Looking at getting into XC for 2015, nothing too intense, but i'd like to dabble in a bit of amateur racing if I can. I've built up a somewhat budget, but albeit capable carbon 456 carbon with a 100mm fork that I was going to start with, however after trying a 29er the other week... it's got me thinking about big wheels, especially for the proper xc stuff (and the specific xc geometry that inevitably comes with it!)
My "problem" is I do love a bit of singlespeed (it's a first world problem i know...) so ideally, would really like a bike that can run either geared or singlespeed, so either sliding dropouts or changeable dropouts. Immediately the On One Lurcher comes to mind, but just wondered, what else is out there?? Can anyone recommend any 29er bikes/frames that have the ability to run geared (most likely a 1x10 setup with an expander) or singlespeed for those fun races, or winter treks. I'd also really rather not run a tensioner if I can help it, can't give a fully logical reason why, it's partly aesthetic, partly doesn't seem quite 'right' for a proper singlespeed!
Of course I'd love carbon - especially if I want to dabble in a bit of racing, but I'm certainly not ruling out aluminium if it's a well engineered frame.
Thoughts?
The niner Air9 Carbon will swing both ways.
I've a Voodoo Bokor 29.
Great sliding/bolted dropouts that work well with no tugs or anything for SS and take gears too. I run mine geared in summer for racing/events and then gears come off and mud tyres go on around this time of year for winter.
There's a good bunch of fast people riding Singular Swifts, geared or SS.
Might not be carbon fibre light, but that doesn't seem to stop them being ridden very quickly indeed.
I've a Voodoo Bokor 29.Great sliding/bolted dropouts that work well with no tugs or anything
I actually started my singlespeed lift on a steel voodoo wanga, I think they share the same dropouts! Are htey light enough to be a bit competetive on ora re they more trail focused?
Not looked into the Singulars, may be worth a look for sure. Love the Niner, especially with the matching rigid fork but think it might be a bit out of my price range... which is a damn shame!
Voodoo is fairly xc angles, not light but not too heavy. It's more about the rider than the bike if you want to be competitive anyhow.
I've though about getting something lighter, but then I think I love how it rides and I'd probably end up disappointed.
Mine's built quite light with sids/xtr/american Classic etc
How tall are you? There's a large Singular Pegasus (essentially a Ti Swift, as far as I understand) in the classifieds at the mo.
- not mine, a regular on here, rocketdog's.
El Mariachi
I'm 5'9" so tend to be inbetween s/m sizes, but generally prefer the medium as I find the small a bit cramped. I konw the rider has a lot more to do with it than the bike, just trying to futureproof a little bit. I must admit, when I switched a lot of the build kit from my voodoo to on-one, I missed it quite a bit. It's still sat there in my garage as I can't quite find it in myself to sell her yet!
Would love a Ti, but generally I know they tend to be even more expensive than carbon, albeit do last longer!
Salsa El Mariachi's here, got it for exactly that reason 🙂 However, they've never had gears yet.
My Trek 69er will run gears if you use one of those universal derailleur hangers.
Not got the stops for cables though???
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There's a V2 scandal in the classifieds at the moment (not mine). Swapouts for SS/gears.
I've got one and it is a pretty good XC bike for not a great deal of cash.
Scandium Kona Big Unit can be run SS or geared. Nice light fast bike.
I have an EL Mariachi, it has swappable dropouts. It's great to ride, although not light or cheap and the drop outs are pricey.
At the cheaper end of the spectrum, I'm running a Kona Unit. Comes set-up as a SS, but has sliders and bosses - all you need is the correct dropout for a mech.
Damn shame that Scandal is a 16", that looks pretty ideal! Will check out the Kona Units too, I've got to admit I've not really got much (if any) knowledge of scandium frames so not sure how they compare up to ally or carbon? Any big advantage over aluminum?
The El mariachi's look nice, but I think they're a bit too trail and less racey than what I'm after, but worth keeping in mind
beauty of El Mariarchi, is both front and rear mech use full cable outers, so changing between geared and non geared is much easier, as you don't need to set up the shift tension each time, just ensure you refit the front mech in the same place that you removed it from. not sure if the Mamasita uses the same drop outs, but if it did it would be a good call, as it will be lighter?
I'm very fond of El Mariachi, and yes the full cable routings are brilliant. Mamasita might be a good shout, some good deals on these a few months back.
Aluminuminum Santa Croooz highball?
**STW shocker in not recommending something I own** ~ (I have an El Mar btw 😉 )
Gotta say I'm seeing a LOT of love for the ElMariachi here. To all you salsa guys out there, would they work as a race-focussed bike or are they really more a top trail 29er?
💡
https://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/philcentric.php
or
http://www.trickstuff.de/en/products/exzentriker_KL.php
make any ride swing both ways.
re El MAr as a race bike, its all in the build I guess... the specific reason I'd consider it is if you want to swap between different set ups on it. Mine has a rigid fork most of the time, but I keep a spare 100m fork in case. In summer, I use it geared for long days out and/or bikepacking. In winter I plan to fit 32t and 35t front cogs and then have 2 wheelsets, one with an 18t cog shod with mud tyres and one with a 15t cog shod with slicks for those days that are so bad only a mountain bike will be any fun on the road!
Nice!! Still waiting for a genius to turn a cannondale flash 29er into a singlespeed though! Think they're press-fit though unfortunately
Salsa Marmasita with a problem Solver EBB in the PF30 hole does it for me, light and not stupidly expensive.
Ebay carbon frames with PF30 and EBB would probably give you what you want too.
Gotta say I'm seeing a LOT of love for the ElMariachi here. To all you salsa guys out there, would they work as a race-focussed bike or are they really more a top trail 29er?
Gee of this parish rides an El Mariachi very fast indeed, clearly a very capable bike! Although he usually races on 650b.
I would be tempted in to a BB30 Chinese carbon frame with an EBB fitted if it were me. The BB30 EBB's seem to get good reviews and be the more durable as far as I can see (forget the manufacturer and model that always get recommended, sorry!).
Another option could be the Ritchey P-29er. Looks gorgeous and around 2-2.1kg iirc which would save nearly a pound over the more common steel frames. They seem to be going for around £500 at the moment which is a touch pricey but they do look nice which is of course always the main thing 😀
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Pivot LES 29er:
-Swinger dropouts for SS
-100-120mm fork
-30.9 seatpost so dropper compatable for non racing trail days
-142mmx12mm rear axle
-very light
El Mar, but feeling a lot of love for the 69er up above.
Niner SIR.9 can build up very light.
There was a medium frame & forks on the chase trails facebook group for a bargain £245 the other day.
Thick end of a grand a couple of years ago.
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/14580164730/ ]IMAG3551[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr
The V2 scandal is an excellent option of you can find one. I have mine built as permanent rigid SS, but it gives me the option of building it with gears if I want it for longer rides or to lend out.
Yet another very happy El Mariachi owner here - running it 1 by 10 at the minute but going to SS now the winter is coming.
More El Mariachi love from me, I love mine. 1x10 and sus forks in the summer, ss rigid in the winter.
I've got a bit of a thing for steel bikes... but I think realistically for a race machine, it's gunna have to be something a bit lighter, shame because the niner looks good, especially if it shares the same/very similar geometry with the carbon equivalent.
What kind of weight are we talking for your setup?Yet another very happy El Mariachi owner here - running it 1 by 10 at the minute but going to SS now the winter is coming.
Not carbon or alu but a Singular Swift would also fit the bill. Ultimately buy the frame you like the look/ride of. As proved by Njee's comment up there ^^^, where you finish in the race will be down to you and not the bike unless you go waaaaay off mark re intended use for frame.
What kind of weight are we talking for your setup?
24lbs ss rigid, hope/stans/thomson. plenty light enough.
I did exactly the same thing with a Salsa Mamasita fitted with a problem solvers pf30 ebb (bit spendy) until I built a steel ss and carbon race bike 😀
Mamasitas are going cheap on Billy's and Triton or you can buy my red 20" one for £100 (cos it's been sat on the shelf all summer).
i like the el mariachi - it rides like a big bmx.
how ever i prefer my td-1 for all day rides.
its only ever had a rohloff on it - maybe 3 times.... its been SS pretty much exclusively but it does come with a geared drop out for the sliders. - love it ! its just so sharp.
Don't fully discount the Lurcher you mention in your original post. Really like mine, easy to switch between SS and 1x10 (I just keep the mech bolted to the vertical swapout dropout), and great price on frames at the moment.
Andy
I have a yeti Big Top which I really like, old alu/carbon model. SS dropouts are a bit spendy. Half price on CRC if they have your size. Not a truly light XC frame but good all rounder. Built a Mamisita for the wife and thats a lovely bike, very light too.
I run a 2014 Kona unit with light weight stans wheels, tyres and XT disks brakes. Very comfy, light enough as a single speed and very doable as a 1x10 + carbon fork to ell offset the weight difference, if you want rigid and light enough to race happily.
Lots of stand over on the newer models, Reynolds frame plus an oversized headset = big improvement and what was already a good bike. Short 17.1 isn rear end that you can adjust and the geared dropouts are affordable at £20 for QR + £50 for 12x142mm.
In my view bikes like this or the El Mar put the single speed performance first, gears second.
I'd also really rather not run a tensioner if I can help it, can't give a fully logical reason why, it's partly aesthetic, partly doesn't seem quite 'right' for a proper singlespeed!
I suggest getting over this, get the frame you want and use a tensioner. I've used tensioners, EBBs and sliders, I don't notice when riding and it was great to SS my favourite frame instead of letting SSability choose the frame.
I used to loose the chain on a local rooty section with a tensioner, doesn't happen with the Excentriker.
Cannondale Trail sl SS....just change the dropout and run a full length outer to the rear. I have one and love it.
Still waiting for a genius to turn a cannondale flash 29er into a singlespeed though! Think they're press-fit though unfortunately
Something like [url= http://beercomponents.com/?page_id=588 ]this[/url].. not cheap but does get good reviews