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Aaaaaages ago I passed up on a MK1 frame that I regret a little.
Since then I've had my (beady little) eye on one of the newer revised designs. I was tempted with one from the last (October) batch but timing wasn't great with other commitments.
I see that a new batch has been opened up and again I find myself tempted.
I enjoy single speeding and where I live there isn't the terrain to warrant anything more than a short travel FS and even then you could say that was overkill.
This would be a "want" over "need" (heart over head) and would need me to break a couple of bikes.
So who has one and what are your thoughts?
I don't have one.
I'm in a similar boat hovering over the new batch wondering if I'll like singlespeeding (again)
Not getting on with my hardtail (which gets about 5% ride time compared to 95% on the full suss) and convincing myself that I cant get on with the differing timing on the HT.
The sensible choice for me would be to get a second full suss frame but then I think I'll have 2 too similar bikes... so a single speed bike for local and or winter mud appeals...
I don't have one either - and was going to put up a similar post!
(Not that I am financially in the position of being able to buy one)
But it is currently my most N+1 dream bike/frame (and I'm pretty happy with the stable of 5 bikes I've got currently)
I've a SS Hardtail, which is great for local stuff, and I love single-speeding; it'd be brilliant around here ..
I've got one! Ordered one in the last batch, after debating pretty much up until the order window shut. XL 29er flavour.
It's a great bike, I've built mine with bargains that popped up between ordering and it arriving. It's a bit mish mash, fox 34's @ 130 travel, hope enduro rims on pro 5's with nobby nics 2.4. Clarks c4 brakes i had knocking about already, slx cranks as why use anything else?! But i genuinely love how it rides.
It's kind of set up for anything, i could switch to grippier tyres as the cost of rolling speed (which to be fair might have avoided my wash out crash, knackering my ribs).
It just wants to go fast the whole time. I've only had 3 proper rides on it, and a couple of recovery rides on it today and Saturday just gone, but I'm smiling the whole time. Someone with more skill (wouldn't take much) would absolutely rip on it.
Todays ride was around bewl reservoir. 13miles of dusty single track and some steepish road climbs and I don't think I'd want to be on any other bike except maybe my pace 627.
The rear suspension is pretty interesting. I've got about 280psi in mine, no discernable pedal bob, but it feels smooth on the trails at Friston when going for it. I've paired it with a pnw coast suspension dropper, just to smooth out the ride a bit when sitting down and pedalling.
Happy to answer any specific questions, if my wall of waffling wasn't enough info!
Thanks Tom.
That looks a great build - I agree on the SLX cranks position 😎
On the rear shock front .... with 280psi in the shock have you got much to play with in terms of increasing it? I appreciate this is a shock query rather than frame but my understanding is that the frame wants to be set up with minimal/no sag.
If you didn't have the Coast dropper, or dare I say it a rigid post, would you say the seated ride was harsh or comparable with a HT? I'm guessing the suspension movement isn't designed around small bump sensitivity?
As a side note ... I'd be looking at Teal and an XL ... how very common 🤣
As a side side note ... I do like the way you optioned to have the small fisherman added to the ST brace ...
I see that Tom's has a seat tube brace (being the XL), whereas the pics on the website don't (guessing smaller sizes rather than revision)
Does this mean the top tube is in the same place on the L and XL? Tom's water bottle (fidlock?) looks tight clearance to the fairly small diameter shock.
I think the shock is 300psi max, it's a rs deluxe plus i got from the alpkit ebay outlet for cheap. You could use the lockout too, maybe but I'm not using the full travel on it, even with rougher terrain still. It's pretty rigid 99% of the time, you maybe see 5-10mm movement if you look down whilst riding, i guess it's like having a larger volume tyre on? The dropper seatpost does swallow a few bumps, but to be honest i could just stand up or unweight myself a bit, and not have the suspension post. It's only as it was already in my shed, and it fit that it went on.
The fidlock bottle is a 750ml beast, it looks tight, bit fits in easily enough and can be got on the go with no issues. I usually use the smaller 500 bottle. Not sure about the different sizes affecting bottle use.
The fishermen said they'd only be in the photo if it was on the brace, fussy gits.
Couple more pics as it's a very pretty bike!
Also the best thing i bought for it was the granite pop up socket set that goes in the steerer tube, brilliant bit of kit.
Just watched a vid on this frame - 24mm cranks only?
I'm going to Starling HQ to pick mine up tomorrow, so will chime back in (if I remember to) once I've got a few rides in. I ordered it back in October 2024, and I think it's the last one of the batch.
Mine's decidedly more XC/Marathon inspired than @Tom83's one: 120mm Intend forks, fast wheels and tyres, rigid seatpost, 70mm negative rise stem and flat-as-a-pancake Thomson handlebars. Starling also very kindly agreed to do my frame and swingarm in the 'Raw IPA' finish as per a few previous prototype bikes (including the recent Dive).
If anyone's at the 24hr at Newnham Park, or Singlespeed UK this year I'll be there with it.
I'm going to Starling HQ to pick mine up tomorrow, so will chime back in (if I remember to) once I've got a few rides in. I ordered it back in October 2024, and I think it's the last one of the batch.
Mine's decidedly more XC/Marathon inspired than @Tom83's one: 120mm Intend forks, fast wheels and tyres, rigid seatpost, 70mm negative rise stem and flat-as-a-pancake Thomson handlebars. Starling also very kindly agreed to do my frame and swingarm in the 'Raw IPA' finish as per a few previous prototype bikes (including the recent Dive).
If anyone's at the 24hr at Newnham Park, or Singlespeed UK this year I'll be there with it.
I'll see you at ssuk!
I’ve been wondering about a BLE for years, particularly since I got sucked into singlespeeding three years ago. This recent bout of very dry weather now has me thinking that if I had a bit of rear suspension I’d also want some gears to let me pedal faster on less steep singletrack. But it seems such a fun idea!
I’m also debating entering SSUK as it’s quite local but I’ve never gone hard on the singlespeed for 3 hours and I may just fall apart…
I think the shock is 300psi max, it's a rs deluxe plus i got from the alpkit ebay outlet for cheap. You could use the lockout too, maybe but I'm not using the full travel on it, even with rougher terrain still. It's pretty rigid 99% of the time, you maybe see 5-10mm movement if you look down whilst riding, i guess it's like having a larger volume tyre on? The dropper seatpost does swallow a few bumps, but to be honest i could just stand up or unweight myself a bit, and not have the suspension post. It's only as it was already in my shed, and it fit that it went on.
So, does the rear suspension only really come into play with big hits then? What's the idea of setting it up with virtually no sag?
I think, in my head, I'd like it to ride like a shorter travel (and SS) version of the Swarf Contour I used to have, but it sounds more like a HT most of the time, with a bit of extra 'give' on bigger hits?
I think the shock is 300psi max, it's a rs deluxe plus i got from the alpkit ebay outlet for cheap. You could use the lockout too, maybe but I'm not using the full travel on it, even with rougher terrain still. It's pretty rigid 99% of the time, you maybe see 5-10mm movement if you look down whilst riding, i guess it's like having a larger volume tyre on? The dropper seatpost does swallow a few bumps, but to be honest i could just stand up or unweight myself a bit, and not have the suspension post. It's only as it was already in my shed, and it fit that it went on.
So, does the rear suspension only really come into play with big hits then? What's the idea of setting it up with virtually no sag?
I think, in my head, I'd like it to ride like a shorter travel (and SS) version of the Swarf Contour I used to have, but it sounds more like a HT most of the time, with a bit of extra 'give' on bigger hits?
That's how Joe from starling describes it.
It's a unique ride for sure, i feel a lot quiciker on it then on my ss rc627. Which I'd always felt was pretty smooth for a hardtail.
I’ve never gone hard on the singlespeed for 3 hours and I may just fall apart…
I’m not sure anyone has ever gone hard for 3 hours at SSUK. Except at the beer tent!
Just enter, it’s a great gang. If you’ve not got a SS gears can be taped up etc etc. 🙂
24mm cranks only?
Wise to go Shimano cranks anyway. Cheap, light, strong… and last.
So ... Bit of a thread diversion ...
As, realistically, I'll not be able to afford a BLE anytime soon, has anyone SS'd a regular FS frame, using a (sprung) tensioner? How well does it work, any particular type of FS design better suited than others? I'd be quite keen to try one as a cheap project...
I’ve known a few people set up their park bike ss using a tensioner. Seems to work fine for them, I can’t comment any further than that.
Just back from my first blast on the BLE, having picked it up on Friday. Initial thoughts are that it's 95% as quick as a hardtail uphill, but WAY more capable heading back down. Didn't do anything gnarly, just some chunky singletrack loops on the moor, so looking forward to pushing it a bit harder in the woods this week. Obviously the characteristics are very build dependant (mines on 27.5 for example), but found it very playful for popping around off little lips and very happy to pump through every little dip.
As for the tensioner on a 'regular' FS bike, I've done this on an old Orange Patriot, and a newer Five and both worked fairly well, but the bob was pretty hard to dial out unless you lock the shock out on the climbs. Something like a Paul Melvin tensioner does the job very well and has enough movement to not impeded full use of rear travel.
Thank you all for your responses.
I’ve emailed Joe (and had a response) re shock pressure for the larger rider ☺️
Now to pull the trigger …
Sweet! Mine's a custom colour, but if you're torn the powder pink looks great in the flesh (there were a few at HQ in that colour when I was there last week).
Anyone interested in selling their XL or L BLE?