[Closed] Singlespeed- how hard is it really?

Depends on your gearing, how fit you are, where you ride, etc.

what he said ^

it's as hard as you make it - best approach is to get out the saddle early and really attack the hill to keep your cadence up.

if it gets too hard on a hill get off and walk.

you can get up most stuff but there's no denying it's more effort on anything long and/or steep.

biggest issue for me is always going along the flat on a group ride - you end up spinning away trying to keep up.

Nothing to dramatic in terms of terrain, reasonable climbs etc.

Pretty fit but no super athlete.

What gearing can you get them in?

I miss my crappy old rigid Kona SS, I went all over on that bike, Long Mynd, Real Ale Wobble, etc

Was a bit fitter then, probably because I was riding the SS

I used 32:18, you can "get them in" any gearing you want, 32:16 or 32:18 is "normal"

It is surprisingly easier than I thought it was going to be 😛 both on road and off.

You either go up a hill pretty fast or you're pushing. It gives old trails a new lease of life.

Should add it is an old Rock Lobster shawn of its gears and suspension. Now running either 42x18 or 32x16 bits, and advice, from Charlie the Bikemonger

You will be puffing like a dirty old man on a beach at the end of each climb, and you will feel like someone has taken a crowbar to your forearms after most descents.

But, the girls will swoon at your manliness, it's ace fun, there's a lot less to wear out/clean/maintain, and it it's very good for your fitness.

Much easier than you think, plus rigids are much easier to ride with uphill than bouncy ones.

Like the idea of rigid SS as a bit of fun, honestly though is it very difficult on climbs etc?

I had rigid but went back to front boing, I actually find on root climbs a bit of give in the front helps prevent stalling.

It's as difficult as you allow it to be.

Part of the joy of SS is letting go of the "must battle up every climb" mentality. We have a saying NSFW No Singlespeeder Fears Walking. So if you want to walk, get off and enjoy the moment, it's all good.

You'll likely find that in practise you can ride almost everything the gearies can, and when you don't you don't care and won't be much slower anyway.

Cheers for the responses, defo tempted by one.

What Rigid SS would you recommend? Ive seen the Genesis Fortitude, Charge Cooker and Cannondale have one out. Any others I should be looking at?

cheers

Surly are good. 29ers lend themselves to rigid SSing quite well - bit more give in the wheels.

I'm currently running my Krampus with 2.4 Chunky Monkeys for the winter. they come out massive on the 50mm rims!

Not hard at all. Sometimes you need to get up on the pedals but it's surprising how quickly it becomes easier than geared riding in a way. Offroad you synchronise pedal strokes with terrain because you know how far a pedal stroke will take you.

any frame you like the look of with a tensioner. the method i use is a chain device on an iscg mount. works pretty well and the rear dropout works just as it should for getting the wheel in and out.

Can't you just go out for a ride on your current bike using a gear ratio that you expect to use were you to get a singlespeed, then don't change gear for the entire ride? Hey presto - singlespeed.

If you are OK with it, go and get the single speed of your dreams.

Singlespeed riding depends so much on fitness and local terrain, it's probably best to try it for yourself.

Firstly I need to start by saying I am the worst single speeder the world has ever seen .....

That said I love it.

I have a couple of single speeds but my current "fav" is my Skookum 29er. I run 34x16 around the flatlands that are Suffolk.

I find that riding a geared bike now I tend to just leave it in one gear anyway!

Sure there are limitations but they are more to do with fitness and sheer stubbornness rather than the bikes.

Give it a go.

Oh and this ......

[img] [/img]

Can't you just go out for a ride on your current bike using a gear ratio that you expect to use were you to get a singlespeed, then don't change gear for the entire ride? Hey presto - singlespeed.

Not the same, heavier drive train, more drag through the drive train, psychological knowing you can change gear

Hiajck:
Is there any reason you couldn't run a BMX freewheel sprocket on either side of a double sided fixie hub i.e. two ratios but not fixed? I like the SS but getting anywhere on it on the road is infuriatingly infuriating.

Its like any bike, pick a set of compromises that best suit your needs...

Obviously you only get one gear, so pick one that allows you to do the type of riding you plan on, not everyone knows what that's going to be so the starting point for most 26" SS MTBers seems to be 2:1 (32-16, 34-17, 36-18, 38-19, 40-20... you get the idea)
or the 29ers equivalent ~1.8:1 (32-18, 34-19, 36-20, etc...)

Like I say that's a starting point, you may find it too tall or too spinney, you can always change sprockets to vary the ratio, if you're using a Cassette hub with a spacer kit, it can be worth hacking up an old cassette for the different sized sprockets and using those to find your ideal gear, put bravado aside and pick one that suits you...

The main thing is to get a gear you can spin on the flat, get up most of your local climbs with, and simply live with spinning out/coasting on descents...

In terms of how "Hard" it is, I'd say its not as tough as some people think, a Rigid SS MTB weighs a fair bit less than it would with bouncey forks and gearing, and absorbs less of your energy bouncing suspension components about those little savings offset the lack of low gearing, if you can graunch out the bigger climbs in a taller gear than you'd normally use on a geared bike, or live with getting off and walking now and then, and put up with feeling a few more bumps through the bars then it can be very rewarding and fun to ride one.

SSing helps to makes you look at your lines, where and how to conserve some momentum and be efficient with the bike to make the most of your energy, its not all about many grunting up hills and beard growth...

My own primary reason for owning one is general cheapness and maintenance reduction during winter (and the [I]N+1[/I] rule of course) and for the most part it's met those needs, Rigid SS, winter, night rides are great fun... Do it!

Can't you just go out for a ride on your current bike using a gear ratio that you expect to use were you to get a singlespeed, then don't change gear for the entire ride? Hey presto - singlespeed.

Doesn't work, you will bail out or shift up a gear on the flats. Part of learning to SS was learning to take flats easy and storm up the hills. Theres also the reliability of it, I'd feel wary of riding my geared bike like the SS, you can really jump on the pedals when you stall on a climb to get it going over a root or rock, no worry about whether the chain can take it, no wory about anything slipping, or it jumping gears etc. To climb at the same pace as a geared bike you might be using 2x the torque, at a peak i wouldnt be supprised if its 10x a nice smooth riders torque, which is why you dont want ramped chainrings or weak chains.

Hiajck:
Is there any reason you couldn't run a BMX freewheel sprocket on either side of a double sided fixie hub i.e. two ratios but not fixed? I like the SS but getting anywhere on it on the road is infuriatingly infuriating.

Yup, but unless the road sections are 10miles long youll lose more time faffing, and adjusting the chain tension. Surly and WI do dinglespeed sprockets and freeewheels which have a 2t difference, so 16-18 hub and 34-36 chainrings, just set it up for the tightest combination as theyre not exact and live with the slack chain in the other.

Like the idea of light weight and low maintenance. Now time to research possible rigs...

it's a piece of piss.
🙂

Doesn't work, you will bail out or shift up a gear on the flats. Part of learning to SS was learning to take flats easy and storm up the hills. Theres also the reliability of it, I'd feel wary of riding my geared bike like the SS, you can really jump on the pedals when you stall on a climb to get it going over a root or rock, no worry about whether the chain can take it, no wory about anything slipping, or it jumping gears etc. To climb at the same pace as a geared bike you might be using 2x the torque, at a peak i wouldnt be supprised if its 10x a nice smooth riders torque, which is why you dont want ramped chainrings or weak chains.

Amen, SS emulation on gears never worked for me, I was always convinced I was about to snap the chain.

Like the idea of light weight and low maintenance. Now time to research possible rigs...

You don't need an SS specific frame. Any frame plus a tensioner well do. (Here's my Yelli Screamy with a tensioner).

[img] [/img]

Not hard - just different. Rigid is good - lighter and nicer on the climbs.

Race-winning for Terrahawk! Well done and congrats btw.

I'm not fit and I found it easier than I thought. You'll be surprised how easy it is up hills. Certainly worth a try.

The pure simplicity of it must be like a Zen moment.

You need to be a hero.
I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the ride...
You've gotta be strong
You've gotta be tough etc etc

DrP

Depends on your gearing, how fit you are, where you ride, etc.

Momentum is the key and knowing when to get off and push!

cheers TINAS, for 2 teeth difference i'm probably beyond the cost benefit curve as my SS is more hack than niche, hadn't givent the chain tension any thought, pah. spin faster/grunt harder it is then!

[i]You need to be a hero.
I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the ride...
You've gotta be strong
You've gotta be tough etc etc[/i]

You've got to buy a Scandal
With some lovely forks
and brilliant wheels
and not fit silly shaped bars.

😉

I miss that bike sometimes. Mostly when I look at your strava times 😉

It's hard. Really hard. £)(;ing REALLY HARD!!! Toughen up princess!!!

It's not actually. As above, pick a gear ratio and give it a try. After a bit of riding I went 33:17. Short sharp hills are just out of the saddle honking, long draggy hills are the killers. The sort where standing and honking will have you spin out, but sitting and grinding will set fire to your legs.

I'm still faster on the downs than the geared mincers I ride with. 😉

A mate once said, and he pinched it of someone far more interesting, "it's really got three speeds, sit, stand and walk"*

* Tazzy will be along in a minute to tell you to "TOUGHEN UP PRINCESS,"

Mike @Dialled Bikes is selling off some Love/Hate frames dirt cheap at the minute..

Awesome Frames IMHO.

Love mine.

Up until 1937 they used to race the Tour de France on single speeds - if they could hammer up the Alps then the rest of us can grit our teeth and climb a few mild hills!

[url= http://hizokucycles.bigcartel.com/single-speed-history ]http://hizokucycles.bigcartel.com/single-speed-history[/url]

Mike @Dialled Bikes is selling off some Love/Hate frames dirt cheap at the minute..

Awesome Frames IMHO.

Love mine.

I agree wholeheartedly.

riding...with only one gear ratio......Fork off.....sounds bloody stupid to me...I bet its just attention whores who are crap at riding gnar and just do it for the "look at me" status...even worse...I Bet they have events where they gather and act all superior and stuff (right I think that's just about covered the usual haterz stuff)

TBH its piss easy, and makes you strong like a bear, although that terrahawk fella is only little, so in his case a particularly hardcore and scary little koala bear, rather than a full on chest beating grizzly 🙂

Still love my single speed - had it for 6 or so years, rigid usually. Have to get off, but not as much as you'd think. Mine's a converted Kona Kilauea, run 32:16 or 32:17 if I'm less fit..

Definitely feel the fitness boost, also rigid will ah concentrate your mind on line choice ::)

go for it.

Some of the below is subjective and may not be true but just my experience of Singlespeeding over the last 18 months.

You will learn to blow out of your arse,
You will ache in some funny places,
Your legs will look like a blur on occasions,
Gurning and swearing on climbs is normal,
Your upper body and legs will develop new bumps in them called muscles,
Girls could become pregnant when you ride past them,
Growing a beard will feel natural and be a good idea despite what the missus thinks,
You will be quicker than your friends with gears,
Real Ale will taste better after singlespeeding,
You will get fitter!
You won't want to ride much else.

Those folks are right about the Love/Hate if a 26er is what you're looking for. I sold mine as I prefer a 29er, but it was a beautiful ride.

Just another point, go easy.on the gear ratios. I started in 32-18 (29er) then tried 32-16 and actualy slowed down overall. Tried 32-19 and average speeds went up by almost 10 minutes in the hour!

Pick the lowest gear that you can spin continuously on the flat, then go one lower. You'll tire keeping up on the flat, but its a different tired (more cardio) than the brute strength needed for climbing. Beimg matcho with big gears doesnt work IME.

Defo makes you fitter. I tend to go ss in the summer when there is less clag to slow you up. Don't understand ss in winter as you just spin out on muddy climbs which is pretty much all we have down south. I was surprised how much it didn't hurt unless it was a big Hill. Then it hurt lots.

Most of the time it's a bit easier, and some of the time it's a lot harder. It averages out and somehow feels both easier and harder. So it's different. I prefer it for long rides but for really long rides I'd use some gears. Depends. Try it )

Nick - Member

Can't you just go out for a ride on your current bike using a gear ratio that you expect to use were you to get a singlespeed, then don't change gear for the entire ride? Hey presto - singlespeed.

[b]Not the same, heavier drive train, more drag through the drive train, psychological knowing you can change gear[/b]

Heavier drive train, yes. But presumably the OP has got sus forks on the bike and he mentioned getting a rigid bike too.
More drag through the drive train - ahem. Through the rear mech? Perhaps a teeny tiny amount - likely to be unmeasureable. Chainline? Again, perhaps a teeny tiny amount.
Psychologically you can change gear - true. Just don't.

I am not suggesting the OP does this as a permanent solution; rather try it once or twice and see how he gets on. The OP has come on here asking people who have no idea about his fitness levels or where he rides, how hard is it to ride a SS bike?
It's easy, I say.......but I ride round Thetford and am an Olympic cyclist (I'm not really)
It's really hard, someone else says.....but he is 5 stone over weight and rides around the Lake District.

Much better for the OP to just get out and ride without changing gear and see how he gets on, than taking advice from people on a forum about 'how hard it is'.....

thisisnotaspoon - Member

Can't you just go out for a ride on your current bike using a gear ratio that you expect to use were you to get a singlespeed, then don't change gear for the entire ride? Hey presto - singlespeed.

[b]Doesn't work, you will bail out or shift up a gear on the flats. Part of learning to SS was learning to take flats easy and storm up the hills. Theres also the reliability of it, I'd feel wary of riding my geared bike like the SS, you can really jump on the pedals when you stall on a climb to get it going over a root or rock, no worry about whether the chain can take it, no wory about anything slipping, or it jumping gears etc. To climb at the same pace as a geared bike you might be using 2x the torque, at a peak i wouldnt be supprised if its 10x a nice smooth riders torque, which is why you dont want ramped chainrings or weak chains.[/b]

Funny that, because I tried it a few times and guess what? It did work. I selected a gear ratio close to (it might have even been the same as) one that a friend uses on his SS and went for a ride or three.

I exercised a modicum of self-control over my thumbs and fingers, so didn't change gear when it was 'too hard' or 'too spinny'.
My chain never slips (as a rule) and I have never snapped a chain (erm, actually might have broken a SRAM chain years ago, but I don't use them anymore) so I don't see why this would be a problem just for a few rides to get used to the idea of riding a SS bike. And if the OP has not ridden SS before, he is unlikely to have the same crank bending/chain snapping leg power that you SS riders have, so he should be safe.

Mike @Dialled Bikes is selling off some Love/Hate frames dirt cheap at the minute..

Awesome Frames IMHO.

Love mine.

Where exactly 🙂

Just another point, go easy.on the gear ratios. I started in 32-18 (29er) then tried 32-16 and actualy slowed down overall. Tried 32-19 and average speeds went up by almost 10 minutes in the hour!

This also is true - I've been running 32:18 (29) in Surrey for a year happily I put a 22 on the back for a trip to a very hilly part of Wales, now I'm back home I'm definitely preferring the lower gear in the current mud, it's much easier to keep going. I have a feeling I'll settle on a 20T in the end.

(smaller gear also spins up quicker for attacking steep stubby climbs)

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7832716796_5525f6746f.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7832716796_5525f6746f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/7832716796/ ]ScandAl[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr

rigid 29er ss rocks the world. Cardo appears to be reading my mind.

Sacrificed mine to build a 2x9 for general riding and miss it terribly. So I'm getting another hard tail so I can have both.

I found it harder on the hills as there is no where to hide, get up on the pedals and push. Easier on the flats as you cant keep pushing another gear.

I did get much fitter and build upper body muscle but just love the simplicity of them. Especially in winter, just kick the mud off and it ready for the next ride!

Those who say "its not so hard, there is no point so I'm not going to" that's your choice but everyone knows Single Speeds are for the hardcore, they may just not be for you:wink:

Can't wait to get one going again 🙂

Add Kona Unit to the list. I've been riding mine for a few months. +1 for winter night riding. Simple, quiet, no risk of gears getting bent or clogged up with mud. A 12 mile ride out on the SS is more of a work out than on my geared bike so when I jump on it on the weekend I'm a little quicker, stronger. It will be hard to start and don't be afraid to get off and push.

I have a Swift, in SS and its great. Often riding in a group and don't drop out the back on moderate climbs. Spinning out on the flat is an issue, but wouldnt change gearing for that, have a gear to get up most of the hills, if some are steaper, get off and appreciate the view..I think that the 29er helps with the momentum thing you need with SS.

And obviously, if you only ride singlespeed and not fixed, you're only half way there.

Snapping chains?

I run a KMC 9 speed. Haven't snapped it yet and I'm 18 stone with guns like Hoy.

3 out of those 4 are true. 😉

it's like riding a bike.....
what I mean is it's like the first time you rode without stabilizers when you were a kid (probably a rigid SS) and you were like amazed and in awe and thought'this is the best ever,I can ride ANYWHERE i want on my bike'!
well,that's the feeling.....
😀
well for me anyway.

You don't need gears in your legs to get up a hill, so why would you need them on your bike?

All that happens if you use gears is you train your body to produce power in a narrow cadence range.

Then when you jump on a proper bike (SS) it feels hard.

It's not hard, it's just your inadequately used muscles not being up to the job. Give it a couple of weeks and you'll cure that problem.

Bonus! The money you save by not having fast wearing rubbish like derailleurs, shifters, cables, paper thin cassettes and chainrings, means you have more money to spend on shiny bits for the bike.

Couple of other things to consider:

I use a shorter stem for SS (and a smaller frame) to give a more upright position. You'll be putting more stress through your body, and getting more shock through a rigid fork, so upright = comfier and a bit easier on my ageing back.

I also run a fairly chunky front tyre for a bit more bounce with rigid forks.

Defo makes you fitter.

True up to a point, but after a while not being able to push on the downs and flats hurts overall fitness. I've dabbled a few times but always gave it up because of this. Still fun though and would deff like a super light fully rigid s/s when I can free up some space in my shed.

Third post in was correct. Its as hard as you want it to be.

I'd never have a rigid SS as my only bike but as something that shows regular trails in a new light they're great.

I've got a 29 Scale and a 26 Charge Duster SS (not rigid, though it has been), I ride the Scale to work but can't help looking to the SS most other times!

Love my steel rigid ss its my first choice for local rides,great when riding with other ss'ers,you can really get a good groove on,and share the pain/pleasure of those long draggy climbs.Running 36-18 find it spot on for me and my location.Fat front tyre, skinny trailraker on back at the moment to deal with the slop.

Love it. Started mtbing on a Unit 29er rigid, then switched to a Genesis ioid 26er with front suspension. The addition of suspension was a big shock/improvement and the 32x17 is a slight heresy. The bars, however. The bars are what attract the most attention as I pass people on the climbs. Soma Sparrow (inverted) and ergon grips.

Try it. You'll soon forget about changing gear. Just pick am appropriate ratio. 32x17 for me works well as I like spinning.

Gears is just marketing to make you buy stuff.

Official STW FACT.

Cheap Love/Hates on Mike's Facebook page...

I bought a rigid ss 29er (Genesis Fortitude) last year, intending to use it as a winter commuter, but riding it round my local trails, I was amazed at how capable it was. Enjoyed it so much, I probably ride it more than my Orange Alpine now. Love it.

SS makes sure none of your core muscles can hide, it's gonna hurt, of course, you'll soon get stronger, or wuss out and give up then flog it for a loss on the STW for sale section
😆

I bought a 2nd hand On One Inbred SS 6+ years ago! still have it, still use it the most, loads of bikes have come and gone but I've 7 bikes now with 7 gears between them......

but I've 7 bikes now with 7 gears between them......

That's a bit extreme. (2 of 2! but one is easily regearable).

friend of mine at uni used to run SS (with a tight tensioner) on his mini DH bike. Figured if your not racing, it just makes you smoother, less to rattle, no mech to knock off. 🙂

Not hard at all ...

My parts bin special!

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/12107006294_3e92466e3a_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/12107006294_3e92466e3a_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/12107006294/ ]2013-12-29 12.26.04[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr

Joining the SS love in party that appears to going on here - yep it's fantastic did it on rigid 26 for a couple of yrs loved it now gone rigid 29 & getting an even bigger thrill 🙂

Dunno what hills you are pushing yourself in gears down but mine have too many corners to pedal at all really besides if you can pedal down it it's not much fun so I don't bother withbthose. I'm no racing snake though so my fitness gain is mahoosive;)

I don't find SS on the downs and twists a handicap at all, in fact I think I ride smoother because the bit of my brain working out the 'best' gear is turned off or used elsewhere. Even with my gears on I tend to set it to something spinny and leave it.

Maybe sometimes I could be marginally faster, on a flatter trail, with gears. Who cares.

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My ss 26" inbred with dmr tensioner, thought it would be horrendous, but is actually surprisingly nice, and the simplicity of it is refreshing, need a front brake before I take it down any big hills though! Oh, I'd like 29er forks at some point.

Wouldn't want to run rigid all the time, but it's good to have a lock out on my Lefty.

[IMG] [/IMG]

SS great fun and ridden ss rigid just about everywhere including CYB, Penmachno, Brechfa, Innerliethen etc

Think its a great way to get fitter and good for increasing upper body strength........but in the end actually get a better work out from a geared bike which is noticeable quicker.

Sold up in the end

I converted my Scott Scale 26" to rigid SS and it is absolutely amazing. First time I rode it was at a Gorrick Masters xc race and I won it by 2 mins.
Weighs 18lbs and features a 2.4 front tyre at 15psi to grab every root.
Fearsome 36/15 gear ratio because I am a racing snake.