Any one know what the rims are like?

I’m fairly fit at the moment but I think I’ll go for 32:18 to start with and see how I get on riding my local trails.

OK thanks. What about crank length? Is it the same rule as for geared bikes?

Ok thanks. If the build wasn’t great would it just be a case of getting it trued at my lbs or would it need rebuilding?

I might go for the Superstar Tech 2 EVO XC 135 Switch wheels, they look like a good deal. Does anyone know how easy it is to get replacement bearings for these hubs?

OK that’s great thanks.

OK. I got impatient and put the new cleats on :-). They feel a little tighter. Not been out for a ride yet, just sitting on my bike in the living room. I’ll go out in a bit when my dinners gone down.

The movement is horizontal and my heel moves from side to side by about 1.5 inches each way before it stops.

I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

😮 What’s slop and what’s float? I’d imagine a bit of movement is good but this feels a bit much.

Thanks!

🙄

Fizik Gobi has been my most comfortable so far. Bel Air and WTB too wide for me.

Might be worth investing in some spd’s too.

I’m yet to peak but it sometimes scares me to think how good I’ll end up as I’m just so much better every time I go out.

Do you really think there’s any of that pish here?

Have a Duvel.

Tonight I’ve chosen to drink Co Op’s Premium Belgian Lager as you won’t see anyone else drinking it.

I hose it down and wipe off the stanchions and shock but should probably do more. I don’t think a bike really has to be clean though apart from the important bits. It’s like when people say ‘white bikes are bad because they show the dirt’ who cares.

I did it last year and found it hard going. It was very very wet the day I did it. I think if I went back now and did it on a dry day I would enjoy it far more and ride more of it. I’d say it’s a trail for people with a higher level of skill and fitness. It’s very eroded and was like a river when I did it. It might be a good idea to do it on it’s own without doing the Devil’s Staircase first if you’re not feeling very energetic. I did the both in one day and thought I was going to die.

Thanks I’m definitely going to go for it. Having difficulty deciding which frame to get though as some folk are saying get the slotted one while others say get a vertical drop out one 😕

I was going to buy the complete bike but now I’m tempted to buy the frame and build it myself which gives me the option of going for the 456. Anyone know if the Inbred is much nicer than the 456 when single speeded or is there little difference? Hmmm decisions decisions!

OK thanks. I would be using it mainly for getting to work and cycling less steep trails at first and see where it goes from there. It should take a huge workload off my FS bike which always seems to need something fixing on it.

Bit of an update. I’ve borrowed a friends Cotic Soul single speed which I tried out today along with some SPD’s for the first time. I really enjoyed it and was surprised how much quicker I covered the ground. I didn’t tackle anything too steep but did struggle a bit going up some hills. I’m quite keen on the idea it just seems to make so much sense.

Now I just need to decide which frame or complete bike to get. Has anyone had any problems setting up the back brake on the slot dropout Inbred or isn’t it really an issue? Surely when you move the wheel in the dropouts it messes up the rotor/caliper spacing?

Did anyone mention the Cleggs that sneak up behind you and suck your blood through your clothing, leaving you with a bleeding lump?

No seriously. If you keep moving quick enough the midges and Cleggs aren’t usually a problem but you’ll have to stay out of the undergrowth to avoid the ticks.

Nice 🙂

Well that’s a typically un-constructive response which seems to be increasingly common here these days. Why post a response if you have nothing useful to say?

Mr Woppit – Member
You’re only allowed single tunes, not albums…

Who started this thread?

I’m just trying to get an idea of what people are listening to and we might even introduce each other to some new great music. I should have added in ‘constructive responses only please’

Maybe take a generous supply of ‘swipe’ with you if you’re away from civilisation.

Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriot

I went through a stage of disliking my bike a bit but realised it was because I’d built it up too heavy. 2 years after buying the bike and doing the frame justice by upgrading almost every part, I’m finally happy with the set up. I think some of the changes I made were to compensate for my lack of skill also. I had a very short stem on it as it felt better on downhill sections but now a longer stem feels much better all round. I’d try and get the set up perfect before you consider changing it.

Real singlespeeders snear

They even sneer at each other?

. an’ yes, I forgot to mention the beard, but now that it has been mentioned, it’s beard and [normally] sandals with SS really

Well that’s ok I saw some spd ones on the internet (or do they have to be purchased at a special shop?) 🙂

Interesting thoughts on the dropouts OCB. Maybe I’ll just go for the standard frame. I hadn’t thought of the disc brake set up issues with slot system either.

do you have a beard?

No but I’m going thin on top. 😕

Thanks everyone that’s really helpful.

spindly sparrow legs

It’s funny you should say that because I bumped into some friends recently whilst out cycling one of which said to me ‘The last time I saw legs like that they were hanging out of a nest’.

Can’t you pursuade your employer to do the 4 year deal thing? What do they have to loose? With my employer I’d complete the payments in a year then wait another 3 years before making the final payment which based on valuation would fall into the ‘bottom bracket’ (see what I did there) of 5%.

I would certainly use the scheme again as I’m not planning to change jobs just yet and it would be the best way to pay off the bike that I want. I would be less tempted to use the scheme if I wasn’t happy in my job and I could pick up a good bargain.

Some of my friends are single speeders and they are faster than me but they are much fitter and more skilled too. They drop me on the climbs but I sometimes catch up with them on the downs. I might consider it in the future but not just now.

OK thanks everyone. Do I need to get special cleats or are they pretty much all the same?

Is it possible to adjust how easy it is to unclip?

Crank brothers are good for knees

Is there more chance of getting bad knees with SPD’s? If there’s one thing I don’t want bad it’s my knees.

My washing machine once malfunctioned not cleaning stuff properly leaving globs of detergent on my clothes. I only realised this was the problem after having to patiently sit through a lecture with my ball sack on fire.

A friend of mine works for a company that sells them and stuff for looking after them. There are books on the site too.

http://www.got-bonsai.co.uk/

I went to have a look at that section of the ‘Three Lochs Way’ today between Balloch and Helensburgh. There’s a load of wind blown trees blocking the route at the top of the Stoney Mollan as you enter the forest but these can be avoided by going north of them into the clear fell area. It looks like someone’s started chopping them up so hopefully it’ll be clear soon.

There’s not much of a path forming yet through the forest and the Killoeter escarpment is very very steep although the route is well marked with markers and red and white tape. The tape leads you pretty much straight up the Killoeter escarpment but I found it easier to zig zag a bit more especially as I had the bike with me. I think this could be a great bit of trail if routed well.

Once out onto the open hill the route is marked with tape on bamboo canes. There is no trodden path yet on the open hill but the ground is mostly dry and great for cycling on. I really enjoyed the descent down into the town. The path becomes a bit more visible lower down before you enter the woods. Well done to Helensburgh and District Access Trust for establishing a much needed route between there and Balloch.

http://www.threelochsway.co.uk/balloch-helensbu.html

OK thanks. The 5’s it is then! It will be interesting to see how they compare to my Hope’s. I wasn’t keen on my Juicy 3’s and the way you centre them but hopefully the 5’s would be better.

I can imagine the results being quite catastrophic if it fails. Hope it works OK though.

I really like Kirroughtree and Dalbeattie. There’s loads more rock and shit than on a lot of natural trails and even the likes of Glentress are great fun for the occasional spin.

scu98rkr – Member

Thanks, they look great. If only they did them in 30.9mm 🙁

It seems that the Giant A3 post is about 300g so I’d of thought I can find something lighter than that. Bit skint at the moment so not looking to spend more than about £30 quid.