Building up my 'budget' hardtail for winter duties and wondering- should I go ahead and singlespeed even though I can climb hills (but always spin really slowly up them).
ss MADE me fit.
i don't have one at the mo, and i'm unfit 🙁
give it a whirl-it will get you fitter
It will make you strong like a might ox.
You be given the power of ten tigers!
Yeah do it. I found that SSing is less about fitness and more about sheer power, technique and determination!
I'm unfit. I enjoyed SSing last year, but had to demolish the bike. Didn't really work in low-traction conditions (current sort) but certainly felt fitter than ever when using it.
I don't think it does make you fitter unless you bimble about like a chav when riding geared 🙂
Right. I'm going to ss my hack bike. Without spending any money.
I need to know how to convert the rear mech into a chain tensioner..
any links?
hora, you won't like it much! try going for a ride locking off the middle and inner rings and see how you get on
it'll certainly be lighter to push up and down the hills for you hora.
DezB - standard fag end of gear cable, the slide through so that the fixed nipple is against where the cable outer would normally go in, push the mech to the position it needs to be under whatever sprocket you choose, and clamp the cable in the cable clamp.
jobs a good un.
This will be nothing to some people but I can clean the climb from Heptonstall turning circle all the way to the top of Heptonstall- nowt for some but its over a mile of steepish climbing isnt it?
I was sat looking at all the worn/spare parts last night and the XTR rapid rise(?) rear mech that I cant face fitting (bloody annoying to use) and thought 'should I try SS instead'?.
In most cases, I'd say what it actually does if give you an excuse to get off and push 😉
It's not fitter, just different fitness. If your quads are weak and feeble you'll find it hard. Otherwise it's fine. Try it, expect the first couple of rides to hurt and to see you lousing up a couple of climbs, and see where you are after that.
If memory serves, you had a singlespeed a few years ago with 22:16 gearing. 🙂
[i]Building up my 'budget' hardtail for winter duties[/i]
Save your money, just don't change gear, then see how you like it.
😉
S.
what I think it helps with is technique you have to pedal smoothly up hills especialy in low traction,,
also you learn fast how to spin like crazy on the flat without bobing up and down on the seat rather than sit at 90 rpm all day
I did (cant remember the specific gearing) on a Chameleon. I actually managed to ride the whole of the Beast with ease. Then 3 days later I bent down to pick up a sock on the bedroom floor, twang and spent the next two weeks laying down as I had pulled my back out.
Go for it hora
Its only as tough as you want to make it
Seriously. DONT laugh (oh go on then)- I was considering using a 19T/32T first.
1 gear=many speeds.
More or less "GRRR" as available traction dictates.
I wasn't really fit when i started riding ss and was really surprised what i could manage. I think being light myself really helps though. If you can make the bike reasonably light that'll really help - it's nothing like riding a normal bike in the middle ring in my opinion, however silly that may sound!
I guess it depends where you want to ride (long hills are the worst rather than th short steep ones - in my experience) and if you can make the bike reasonably light and what ratio. I find 32t - 18t is good for me as I can get up pretty much anything with that (done whole of Cwmcarn and White's Level several times) but I don't mind spinning on the flat stuff... I'd give that ratio a go and see how you get on.
In fact, I could probably dig out a couple of cheap cogs and send them to you for free so you can see what suits, if you want?
No, not worth it unless you are strong enough to climb in a reasonable gear anyway. It does get you fitter, but if you have a choice of bikes and you're unfit you'll just take the geared one! Fitted an Alfine to my SS, best of both worlds IMO.
Right. I'm going to ss my hack bike. Without spending any money.
I need to know how to convert the rear mech into a chain tensioner..
any links?
just don't change gear?
what PeterPoddy said. 'Tis more about strength. My gears froze the other day and I was forced to ride 44/whatever size sprocket 5-6 are for about 10miles. When I ran out of steam on the climbs I got off and ran with the bike. It also reminded me why I gave my SS to my brother 🙂
Kev
🙄
Edit - sorry keva, that was directly at jam bo - not you! 😀
Ta for the offer MountainMonkey. Ive got a few cogs from last time. Its the hated DMR tensioner that I want to replace!
No worries - good call re the tensioner. Fixed roller ones are the way to go. I've just ordered Mr. MM one from superstar components (let's not go there!) - seems pretty good.
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more grrrrrr
Pretty "Grrr"
How does it ride?
BIG! ring on the fron there
no - you will die.
Bit late to start thinking about a winter hardtail. It will be spring soon.
preston has plenty of grrr,, running a 36 18 big front ring for the macho look
it rides realy well a ss ,, it's so often the rider that lets it down
not enough grrrr
Bit late to start thinking about a winter hardtail. It will be spring soon.
Its the VPP pivots on my Blur and the shock- lots of salt/grit etc. Horrible.
Never tried it on an fs bike.Good traction I guess?
Nothing wrong with a push-usually time for a smoke if I have to get off
and don't forget, if you go ss, you will have to start enjoying smelly cheese....................
and no ,not the kind you enjoy down canal street on a weekend...... 😉
My SS annoys me. Its fun to ride and pretty light for what it is but for most of the time I am riding I am in the wrong gear meaning I cant go as fast as I want DH and it kills me going up. I am seriously considering putting some gears on it.
ton, you coming along on the 23rd?
jam bo - MemberRight. I'm going to ss my hack bike. Without spending any money.
I need to know how to convert the rear mech into a chain tensioner..
any links?just don't change gear?
The gears are pretty siezed anyway from lack of maintenance. Next stage is to get them off the bike!
Do it. You will imo get fitter, and be very surprised at what you can get up etc...
Really helps with technique I find, makes you a climbing beast 😉
Seriously. DONT laugh (oh go on then)- I was considering using a 19T/32T first.
I ride 32:18 normally anyway 🙂
TBH I think the only thing that riding a SS will make you fitter for...is riding SS.
On steep hills this time of year you'll run out of traction at the back well before you run out of lungs (unless you're a complete biffer). The rest of the time (on the flat or down) you'll rarely be working that hard as you'll spin out.
Rule of thumb: If it's a middle ring climb (whatever gear you're in at the back) you'll be able to SS it.
I have just started riding a SS. Initial gearing was 36/16 which was very hard but now moving it to 32/18 to make it a little easier. Bike has worked out pretty light which helps when I need to push or lift it over obstacles or carry it! Only had a few rides and even though I am at probaly my lowest ever fitness found it quite fun so why not give it a go!
Pfftt... 42/18
Gets you fit.
Seriously. DONT laugh (oh go on then)- I was considering using a 19T/32T first.
I ride 32:18 normally anyway
yes, but he means 19:32...
😆 Mike
Which was round is it supposed to be Big ring:cog?
Ok then its 32:19. MT- very funny.
I've now, partially due to unfortunate circumstance, got 2 s/s one road one MTB - as to getting fit I like the excuse to walk up hills on the MTB.
I wouldn't say it's any better or worse at getting you fit than gears just different. It does, IMHO, improve my cadence because it forces you to use different rhythms - regular on the flat, slow power on the hills and fast spinning downhill.