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So, I want a singlespeed road bike for no other reason than I just do. However, I'm struggling to find what I want and wondered if STW could come to the rescue.
Basically, I don't want a hipster steed, I want a normal road bike with 1 gear, so the requirements are:
Drop bars
Road style brake levers as opposed to CX levers on the tops
Flip-flop hub
As close to normal road geometry as I can get as I want to try and replicate my current road bike position
Not too heavy, steel, alu and carbon are all fine but I don't want high tensile.
And that's it.
Any ideas?
Why not buy the frameset of whatever your current road bike is and work out what gear ratio would work to allow you to ride it singlespeed with no tensioner?
unfashionable as they are, Dawes do/did a decent SS, Mono I think it is, not sure if they still do though.
also look at Pearson Now You See Me, Genesis Flyer, Kona Paddy Wagon is actually a great ride, Langsters are common as much but actually not bad or find a nice old steel frame with horizontal dropouts and build something yourself. If you want off the peg then if it were my money I'd be looking a tthe Flyer.
and work out what gear ratio would work to allow you to ride it singlespeed with no tensioner?
because that only lasts about 8 minutes before chain wear kicks in and it all goes slack.
If you were hell-bent on having the eaxt smae frame then an EBB like the Excentriker, or Phil would work. Or a white industries ENO hub, but that will affect geo slightly.
Langster? Nothing fancy but works very well.
Cotic Escapade - Beautiful. A bit CXy but that's a good thing.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5804/22445971755_2efb6f0229_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5804/22445971755_2efb6f0229_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Acttp2 ]Cotic Escapade[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr
older genesis flyer
I had much the same dilemma, didn't want steel as the likes of the Genesis Flyer etc. were significantly heavier than my normal geared road bike! (slightly unfair comparison, my normal bike is a carbon Synapse).
The Charge Plug caught my eye, I hoped that being aluminium it might be a bit lighter than the steel equivalent, but I never did find a weight for it.
I guess I shouldn't really be buying a cheap singlespeed with an eye on the scales... 😕
@ Lunge, You've just described exactly a Genesis Flyer, just like this one...
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/24494881872_a0e460086b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/24494881872_a0e460086b.jp g"/> [/img]
[/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/DjwEZw ]New Flyer[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/107347896@N06/ ]Richard Picton[/url], on Flickr
.. that arrived here last week!
Buy a carbon road frame of your choice (e.g. 2nd hand) and get a wheel built with a White Industries ENO Eccentric hub.
I wanted the same and went for a Genesis Flyer. Very happy with it indeed.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7701/17368253512_a45151c0a5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7701/17368253512_a45151c0a5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ssLQEL ]Bank Holiday spin[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr
It's a slippery slope to moustaches, skinny cut off jeans, cafefrapuchinos, and unemployment..... 😉
DrP
(rides a gas-pipe steel fixed SE larger and loves it...)
Why not buy the frameset of whatever your current road bike is and work out what gear ratio would work to allow you to ride it singlespeed with no tensioner?
Magic ratios only last so long then the chain wears and goes a bit floppy.
I had a aluminium Langster for a while, solid bike.
What's the flyer like for popping the rear wheel out with track ends and full mudguards? Always seemed like a hassle?
Edit: just seen that the red and blue bikes pictured do not have the same drop out arrangement
I think you might struggle to get something light and with normal geometry as most higher end bikes are track bikes.
For light-ish you could look at anything older, Reynolds 531 frames from the 80's/90's aren't too heavy and even from desirable frame builders often <£100.
There's also the Pompino and later Kaffenbacks with swopouts or horizontal dropouts, both slight relaxed though IIRC (but probably no more than your Synapse).
What's the flyer like for popping the rear wheel out with track ends and full mudguards? Always seemed like a hassle?Edit: just seen that the red and blue bikes pictured do not have the same drop out arrangement
They've fitted horizontal dropouts for MY16. I fitted SKS QR stay mounts to my MY15 one and it's fine getting a wheel in and out.
I'm looking into doing the same OP, come up with one of Condors Pista or Paris variants or even an Accaio so far.
Thought about a Mason or Bowman too so still undecided..
Gonna get some wheels off 23mm.com or Hunt, 3T finishing kit or Deda. I'd like to fit either 25 or 28mm tyres on though.. So that kinda dictates it for me.
I've had a Condor for the last fifteen years or so. Fixed, but has a rear brake bridge so could be run SS. It is roadbike geo, not track, has bottle bosses and although it doesn't accept mudguards I can use crud roadracers with no probs. The rear wheel can be removed easily for a puncture with the guards fitted, despise having track ends.
Edit it's a Condor Potenza but not the current one with that name. Built with Deda zero replica tubes, very nice frame.
Been very pleased with my Kona Paddy Wagon, it was one of the few that had easy provision for fitting proper stayed mudguards. Reynolds 520 steel, so not super light, but rides nicely.
Kona Paddy Wagon. With drop bar option (used to be the only option). I'd buy used because they tweaked the geometry from standard 73 degree parallel a few years ago.
Mine is upgraded hugely and fixed only. I did a 110k ride on it yesterday and it alwasy brings a smile. A slightly springy frame suits SS honking, on and off road.
Also have a Langster, which is also fixed, stiffer but not as nice to ride.
surly steamroller/crosscheck/straggler.
not lightweights for sure, but durable, and they will take pretty much any tyre you throw at them + guards.
i have a langster and a crosscheck. both nice in their own ways.
Another vote for Genesis Flyer. Or if you might need a big size and don't mind some redundant downtube shifter bosses get a scorching deal on a Singular Osprey...
work out what gear ratio would work to allow you to ride it singlespeed with no tensioner?
Magic ratios are a complete PITA if you want something that is going to be long term reliable and hassle free.
Or if you might need a big size and don't mind some redundant downtube shifter bosses get a scorching deal on a Singular Osprey...
Got a link to that, given I ride 60cm/XL bikes this could work.
Edit, found it, thanks.
+1 for Condor. They might cost a bit to buy but the quality is great and as you spec the bike you want, you don't have to spend anything else on it except new brake blocks. You can put one together for £1300
I have a Tempo - which is the same geo as the Fratello, their all-rounder. Steel but very smooth ride, really rolls along and corners very well. I love it to bits, it's a real keeper.. takes full mudguards, has a flipflop hub and forward facing dropouts and a carbon fork.
There's also the Pista but the angles on that are steeper - less good for traffic and doesn't take full mudguards, only the clip on ones..
If I was working to a lower budget I'd def be looking at the new Flyer with the forward-facing dropouts - cheaper parts than Condor but I gather it's a good ride
H lunge bit of a hijack but I'm 6.3 tall and got basically what you might want here I'm selling due to not using it at all! Due to change of work.
If of interest pm carlfragle@aol.com
Bats.
Batman, what you got?
Cor, lovely hi-ten frame and forks on that 😉
Cor, lovely hi-ten frame and forks on that
I was thinking very similar. If it's cheap and you're in the Midlands I could be persuaded but the emphasis will need to be on the word "cheap"!
There's a nice WILIER Toni Bevilacqua 2015 reduced on Cycle Lane
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I just wanted to join the Flyer love in.
No 2 ways about it, the flyer does look like a good option. Now if I can find an XL 2015 in the sales I'll be a happy man.
Now if I can find an XL 2015 in the sales I'll be a happy man.
They weren't sized XS,S,M,L,XL last year, it was 50 (maybe),52,54,56,58,60cm
Ok, well, XL or 58cm then, either way.
Just came across a company called Rocketboy who build frames and who sell a lovely looking 4130 chromoly single speed road bike for £349. They also do a nice stainless roadbike. Can't find much in the way of reviews as they seem like quite a new company. The bike is the Rocketboy Stella.
Ok, well, XL or 58cm then, either way.
Cliff Prat in Hull should have a 60cm 2015 model, Pave Velo in St Austell should have a 58cm 2015 model. If you went for a 2016 then any Genesis dealer should be able to help.
does anyone prefer the new flyer geometry to the old?
Well depends on you deffenation of cheep!?
Midlands sadly not but would post it for £150?
Bats
I've got an old Genesis Skyline which was (then) like a mudguarded Flyer. It became the Ridgeback Solo.
Not the spriteliest bike out there, but a decent training tool.
(I say that like I train)
Flyer here too - one of the old ones. Really nice to ride.
I'd avoid that hi-tensile thing 🙂
does anyone prefer the new flyer geometry to the old?
I can't speak for the older one, pleased with my 2016 model for the 50 or so miles I've done on it so far. I believe the 2016 Flyer shares it's geometry with the Equilibrium, which is a good base I'd say.
Been eyeing up flyers and day ones today as i have a lovley cherry red one sat in my workstand waiting on a f/w tomorrow
however
A- what gearing do most of you use ? I tried to replicate today on my commute by not shifting thinking id have trouble with gearing as my commute is very up and down
B- im 5'7" and ride a small defy any ideas how he fitting is on these?
Have you take a look at one of these?
[img][url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8799/17041335602_00d65b7241_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8799/17041335602_00d65b7241_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rXTin5 ]P4040232[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/quantocks/ ]hwe pang[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Dolan FXE, more pics [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/quantocks/albums/72157651779677775/with/17041335602/ ]here[/url].
A- what gearing do most of you use ? I tried to replicate today on my commute by not shifting thinking id have trouble with gearing as my commute is very up and down
B- im 5'7" and ride a small defy any ideas how he fitting is on these?
I'm running a 42x16 in hilly Bristol