That 29er Curtis is proper class )
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4009/4462036107_50daeafa4e.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/8074966@N08/4462036107/ ]Cheesefoot Head[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/8074966@N08/ ]Scandal Singlespeed[/url], on Flickr
I'd concur with taz but I only rode my friend's Inbred around a car park, and the fit was wrong for me anyway.
So that's useless really!
The Inbred felt more, errr, 'solid', and it just looks that way too. It's also significantly cheaper.
Another mate who rides a 9r MCR 9 felt the Swift was in the same ballpark. I demo'd an MCR9 months ago and recall it being a little bit lighter and snappier than the Swift. But it also had gears and bounce, and was my first worthwhile ride on a 29er. I ran the Swift SS rigid.
** for the sake of transparency, both the above riders kick my *** on any bike, but talent and fitness are a big factor!
Rode my rigid SS carbon Whippet 40km round Brechfa trails today at warp speed.
It's a weird combination of lo-tech and hi-tech but I love it.
I only miss suspension on rough descents where you need to cover/use the brakes, then the rigid's like a road drill. Which is why I put suspension forks on for the Dyfi winter enduro recently.
It really doesn't like braking bumps either, but then who does?
Appreciate the input chaps, cheers! Then there's the skookum, then there's the jones....the quest continues and so it goes...
I use this everywhere.
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Having a few weeks off the MTB and on the BMX had got me seriously thinking about the joys of singlespeed and rigid, plus some big wheels and tyres to cope with the rough stuff - particularly liking the look of the Fortitude. Thankfully I just watched Genesis's video of it and that front end jitter reminded me why I love suspensions forks! Saying that, come next winter it might be time to justify a more child friendly utility on and offroad bike...
Wow, I feel like I've done a couple of rounds with Tyson this morning... SS Rigid is a true all over body workout !
Wow, I feel like I've done a couple of rounds with Tyson this morning... SS Rigid is a true all over body workout !
You know you've been riding, eh?
mattjd, indeed - i'm probably too old for it at 43...... thought my knees were gonna pop yesterday 🙂
I'm tempted now to lock out my fork and give this a go....
You're younger than me or any of my crew.
I'm not worried about my knees, I suspect it's impact and rotation that damages knees, that's not what we do, and the weight that goes through them is limited by my feeble strength anyway.
(I bet you found parts of your lungs that haven't been touched by air for decades!)
mattjg, not my lungs as i swim masters, but my whole body from the rigid front to the cranking out of the saddle ...... brutal but [b]SO[/b] rewarding 😆
Candodavid, what is that 29er? it is a thing of beauty! Mind giving us the spec??
The Scandal now has a fox fork with a good lock out and is soon to be replaced with the same bike in big wheel variety.
The Kona is now sadly gone, I will not sell any more bikes.
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i'm probably too old for it at 43
I think not.
Don't try and use your age as an excuse.
Curtis XC9, custom build, 853 main tubes with 725 stays, Phil Wood EBB. Ritchey dropouts
17" seattube with 23.75" top tube.
Designed around a geometry similar to Kona but made sure angles were confirmed at 71/73.
Frame cost as it is £1125 with EBB.
I didn't pay that much as I helped with design.
the_lecht_rocks - Member
mattjd, indeed - i'm probably too old for it at 43...... thought my knees were gonna pop yesterday
Sorry mate, you're still a boy. 🙂
You've got 10" of suspension in your legs and arms.
Try riding looser. Drop bars are worth considering too - read how to set it up properly for offroad [url= http://mtbtires.com/site2/features/37-bikes/85-why-i-ride-dropbars ]on Shiggy's site[/url]
I rode my full susser today for the first time in months after only riding a rigid singlespeed in the meantime. Felt really weird, noodly and marshmallow-ish. Takes a fair bit of adjusting going back to gears and suspension.
I've just gone back to rigid SS Scandal sample 29er. Works much better like that. I found it a bit hard up a hill the other day and wondered if that was because I'm 43 but then realised I'd changed the front chainring to 34 from 32 since the last time it was SS 🙂
Surly 1x1.Dartmoor and plenty other places. No longer my only bike but still gets ridden the most.
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Surly 1x1 on the original forks, lovely simple lightweight bike, good in all the winter clag we get round here.
43's not too old, I'm rapidly approaching 60, you just need to adapt your style and what you're prepared / able to take on.
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The gearing is [s]too tall[/s] back breaking for proper off road, and it's brutally brutally rigid. I think I can just about feel the hype of the better rolling 29er wheels shining through though....
I'm going to try some Magura HS33's hydraulics that I have spare on it, plus I might fit a smaller chainset.
Haro Mary, mainly ridden around Bristol.
My favourite bike at the moment, & for the last year.]
I built myself my first Single Speed this week and destroyed myself during a 20 mile club ride.
It's incredibly tough and provides an amazing all over work out - its a similar 'post sport' feeling to surfing
The plan is to use it at least once a week to help me improve my core fitness and to also help me improve my downhilling lines
The 2.5" Supertacky tyres will be removed this week - that's just to much pain for me 🙂
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8520960479_831a1e0c14.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/67749037@N02/8520960479/ ]Singlespeed[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/67749037@N02/ ]boltonjon[/url], on Flickr
My spare 16" non disc On One inbred frame will be for sale shortly if anyone fancies a very low tech bike..................
Candodavid... I don't want to blow smoke up your arse but... your Curtis is so pretty. For me, it is perfect bike porn. What chainring and cranks is that please?
Candodavid... I don't want to blow smoke up your arse but... your Curtis is so pretty. For me, it is perfect bike porn.
Don't encourage him!! 😯
Love that Kinesis Captain looks ace.
I'm 51 and the only mtb I have is a rigid SS Voodoo Wanga (the original steel). I love it though only ride local as no car. It's ace and I've done rides of 80 miles mixed road and trail. Would love a rigid SS 29er but as just been made redundant that ain't gonna happen for a while.
69er 0r 96er all the same i suppose. 19lb,and the 29inch front has transformed it been riding ss's for 3 years at Cannock/Peaks with my brother in law. Age no barrier i am 54 and he is 62![img] 
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Nice Whippet! That looks proper
I would never do such an irresponsible thing.