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Singlespeed as 2nd bike?

26 posts & 13 voices | Started 3 years ago by JxL | Latest reply from epicyclo

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singlespeed

JxL - Member

Thinking of a new bike build, and after mentioning a Singlespeed as one of the options, John (Junkyard) said I would be breaking all rules of bike buying (hardtail, then full suss, then something else, then singlespeed).

My options are: Light hardtail build, light full sus, singlespeed (26" or 29").

I already have a Genesis Core 10, with 100mm Reba forks. Full bike weighs around 28lbs I would say. A light XC full-sus makes little sense, as it will not do majorly bigger stuff than my hardtail can handle. A light (possibly carbon) race bike will be great for racing, but will not be used as much especially how much it would cost.

Am I mental for considering a singlespeed as 2nd bike? It is very tempting...

Posted 3 years ago #
Kuco - Member

Perfectly fine to have a SS as a second bike. Personally I don't understand all the bullshit that goes with SS after all it's only a bike with one gear.

Posted 3 years ago #
Skankin_giant - Member

I use a ss as my main bike

Posted 3 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

It's not fine to have a SS as a 2nd bike at all.

It's ok to have another bike as 2nd bike after your SS though.

Not a rule, that's just how it ends up regardless of original intentions

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

Haha, thanks guys I did mean 2nd bike as in buying order, but I see what you mean I do have a feeling I would fall in love with it since it would be my first build too!

Posted 3 years ago #
big_n_daft - Member

29er SS

Posted 3 years ago #
CountZero - Member

My first SS was a tryout as I found myself with two hardtails with gears and sus forks, one steel, a Handjob, then a Hummer. As I was then working about a mile from home, I thought I'd give this SS malarky that I'd been reading about on here for some time a go. I rapidly fell in love with the idea, and bought a proper SS frame a couple of years later, an On-One 853, with carbon rigid forks. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this bike. I have three other bikes, a Remedy 66, another Inbred, with gears an 160mm forks on, which I also love to bits, and a Kona Sutra, which has also been SS'd. If I had to cut down on my bikes, then the two Inbreds would stay. If I had to only have one bike, it would probably be the 853 SS. It's light, it rides beautifully, it looks just right, it's virtually maintenance free, what's not to like? The thing is, it's pretty cheap to build up a SS from bits, even a complete bike isn't that expensive, I was looking at a Haro 650B SS with mechanical Avid discs and a decent spec for £650, which ain't bad for a complete bike. My frame and forks were £350, then there's all the other kit from the donor Handjob; Hope M4's, Hope/Mavic wheels, Bontrager chainset, carbon bars...
A Genesis iO isn't that expensive either. Plenty of people don't 'get' s/speeds, I didn't until I built one for fun, now I really couldn't be without it.
[edit] just remembered, there's a thread, 'show us your steel hardtail!!!!!'. All three of mine are there, including my lovely red SS, posing on a fallen tree [/edit]

Posted 3 years ago #
miketually - Member

slot dropout Scandal frames are only £199 at the moment...

Posted 3 years ago #
Vortexracing - Member

how much were they before the sale?

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

Brilliant! Very tempted now...

I suppose should decide between 26" and 29"! What are major advantages/disadvantages between them? "show us your steel hardtail" thread was full of lovely 26" SS, but did not spot many 29ers. From what I understand the forks would be more expensive, maybe less travel too? Are big wheels better for climbing/etc?

thnx

P.S do steel frames rust a lot, and how do you take care of paint chips by rocks?

Posted 3 years ago #
Trustyrusty - Member

JxL,

I've been riding mainly SS bikes since 2001 and have to agree with Countzero for people who like to just ride bikes, SS's rock (less faffing time) My main bike at the Mo' is a Dialled Love/Hate (new frames coming soon for £265) but after 69ing the love/hate I'm building a Surly Karate Monkey as the advantages of 29er wheels work for me.

Pro's : bigger wheels roll over things without falling into holes quite as much, so a less "choppy" ride

The contact patch is longer giving more grip for a given width of tyre, also you could argue higher air volume, but it probably doesn't make a massive difference. I found there was lots of cornering grip

Con's : Bigger tyres/wheels/tubes weigh a little bit more and that weight is at the furthest point from the axle, so it might feel a bit slow to accelerate compared to a 26er.

It's getting better but, you won't get as big a choice of tyres/tubes and rims in 29er sizes as you will in 26in

People point and laugh at the freak (that might just be me though )

It's probably best to try both before you splash the cash, maybe go to your nearest Gary Fisher dealer. But On-one are doing some great deals on frames at the moment, and the slotted Inbred seems a nice simple solution. Maybe even use this forum to "test ride" someone elses bikes. If you are in Northants I'll have a 26 and 29er (to suit a 6 footerish) SS you can ride.

Rust, Yes they are steel, but there is a fair amount of Chromium and Molybdeum (sp?) in the mix. I have an old Steel frame that hasn't had a scrap of paint on it since 2000 (hence Trustyrusty) and apart from some serious surface rust, it seems pretty sound. I had a S/H On-one a while ago that stained the paint from chips in the paint, but then like most proper SS's it had a tough life and was used a lot in winter and thrown in the shed dirty, they love it when you treat them rough

Posted 3 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

JxL - Member
...but did not spot many 29ers. From what I understand the forks would be more expensive, maybe less travel too?...

Unless you are in the habit of riding full bore downhill, you'll find a carbon "rigid" fork perfectly adequate on a 29er. It just takes a bit of adapting your riding style and it improves the zero maintenance bit

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

cheers guys!

Pretty much decided on a 26er now. It seems like it will be easier to inter-change parts in between, and might be better for climbing too. What frames should I look into, for running 80 or 100mm forks?

Like the look of the voodoo wanga. One guy from this forum has it and it looks incredibly nice. here it is (sorry, can't remember the owners nickname)

http://www.voodoocycles.co.uk/frame.php?id=3

Also, could anybody tell me whether I will need a different type of hub, and all the other (special) singlespeed bits, so I could add a shopping list

thanks a bunch

Posted 3 years ago #
singlespeedstu - Member

but did not spot many 29ers.

Posted 3 years ago #
Skankin_giant - Member

Kona Explosif works well with 80/100

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

Anything with sliding dropouts? I heard it could be a pain messing around with chain tensioners or half links.

Posted 3 years ago #
Skankin_giant - Member

again Kona Explosif

that was my old set up frame gone now, before anyone takes the p*** the crud catchers only there cos i use it for work, and a muddy uniform dont go down well lol

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I go from vertical dropouts to horizontal ones! I just read on Sheldon Brown's page that for sliding drop-outs disc brakes are not recommended, as the wheel can move slightly and would take longer to set it up. Also although im 6f2, I would like quite a low frame (like that voodoo), so its a bit more "chuckable". Now I have a 20.5" on my Genesis, and find it quite large.

Posted 3 years ago #
CountZero - Member

Sorry to diss Sheldon Brown but discs make no real difference to set-up on a SS with horizontal d/outs. You 'might' have to undo the bolts and adjust the caliper slightly every now and again, but it's something that takes a minute or two every six months or so. Just not worth worrying about. The Wanga is a lovely bike, designed by Joe Murray, who designed the original Kona h/tails from back in the nineties, and started the whole dropped top-tube thing. As regards ss bits, you'll need a sprocket, probably 16t, and some spacer rings, which are made by M:Parts. The best sprockets are the thick based ones from On-One or Surley. Regarding 69er SS's, last Sunday I tried a 29er front wheel from a Gary Fisher in the standard carbon On-One forks on my 853SS, and it worked perfectly. Wheel is around £95 with a Rhythm rim, just needs a Bonty tyre and sealant and you're good to go. Oh, and a disc rotor.

Posted 3 years ago #
Skankin_giant - Member

Yea no problem with discs most ss with slidding drop outs have the caliper mount on the slidding drop out bit, so the caliper moves with the wheel and disc.

like that

Cheers

Steve

Posted 3 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

JxL -
...Like the look of the voodoo wanga...

Mate of mine had one, beautiful light bike, nice ride etc, but he was a big strong lad and eventually the chainstay cracked on the drive side.

Posted 3 years ago #
JxL - Member

epicyclo - I'm about 10 stone/65kg, do you think it will hold out?

I cannot even find a dealer which sells the Wanga frame online! Looked at Cotic Simple, but cannot justify spending £470 on a SS frame right now.

As for the dropout with disc: that looks very good! Even with my vertical dropout I need to re-adjust the discs every time I take the wheel off, but this looks even better!

This will be a silly question, but does anybody here do decent climbs on a SS? Lets say Rivington for example, Lee Quarry, maybe Llandegla. Are these places "doable" considering I would be fit enough?

Posted 3 years ago #
mtbtomo - Member

I've got mates who've done the Peaks, Rivington, Whinlatter, North Wales, the Lakes on ss. You can do pretty much anywhere.

Posted 3 years ago #
james - Member

"A light XC full-sus makes little sense, as it will not do majorly bigger stuff than my hardtail can handle"

I found when changing to a 5" (ok so not that light, but not exactly heavy at 27/28lbs) full suss frame (from a 4" HT frame, but had 'upgraded' to a 5" fork (which is now on the full suss) It brought my riding on no end, so my full suss does do majorly bigger stuff than I could handle on my hardtail

Just a thought. Not questioning the SS purchase. If you wanted to go full suss, you could SS the genesis. Or just SS the genesis now (its not difficult to regear it and see how you get on with it. You could then go about building up another bike to put your SS bits on (ie the SS chainring/chain/rear sproket/tensioner)

Posted 3 years ago #
aw - Member

I got the SS bug after trying my shonky kona cindercone (97) as SS. The gears were shot so I thought what the hell and never looked back. I just love this bike! It is quick, light and fun!

Does anyone know what the frame material is? (steel obviously but is it 853?)

Posted 3 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

JxL - Member
epicyclo - I'm about 10 stone/65kg, do you think it will hold out?

Probably - he's much bigger than that.

Posted 3 years ago #