the street 24/7 I'd more than likely be on a geared bike. But since I'm not and I'm often doing urban (around town) riding, along with mountain biking, gah... SS is just the ticket for me. :guitar: