Well in turns out that this is going on later in the year not far away
http://sswc2016.com/
Few mates will be going and I kind of fancy giving it a go…
I’ve got a 456 in the shed which I could convert but then again I’ve been looking at solaris in that new yellow…
How well do these things work?
https://www.merlincycles.com/dmr-single-speed-conversion-kit-45104.html
As I reckon I’d probably gear it back after.

Oh and how long to get used to being in the wrong gear all the time?

I would go for a sprung-mounted chain-tensioner rather than a simple roller e.g. Surly Singleator or Problem Solvers.

As you’re likely to be over-geared, then climbs are the real challenge as you really have to MTFU

Cheers I’ll take a look

A couple of my mates are organising SSWC. It should be a good.

By contrast I get on ok with my cheapo DMR tensioner. It is only a pain when you need to take the wheel out.

But it is all a bodge. If you are serious about riding SS get the right frame. If it is just for this event then bodge away.

Could be fun, think I’ll try it out on the 456 for a month and see how my knees explode 🙂 just need to find a fork now…

Well I guess the project is on…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/GWJGG9]IMG_20160509_164153[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr

Tensioner and single cog on the way

Was thinking of entering too, as I’ll be in Oz at about that time, but struggling with being asked to cough 70 quid to enter a bike race…

I think there is free beer

well maybe not exactly free but included in the price.

but this is part of my problem. If I want to enter a race I’ll enter a race, if I want to buy beer/T shirt / underpants(?!), I’ll buy beer/T shirt / underpants, but I don’t want ’em foisted on me. I know I know, I should stop being a curmudgeon and enter into the spirit of the event. But 70 quid? Sheesh.

Yeah well yeah…
Kind of going rate for camping and events stuff here, paid a bit less for a 12hr recently. Also the $ is stronger than it used to be so makes things seem more. Anyway not going to take tbis one down the race entry price route… Need to see if my body will adapt first

Your body will adapt.
I’m a fat, talentless, arthritic, scaredypants bimbler.
I went singlespeed 9 months ago and I am stronger, braver and my bike handling skills are improving every day.
My knees sometimes hurt a bit, but nothing that’s gonna upset my GP.

^ plus 1

Your knees will be fine, you just have to stand up and honk more is all plus you have to keep a little momentum going rather than comfort braking and relying on lower gears to be able to get up or through stuff. It’s great, as the tiger once said of sugar-coated flakes of corn.

BB/ISGC chain guides (Blackspire stinger type) make useful tensioners. Bodge away 😀

struggling with being asked to cough 70 quid to enter a bike race…

I see you’re under the impression that it’s a bike race?

I could be tempted to make the long (1.5 hour) trip for this. Just been out to look in the shed and there is nothing remotely single speedable (sp) in there.
One is bent and twisted and hanging as a reminder to stupidity. Gave one away to a workmate a couple of months ago and the rest all have chaingrowth issues.

That leaves a trials bike, which whilst technically eligible would be silly and an old Klein that I do not trust to ride.

Bugger just entered my first SS race….