Can you actually do the climb on whites level? If so what ratio do you run - I tried with 32x18 and found it really tough, had to stand up most of the initial climb, which meant had trouble picking the right line and kept getting pedal strikes. All in all very hard work.
The ratio felt fine for the single track at the top and the bike flew through it...
http://www.mtb-wales.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=21978#pid
Sub 6 hrs for al 4 trails at Afan
yup friend had to borrow my single speed as his bike was in the shop,
he managed fine on it doing the whites
the gearing on it was 32x16
on the climbs he was blazing the way for all of us,
put us to shame,
Hmmmm I obviously need to mtfu. Had to have a little sit down after 40mins or so of the climb as I felt a bit dizzy/sick. It seems the only way to get up is to attack it hard, which I can't keep up for the hour or so of initial climbing.
6hrs for all 4 trails is truely impressive - I can't believe that was including the 'full' skyline - off to read the link....
Yeah TBH it's a middle ring climb anyway, The first section's a bit grunty but past the first hairpin it's OK. Mine was 32:16
If he did all 4 in under 6 hours then that is incredible - could'nt find the post for this on his blog though 🙁
Afan singlespeed no problems good on you for feeling dizzy 🙂
Oh and probably better to not compare mere mortals with matt page he is seriously quick
not a hard climb 32:16 IMHO. i wouldn't say i'm anything special at all either. i have two mates who can laugh at me on the climbs..
SS needs discipline and a little fitness for whites climb, straight forward in 32/16 perhaps you went too hard from the off and blew up a little too soon.
me and leggy blonde did afan 2 days in a row on the single speeds. 32/16 ratios. We flew past geared riders who were just sitting and spinning. Both of us had really sore arms and hands from pulling on the bars constantly though after 2 days.
Fair play to you all. I
Yep, I've done it too 😕 - sorry, not trying to make you feel bad, DT78, but I don't remember it being that tough. I was running 34/18 and it was a steady plod. If you've not been riding one-speed for very long, maybe the fitness and line selection will come with practice. Keep it up!
32:18 here. If I can do it, anyone can 🙂
Did all four trails in about 12 hours.
It was my first time riding single speed, the real difficultly I found was line choice when I had to stand up and really crank the pedals - I often hit the pedals causing me to stumble and stop then I couldn't start again so had to push up to a flatter bit to get going. When I'm on my geared susser I just sit back and spin without much trouble.
Something to improve on in 2010.
Just plod on quietly thats the ticket
It was my first time riding single speed
ha. not surprised then.
Cleaned the Whytes climb on a 34:16 ratio a couple of years ago :-). Tried to do it again a couple of weeks ago.... I pushed a lot and bought some gears when I got home 😳
Yes on my Simple 32:16
Yep, done it on 32x20 on a 29er (so that would be 32x18 equivalent on 26"). Good workout but not impossible. Whites is my favourite of the Afan trials by miles - no long fireroad climbs which I find very tedious. These trails do serve up quite beating on a fully rigid bike though!
These trails do serve up quite beating on a fully rigid bike though!
+1
Done all the trails on 2:1 climbs are Ok if you attack them and don't get stuck behind people. Makes the place more challenging 😉
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Heres the King of Sweden on the Energy section
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me on the same section
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Singespeedpunk on the same bit.
32:16 rigid. Good fun, fater than normal on the ups, more painful than normal on the way down.
Wow now that was agood hangover cure forgot about that one good times 😀