Welcome to the club Mossman.

Like some of the others on this thread my knees alway hurt after riding my SSer but thats down to me riding like a loon; theres something about speeding along at the max on my single speed that makes me smile every time I do it.

Just be warned, you'll soon find yourself sticking more and more miles onto your rides just to show you can do the mileage with only one gear (or is that just me?).

To compensate for my single speed indulgence I've just built a bike with more gears than I can count. It somehow isn't quite the same…

26ers, 29ers, 69ers, 650b wheels!?!?

B*gger it, I can't take all this wheel size nonsense anymore. I'm off to buy a penny farthing.

Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis, Glen Coe, the Devils Staircase, Kinlochleven. They are all worth checking out for walks and are all over fairly different types of terrain.

You can hire bikes in Fort William as well although last time I did it had square wheels and worn out brakes. That was a while ago mind and they should have improved the bikes they have (just get there early in the day to avoid being lumbered with an old nail).

I built one up over the winter and I can honestly say its the most fun of all my bikes to ride. I know that a lot of people can't see the point of single speed bikes but I think its a great way to ride. Its also a hell of a lot easier to maintain after a day in the mud.

I might stick some suspension on it at some point but I like the clean look of the standard steel fork so I'm undecided.

Looks a bit suspect to me, especially as there are no decals on the frame.

I've got to be honest and say that most of the trails I use are cheeky. There seems to be an almost obsessive desire within bodies like the Ramblers Association to keep footpaths all to themselves even though a lot of them are woefully under used. The way I see it, if I'm not doing any damage or putting walkers in danger I've got just as much right to roam as them (I even have a bell on my bike to let pensioners in shorts and long socks know I'm approaching so they can't complain I've come rushing up behind them).
As for EA jobs worths; if they start getting heavy just call the police and get them on the scene. If an EA officer has no rights to impose fines and is behaving in an intimidatory manner the plod will add a layer of officialdom that they won't want to have to deal with. I used to work alongside council enforcement officers and so I know that you should challenge everything they say and question their authority at every stage. Also remember that if you refuse to give your name or date of birth they can't issue a fine. But, never ever get offensive towards them.

I always felt like I was perched on top of my old 26″ bike. My 29er fits perfectly (I’m 6’1″ tall)and is much more comfy for long rides because of this. Couldn’t go back to riding ‘kiddies wheels’.

To echo some other comments on this forum it is a complete pig to fit in the back of my car and is hopeless for wheelies (or it mught just be me who is hopeless at wheelies!)

Good to hear it Sam, be a shame if you didn’t get to ride your own bikes :wink:

Maybe you should do a ride or event for Singular riders. It would be a like a classic car owners club meet; except less beards and beige cardigans and probably a whole lot more fun/ beer/ exciting (delete as appropriate, or possibly all three)

On the other hand apologies for the OK quality pic of a slightly naff looking bike :D I had an urge to build up a Cross Check and whilst the down tube shifters seemed like a good idea at the time I’m sure I’ll have issues once I stick some knobblies on it and go off road. Keeps the weight down mind…

Barely used is no good Sam.

Here is a used (or should that be abused given the amount of sand I now need to clear out of the BB) example:

r0Ketd0g, I’m 6’1″ tall and ride a large Swift. I think it fits me perfectly.

Don’t ride 26″ wheeled bikes anymore apart from my Thorn Sherpa tourer as I just find most 26″ MTBs feel too cramped and I end up feeling perched on top of them.

The sad thing is if you had hit her because of her appalling riding you would have been held responsible as the big bad car driver. Riders who decide to take to the road at night in dark clobber and with no lights are also a major problem and you’re right; people like that are the reason why all god fearing Daily Mail readers hate us cyclists.

Best thing to do if it ever happens again is to draw along side her and give your windscreen a good wash; a mouth full of screen wash first thing in the morning may wake the dozy cow up.

The big test is to fit the bearings and cranks and then see if they run smoothly and that they don’t follow a weird arc. If they look and feel wonky when you turn the cranks you’ll probably need the frame faced.

I asked a similar question on another web forum when I was starting the build of my Surly Cross Check. The feedback I got was quite mixed. Some people think not getting the frame faced is madness, others think getting it faced is a waste of time.

In the end I decided not to bother. I reckoned if I could fit the BB bearings OK and everything ended up running straight then I wouldn’t need to get the frame faced. So far so good but if I wear out the bearings prematurely then I’ll be off to my LBS to get them to face the frame.

If your frame and threads look OK you might be as well to stick the bottom bracket in and see if you have any problems fitting it.

Tight Nipples

“Sensitive lot, you 29er riders”

I wouldn’t say we’re sensitive. Riding a bike with big wheels, only one gear and no suspension probably makes some of us more thick skinned (or should that be strange?) than sensitive.

:wink:

If I were you I’d go for the Singular to start with. I built up a swift last year and if you hunt around on the net you can get a good deal on Halo Freedom Disc 29er wheels. Its a really good versatile frame and although I’ve not ridden a Haro Mary I doubt it can compare for quality or the way it rides. Plus you’ll get excellent support from Sam at Singular Cycles. I know I’m starting to sound REALLY biased but I think my Swift is the most fun bike I own, plus it can be run with gears or single speed.

And don’t worry about the nay sayers who reckon a 29er is crap for Bristol. I run mine single speed around North Devon and seem to cope with the hills…sort of.