Off out on a local loop without the aid of gears so should be fun :0 but I went for a 18t rear cog so am I wimping out a bit ? was told it's better for spining through mud !

You`ll love it … especially in the gloopy mud ….. Enjoy

singlespeed is brill..you'll use muscles you've never used before.

sounds like fun then I'm fed up of spending out on new chains cassettes etc ……

I did my first outing singlespeed at Cwmcarn with a 16t. Seatpost snapped after 5 minutes (bloody carbon crap) so I spent the next 2 hours on my legs with no respite.

Oh how my mates laughed.
Biggest problem I found was lack of torque to get myself out of trouble on the tech uphill stuff i.e not enough legs.

18t a good idea to start with.

I dont think I have the legs for SS in Cwmcarn that's a very techy climb 🙂

the difficult techy bits are all part of the fun..
hustling a fully rigid bike with one gear is rewarding..

it'll be a laugh. push a bit? take it for what it is. enjoy!

Remember, you really have 3 speeds: Sitting, standing and walking.

And try to pull up with your arms, gives a load/bit of extra oomph.

Have a god day,

APF

You don't have to rip it up the climbs. Steady momentum is all you need. It's ace. Did a two hour ride last night, which I reckon was comparable to a three hour FS ride, fitness-wise.