Thanks for that….one to avoid then 🙂

My favourite is MR2 but the classic is the MX5 I suppose….

Ok so no third party pc required?

I have a red genesis flyer without gears 🙂

It’s ace!

I have even beat my strava times I set with my carbon board man, work that out!

Professional subscriptions I have!

Work from home so I guess heating, lighting etc…

If I wait what can I expect to pay on my existing contract? Surely to the 37 I pay now?

I started April 2012 so have a full year in….I have expenses to offset tax such as fuel, stationery, travel, etc…

Any other valid expenses?

Btw I am a consultant engineer

I am nearly up to 400 miles if i can get out before close of play today….i am doing the January mile blas challenge on Strava…you can see my profile at

I am training for a cycling challenge for Macmillan in Africa. I am flying out on the 2nd (saturday) for 11 days.

Cycling 60 miles a day on geared MTBs typicallly rough road or track.

you can sponsor me at null

so during ride I am fine to ‘record’ but I need to be careful on the upload i.e. use wifi?

thanks guys…

decided to keep it SS and replace chain ring and spider 🙂

Thanks guys…do I need any special tools?

Any tips on fitting gears etc?

Cy do you ever have demos in the south?

…

…

well chain tensioner is not the best SS solution. i have had trouble with my converted Kona cindercone (see other thread)but not so much trouble with the Alan Xcross I mist admit.

is 1 x 9 easy to do myself or is it a LBS job?

I have heard reports of problems with the chain slipping off the end of the cassette with 1 x 9?

well is the frame really worth paying for the extra cash for gears? I like the ride of this bike and was my default SS commuter for a few years until the ‘accident’. after that it has just sat in my garage.

well I am still not sure whether to take this on myself or give it to the LBS and whether to revert back to fears or stay SS

Any ideas?

Is ‘Alan’ a famous XC manufacturer?

The riding position does need sorting out and I have alternative stems and risers to jig it around. It is an 18 inch frame and i am 5 10 so about right.

Can you recommend a fixed tensioner?

Problem with SS with no sliding drop out is the chain stretches and therefore changes length and tension continuously!

Alan cyclo cross…

Kona cindercone 97…

I used a chain tensioner which didnt really work that well TBH…

pictures to follow chaps, just uploading to photobucket…

forgot to mention current shoes are MT41s

I have a lovely 97 blue kona cindercone. It currently is a single speed but I am thinking of converting it back and putting gears back on. I remember it’s excellent single track abilities which have not been matched by any bike since.

thanks guys…I enjoy both darkside and off road for different reasons but off road has definitely been neglected!

How will those rims look caked in mud?

Not sure about the white 🙁
Nice bike 🙂

this year’s stats…

Count: 115 Activities
Distance: 1,447.41 miles
Time: 114:09:15 h:m:s
Elevation Gain: 20,178 m
Avg Speed: 12.7 mph
Avg HR: 143 bpm
Avg Run Cadence: 66 spm
Avg Bike Cadence: 68 rpm
Calories: 129,948 C

try again…

while we are posting Strava data…

thanks for all the advice, lots to pick through and learn from 🙂

Thanks for all the comments…

I guess the soul would get me back to that classic hardtail single track bike that was for me my kona cindercone (97).

does the soul handle similar to the classic konas?

my food downfall is kids and kids meals…I am divorced but have the kids over regularly and for ease cook them what they like which is naturally fatty, Carb rich food. They thrive on this and all are skinny as rakes of course. I also get the snacks, and chocolate in for them and you guessed it dip in myself.

wooly backs?

thanks Rich…I guess I have done this sort of thing before but it has been sporadic and inconsistent. As a guide I average 2,000 – 3,000 miles a year. Guess a need to do a bit more!

When I am squeezed for time I do this quick circuit of 8 miles in about 35 mins (road). I wonder if that is pointless as most training regimes talk of rides of at least 1.5 hours duration.

well he talks about both but I guess he is mainly looking at TT racing. He does to about training for sportives and says you just need to slip in the odd long ride to know you can do the distance.

Thanks..I pretty much do darkside road riding almost exclusively these days!

Interesting about ride lots…and I do agree I will lose weight…my ‘lightest’ periods has been where I have ridden more….but Obree in his book says that is not the answer. He advocates focused trainign sessions with recovery spinning in between.

I am thinking of buying a soul but have a thing about SS which I am training myself to forget!

however my question is BFe or Soul? Which one should I buy? I am 5 10 tall but weigh 14 stone 🙁

I am not a ‘rad’ rider but love single track…not fit enough of singlespeed around the hilly Kent north downs I think.

I have an old cindercone 97 which I am thinking of doing up. Needs gears as it is a SS conversion.

Here is my 97 cindercone with conversion to SS…

steel 🙂