Is it a trend, for the challenge, or the simplicity..............I just can't see the attraction??
(I am however rather unfit and probably spend far too much time in the granny going up very slowly 🙄
offroad it is very hard work but on the road for a general riding machine its perfect
For many it's perfect off road too.
OP For some certainly it's faddism, many been doing it for 10+ years. For some it's a cult, for others it's a challenge or just something different.
It's great for crappy muddy winter conditions, also fantastic on flowing single track.
I really like mine.
Also like me road SS too.
It's less fuss really I do it in the winter when it gets wet and muddy.
I'm just about to convert my inbred to ss. Taking it to uni so can't be bothered with the maintenance, also think it'll be good for some winter training. Had an ss road bike and liked it so why not a mountain bike too? 🙂
SS is for attentionwhores, end of story!
Not a trend at all. It's been very common with MTBers for over a decade. And for roadies it's been in serious use for training and testing since the thirties(more fixed back then though)
It's just a nicer feeling - you have to try it and then it makes sense. I'm undecided for xc but for road I love it as it seems to have made my legs so much stronger in just two weeks. Forces you to work harder so it's great for fitness. Would be very tempted to run SS for downhill and that sort of thing - less likely to lose the chain and it's dead quiet 🙂
I come on here much less frequently than I used to but how come every time I do there is a thread like this?
Is it a marketing conspiracy?
I never used to understand it, but since riding bmx for the last 6 months non stop, I can. Just one less thing to worry about... I'm changing my xc mtb to having a chain device again, nothing to do with the fad that has started in here, just cause I want the extra security. I am tempted to go singlespeed for the winter too...
No fuss just a bit of fun.
No attention achieved riding mine, riding on my own in deserted mountains!
It's just a simple bike that is a pleasure to ride and easier to clean in the winter 😉
If you live somewhere flattish they're ideal off road. If you live somewhere hilly it will make you stronger. Or kill you.
Don't make it any more complicated than that.
Yep - it's a conspiracy alright!
In fairness I'm just interested, for off rd rather than on road.
Think I may even give it a go for fitness purposes, if it works - Tom your a genius - if not.........I'd think about chasing after you, but suspect I'll be too busy collapsing somewhere about 200yards up a climb! 😉
SS for off road - fixed for on, no fuss.
"simple is as simple does"
No faff cycling, that's what it is. It's not hard or difficult, and is even better if you live in hilly areas. Just select your cogs accordingly.
I've been doing it since it was normal, then stupid, then cultish, then faddish, and now apparently attention-whoring.
It may be a trend, but certainly not a new one, as oldgit mentioned. My Dad used to compete in fixed wheel hill climb time trials back in the Thirties
SS is fine for off road too, it's different. Even though mud isn't a problem for me, I spent most of last winter training on a SS and the benefits now are incredible.
I'd think about chasing after you, but suspect I'll be too busy collapsing somewhere about 200yards up a climb!
I'm not saying its suddenly made me amazingly fit but I'm definitely noticing a difference. I used to struggle up the climbs at Cannock in my granny ring on the easiest gear, last weekend I could get up in 32-32 (1x9 style) which is a massive improvement for me 🙂
Only thing I don't like SS for is long gradual climbs, great for short and sharp though if you get a run up.
Ayatollahofniche - Member
SS is for attentionwhores, end of story!
+1
we had a ss'er come out with us last year but then he stopped because he was always miles behind and could see we were gettin pi55ed off waiting in the cold. He has to keep getting off as well........
seemed pointless to me and a massive backward step...
if you have to ask...
i just find it more suitable than geared bikes for 90% of my riding.
For me it's just different and I choose to ride as I choose to ride a road bike some days. It doesn't make me faster or fitter, but sometimes my 5" full susser seams things boring and too easy. A rigid SS makes it more interesting and without gears or suspension it's a pure challenge.
Generally I choose the SS when riding alone or with big or slow groups. When riding with my faster mates or trail centres I take the full suss as the speed makes it fun.
Horses for courses really.
i think we need a whole separate forum for the fortnightly 'whats the point in SS' debate
then perhaps another one for 'whats the point in having the same 'Whats the point in SS' debate every two weeks
There have been singlespeed "mountain bikes" for longer than there have been geared "mountain bikes".
There is definitely something very satisfactory about 1ers. some days I feel like riding my singlespeed.
Some days I ride one of the other bikes. They're all good.
Until you've tried it, you simply won't understand........
It's just a fad. I'd give it another ten or twenty years and it'll lose it's appeal.
Other SS STWers have impressed me with their riding and one persuaded me to try it. I was ill and bored enough to do the conversion. Four rides in so far...
It's an interesting change of pedalling and pumping style: somewhere between hard and impossible to climb all the way up steep hills off-road at the moment, but overall it's easier and quicker than I expected.
The effect of losing 2.5lb of drive train and the lower drag is like having it two gears easier without losing the ratio, and the quietness when charging downhill is eerie. Spinning out on flat terrain is a little frustrating, but I'm learning to chill out and look for pumping opportunities and preserving speed.
I'm going to stick with if for the autumn and see if I grow limbs like Popeye and a beard like Bluto. If I don't then it'll be Plan B - 1x9.
Ayatollahofniche - Member
SS is for attentionwhores, end of story!+1
we had a ss'er come out with us last year but then he stopped because he was always miles behind and could see we were gettin pi55ed off waiting in the cold. He has to keep getting off as well........
seemed pointless to me and a massive backward step...
It might just be that he wasn't a very fit rider 🙄
I've been passed by geared riders, but I've passed alot more. And I ain't no riding god.
Can we have a SS sticky topic or something so we don't have this question asked everyother day. Can't people use the search function. Then I suppose that wouldn't wind people up would it.
Enjoy riding mine especially in the crud. That's all I need really.
The only time it becomes a bit of a fag is long flat road sections. Love it otherwise - oddly, I reckon I can ride more technical stuff on it than geared. No idea why.
[i]we had a ss'er come out with us last year but then he stopped because he was always miles behind ...[/i]
I've never been on a ride with a ss'er like that! They're always bloody fast (expect maybe on the downs, but then they're not slow).
I singlespeeded an old frame so I could take my dog out every night using the bike and not have to worry about cleaning it. The simplicity was a huge factor. As was the fact I could build it up without spending much money.
Wouldn't call myself a 'singlespeeder' though. Can't see myself using it on a big outing (yet!).
but on the road for a general riding machine its perfect
Not round here, its just too hilly and although I don't mind getting off and walking off-road, I hate having to walk on the road 😉
but I'm learning to chill out and look for pumping opportunities and preserving speed.
See, buzz's comment here gives an inkling into most of what SS is for me. Yes its all riding a bike, but its a fundamentally different experience and attitude to riding that provides variety especially coupled with a geared bike.
Short stiff climbs? Attack them. I wouldn't do that on an FS, I'd spin. Technical climbing? Having to moderate power output so you don't spin out on those roots and rocks that the FS would just munch up. Having to negotiate a line though chop to preserve your momentum that on the FS you'd just blast.
Its about the difference for me. Thats why I have a 23lb SS HT and a 29lb geared FS - very different riding experiences over the same terrain.
Theres also the attraction of 'uncomplicated' riding, but I'm straying dangerously close to hair shirts, peace and love there.
Man. 😳
I have a SS road bike, and love it's simplicity. Only tried SS once or twice off-road (prior to buying the road bike), now I'm considering one as my next bike...
Theres also the attraction of 'uncomplicated' riding, but I'm straying dangerously close to hair shirts, peace and love there.Man.
One ride with ADH and and you catch a case of teh hippy.
I'm now riding SS as I can't be arsed with gears and at the moment I'm fitter than an (aged) butchers dog so I can cope, I'm also going rigid now as my 10 month old SIDs are a technical right off, boy am I sick of all the faffing around with gears and suspension.
One ride with ADH and and you catch a case of teh hippy.
😀
Actually, he was pretty quiet, but then he wasn't feeling well due to alcohol consumption the night before.
Actually, he was pretty quiet, but then he wasn't feeling well due to alcohol consumption the night before.
Tsk, youngsters nowadays.
There is no fuss.....Its for the gods of mtbing and a few "niche haws"
I started SSing about 2 months ago and love it. I think it does help vastly if you are fit though as you can get up more things.
Some of the previous posts hit the nail on the head, for me it is not overall faster but it makes you ride more effciently. Looking for the flattest and fastest line and also attacking hills from the bottom. It does increase fitness and muscle for me to.
However it does wear your teeth down as you grimise alot when going up steep stuff with a cadence of about 3.
I enjoy it because its different and will run it all winter. Think i will get a nice shiny SS next year but it will just be for training. If you can get the balcnce right it increases morale imo.
Plus its easy to clean!
Margin Walker - MemberAyatollahofniche - Member
SS is for attentionwhores, end of story!+1
we had a ss'er come out with us last year but then he stopped because he was always miles behind and could see we were gettin pi55ed off waiting in the cold. He has to keep getting off as well........
seemed pointless to me and a massive backward step...
I know what you mean, full sussers that always take an age on those long steep climbs, I get sick of waiting for them, pointless and a massive backward step, IMO.
I know what you mean, full sussers that always take an age on those long steep climbs, I get sick of waiting for them, pointless and a massive backward step, IMO.
😆
ss has been around since the beginning of cycling, I cannot see the problem, why does anyone else have to have an opinion on what other people ride? I like gears, in fact I need gears, but I have often been overtaken by ss'ers and am fully impressed. Humans need to challenge themselves, but then i guess some humans need to criticize everyone else's actions to try and cover up their own shortcomings, I like to do both..
ss has been around sisnce the beginnign of cycling, I cannot see the problem, why does nayone else have to have an opinion on what other people ride? I like gears, in fact I need gears, but I have often been overtaken by ss'ers and am fully impressed. Humans need to challenge themselves, but then i guess some humans need to criticize everyone else's actions to try and cover up their own shortcomings, I like to do both..
You can't have an opinion like that on here, its far too sensible and reasonable 😉
Single speeders ate my hamster.
[i]Love it otherwise - oddly, I reckon I can ride more technical stuff on it than geared. No idea why. [/i]
This is easy. On a singlespeed you get very used to just how far a single pedal stroke will take you so you become very adept at piloting the machine between bumps and coinciding the maximum force with the hard bits. On a geared bike you're inclined to use a slightly easier gear than you can get away with a try to spin across stuff, which is a less technical method.
Next week I'll explain why singlespeeding makes you more attractive to girls.
It works, isn't too much effort, doesn't need much cleaning, ok so it is a bit slower but I can keep going and feel fresher in a race cos if paces me!
It looks good and it is silent!
Big wheels even sort out the traction issues climbing!
Next week I'll explain why singlespeeding makes you more attractive to girls.
This I gotta see!
Next week I'll explain why singlespeeding makes you more attractive to girls.
Excellent idea
I do it as where I live you can get up all the hills on one, it lasts the winter and it is fun. No sore knees nor bling components nor rides in the summer though.
+1 samurai
I recently got a geared road bike for free. Ive only actually ridden a fixie road and ss mountain bike for 12-18 months now and when i got to the bottom of short climbs i didnt know how hard i could push.
For around Thetford forest they are brilliant, and certainly does pace me as I have a tendency to go gun ho at the start of a race and then suffer in the later stages.
For hilly ground I ride my geared bike.
It's just nice have a different bike to ride for different things.
More bikes without gears are sold in the UK than bikes with gears.
So cycles without gears are the Astras of the bike world then ? O shit how common, got to find a new niche, ermmm fixed mtb perhaps ? No way who would be that daft 😯
i dont really get the point in it to be honest, but fair play and each to there own.
i cant however, see how its possible to do peak's rides on a SS, if you can get round a decent pace without stopping on one on the climbs then you are seriously seriously fit! i guess if you live in a flatish area then it makes sense, but i cant for the life of me see why anyone would want one in the peaks......
that point could be why i have never ever seen one up there 😆
seen a few at cannock though 😆
Stumpnya12 that might be made up.
As for singlespeeds in the Peaks, that's what all the Peaks riders I know use. That isn't made up.
seriously? well fair play to them, i couldnt for the life of me do half the climbs i do on a bmx type gearing system 😆
either very fit if they can do it, or simply have to push or go extremely slow up bank
i was thinking of going 2x9 but thought that may be stretching it 🙂
if you live in a flatish area then it makes sense
Depends more on the 'type' of hill. Around Bristol (which no sane person would describe as flat) a SS is perfect for off road - all the climbs are steep but quite short, so you can just power up them.
A BMX type gear system. A MTB SS is an easier gear then that. Usually middle ring and 4,5 or 6 down at the back.
I live in north east of scotland and have some hills up here but still mainly rideable.
Hmm. Singlespeed. If you don't get it - don't worry about it.
If you have had a go and it's not for you - well it's not for you.
If however you had 'fun' pushing your singlespeed up that big hill the other week at SSUK........ please don't try and explain it - our tents are getting further away from the bar every year.....;)
Pfffft... SS can't be that hard...
Even I managed to do finish the Dyfi on one and I'm a lardy git!
Oldgit...thank god its not true as us Yarkshire boys all ride SS everywhere because we are afterall "tighter than a ducks arse". I love single speeding and always have done but as others point out its each to their own.... its all cycling which ever way you want....
Strangely a lot of the guys I know that have been riding singlespeed for the last decade are moving back to gears again.
A few reasons. First it doesn't cost that much to replace gear after all it is our main hobby.
Locally traction is a mare over winter i.e London Clay. So you need to be sat seated? twiddling a small gear to get up pretty simple climbs.
And does it make you fitter? I think as I've said before it makes you a better singlespeeder.
I did shed loads on my singlespeeds for nine years, but my last one, a lovely custom Nicolai Argon CC factory singlespeed was sold last winter.
But that said I might be building my first singlespeed road bike soon, never even tried singlespeed road.
but on the road for a general riding machine its perfect
Is it bollox off road gearing is far to low for road use 66/72 single speed or fixed on road 50/60 offroad is fairly normal
Places you definitely can't use a singlespeed: the Lakes, Swaledale, north Pennines, Kielder. Especially not on long rides.
Went SS on the roads a couple of years back, 42:16 and now i've gone fixed (wrong thing to do I know)its easy enough but not as rewarding as off road in my humble opinion but heh its still fun enough to do.
lakes ? A lot of it is do able on a ss, its hard but do able.
never even tried singlespeed road.
go fixed.
i cant however, see how its possible to do peak's rides on a SS, if you can get round a decent pace without stopping on one on the climbs then you are seriously seriously fit! i guess if you live in a flatish area then it makes sense, but i cant for the life of me see why anyone would want one in the peaks......
Someone on MTB Britain used to regularly ride in the peaks etc on his singlespeed afaik. Unfortunately he's been out for ages due to a knee operation (nothing to do with singlespeeding either) 🙁
Nah scared.
Had a good think about it whilst training, and I think my regular rides are just too up and down, not big but punchy if you know what I mean.
And I'm looking at between 60 and 100 miles per session, so I think I will need some recovery. Though God knows how the old boys managed?
Next week I'll explain why singlespeeding makes you more attractive to girls.
I heard this in the voice of the police lab scientist from Police Squad.
Next week Jimmy, bring in those magazines you found at the back of your Pa's closet...
cant however, see how its possible to do peak's rides on a SS, if you can get round a decent pace without stopping on one on the climbs then you are seriously seriously fit! i guess if you live in a flatish area then it makes sense, but i cant for the life of me see why anyone would want one in the peaks......
I think all the Peak Midweekers rode nothing but singlespeed, and IIRC all the old STW rides had a big singlespeed turnout it's certainly my bike of choice for the Peaks.
but on the road for a general riding machine its perfect
My commute is pretty much flat, but the prevailing wind can easily mean the difference between riding to work in the big ring and coming home in the middle ring. A single speed would be a poor tool for the job.
I once had to single speed an MTB to get home after I wrecked a rear mech. It was a very unfulfilling riding experience - too high a gear to get up steep climbs, too low a gear for the flats and downhills. It just seemed to suck all the joy out of the experience of forward motion.
DaddyJim - Member
Single speeders ate my hamster.
my hamster ate my singlespeed.
edit - not all of it as the hamster was quite small but it gnawed a tyre.
SS off road is a good way of getting a bit fitter. However once you are it becomes too easy and a geared bike becomes far more rewarding (and harder)
Depths of winter it makes sense to have rigid forks and SS can reduce the faff a bit further as well
My commute is pretty much flat, but the prevailing wind can easily mean the difference between riding to work in the big ring and coming home in the middle ring. A single speed would be a poor tool for the job.
Pedal harder into the wind. Spin faster with the wind.
I once had to single speed an MTB to get home after I wrecked a rear mech. It was a very unfulfilling riding experience - too high a gear to get up steep climbs, too low a gear for the flats and downhills. It just seemed to suck all the joy out of the experience of forward motion.
Regular SS riding would have made you strong like an ox, so you'd have got up the climbs.
A single speed would be a poor tool for the job.
maybe it's your legs 😉
also you can confidendly put all your power througha decent ss setup. a bodged 9spd setup might not take your full leg power without giving up in a rapid and painful SNAP
maybe it's your legs
My legs are a bit of a red herring. You could stick Lance Armstrong on a SS in the situation I described and it would still be a poor tool for the job.
Pedal harder into the wind. Spin faster with the wind.
On a very windy day, I can comfortably spin 52x13 with the tailwind. I'm sure it would be just about possible to pedal that into the headwind, but it wouldn't be much fun.
You can't get away from the basic physics. A range of gears allows you to make the most effective use of your available power output when riding under varying conditions, regardless of how strong your legs are. For me, one of the great joys of cycling is the feeling of flow that comes when you are matching the gears to changing weather conditions and gradient to progress with maximum speed. SS-ing can't give me that.
A range of gears allows you to make the most effective use of your available power output when riding under varying conditions, regardless of how strong your legs are. For me, one of the great joys of cycling is the feeling of flow that comes when you are matching the gears to changing weather conditions and gradient to progress with maximum speed
Least inspiring description of cycling ever. 😀
I enjoyed the transition from gears to ss a few years back.
It helped me learn/try to use the terrain, think about line choices (stop s****ing in the back, for those who know me).
I found a level of commitment and determination was needed to climb steep trails, thus making a climb in some ways easier and faster, however it can be anti social, as you leave others happily spinning up behind you, only to find you recovered and raring to go...
Descending, it's kinda good for interval training as you spin like a fool (which usually results in much giggling), then work the trail to maintain the momentum, however it can be frustrating when you want to go faster but the incline and leg speed won't allow it.
Also i know plenty of ss'rs who happily get off and push up the hills, time to have a chat to other like minded pushbikers ;).
If you're to sort of rider that hates getting off, even if it means riding at less than walking place, then ss is perhaps not for you,
For the area i did it most, the Quantock, dartmoor, exmoor and Afan it was fine.
Not for everyone, but just an alternative way to get out and ride.
For me, one of the great joys of cycling is the feeling of flow that comes when you are matching the cadence to changing weather conditions and gradient. Grinding up hill, spinning downhill and pushing hard to accelerate on the flats. Gears can't give me that. 😀