My New Single Speed

[PacMan]

I finally finished it up Thursday and took it out on its maiden voyage Friday after work at Lake Hodges--a fairly easy trail here in SD county.

It was more fun than I thought it would be. I don't really know how to describe it, though I'm sure all of you with single speeds already know what I'm talking about. It was so cool to not have to worry about shifting gears. I really liked the different mindset you have to ride with. No more shifting into an easy gear and lazily spinning to the top of a climb. I liked how you have to be aggressive on the ascents.

I also thought the sense of accomplishment was cool too. Now, you need to understand that as a person who not to long ago was a 270 pound fat boy, this is a big deal to me.

I was resting on a climb--I cleaned 90% of it and was resting up for the final crazy steep ending--when a couple of XC guys rode by. They barely cleaned the end of the climb and were resting at the top. My buddy had already made it and was waiting for me and started to cheer me on. The 2 other guys kind of gave a "what a couple of fat boy posers" look to each other and I set off. Standing on the pedals all the way, I made it to within 10 feet of the top and ran out of gas. The guys were kind of looking at each other like I was a fool and then when I got to the top they did a double take when they saw I was on a SS. That made me feel pretty good.

Now by no means will this be my everyday bike, but it sure will be breathing some new life into some of the easier trails around here.

The component spec is decent but the frame is nothing special, but I love it. I had all the parts laying around except of course for the SS conversion kit, so my money into the bike is minimal. I'll replace a few parts here and there eventually.

Build: I'm running 32:20 for now.

Frame: Access--Performance's brand HT, cheap I know but I got it from a friend for $20 so I'm not complaining. I was thinking about scraping off/painting over the "ACCE" so just the "SS" was showing. SS for singlespeed--damn I'm clever . I'll be upgrading the frame eventually.
Fork: Marzocchi All Mountain SL in 110mm setting. I will get something lighter VERY soon.
Cranks: Shimano LX w/ int. BB, 32/bashguard
Pedals: Azonic A-Frames
Bars: Easton EA50
Grips:Oury lock-ons
Stem: Thomson
Seatpost: Thomson
Seatpost collar: Salsa QR
Brakes: Hayes HFX-9's
Wheels: Mavic Cross Rides w/ Mavic hubs
Tires: Ritchey Z-Maxx Millenium 2.1's
Chain: SRAM SS
Rear Cog/Tensioner: Forte--Performance brand again. I was going to get a Surly Singulator and a Gussett SS conversion kit, which would've run me $60. Performance sold a kit that had the spacers, tensioner, lockring and 16,18, and 20 tooth cogs for only $20. I'm currently running the 20 tooth. My lame joke is that going with it saved me Forte dollars ($40)

[J_Sims]

I was wondering if you had the chance to finish this project.... Very Nice You didn't happen to take it to SART today? I am still collecting parts, but one of these days we gotta get together and do this SS thing.

Again Great Job and I am happy to hear that you are getting so much enjoyment out of it already

Cheers

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

You didn't happen to take it to SART today?

You are one funny guy.

Umm, not quite ready for that yet.

What's up with selling the Yeti?? Traitor

[genusmtbkr5]

Any pics?

[bjammin]

Hey Pac, let's SS Daley on mon. am! J/K

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Any pics?

There's 2 in my post, at the bottom.

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by PacMan

You are one funny guy.

Umm, not quite ready for that yet.

What's up with selling the Yeti?? Traitor

Either way, I hope that you had a great SART ride and I do think that we need to do it again some time.

The SS solution from performance looks like a great way to go...

I am undecided on the Yeti, but I am having a really hard time putting my A$$ on anyting but the RIP. I rode the YETI around the street and I feel like it is just too small. I hate to sell it but I could finish the One9 and I am considering a PsychoCross bike...

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

Either way, I hope that you had a great SART ride and I do think that we need to do it again some time.

The SS solution from performance looks like a great way to go...

I am undecided on the Yeti, but I am having a really hard time putting my A$$ on anyting but the RIP. I rode the YETI around the street and I feel like it is just too small. I hate to sell it but I could finish the One9 and I am considering a PsychoCross bike...

Ya, that RIP is a damn nice rig. Thats a good problem to have though--do I ride the 575 or the RIP Niner

The ride today was good, but I had more fun last time. There was a lot less parity in the group I was in today. I was either a lot slower than some, or a lot faster than the rest. I ended up riding by myself for like 75% of the ride. I might as well have been out there solo.

There was a point when the riders in front of me were nothing but a distant memory. I decided I was sick of riding solo so I pulled over to let the people behind me catch up. After swatting flies for 10 minutes without seeing a soul, I gave up and continued on.

[J_Sims]

Well if you are ever in the mood to wait for a slow poke hit me up, and let's go riding again...

Enjoy that SS

It just seems that you have to put a after SS

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

Well if you are ever in the mood to wait for a slow poke hit me up, and let's go riding again...

Absolutely!! I'm busy the next 2 weekends with family stuff, but my July is wide open. I want o try to do Holy Jim on the 7th-- I need a tour guide for Holy Jim: 7/7/07 --- and am free after that as well. Let's ride somewhere.

[mtnbikej]

Cool bike.

Look at getting some clipless pdeals......you will so benefit from the pulling up on the back stroke.

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Cool bike.

Look at getting some clipless pdeals......you will so benefit from the pulling up on the back stroke.

very good recommendation, i tried ss'ing on flats once and never again.

cool bike doug, we need to do an ss ride together soon

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Cool bike.

Look at getting some clipless pdeals......you will so benefit from the pulling up on the back stroke.

Thanks for "looking out" but it will never happen. Don't get me started on the clipless pedals issue.

[genusmtbkr5]

You can also, change the spring in your tensioner(your kit should've came with one), so that the chain is "over" the tensioner cog rather than "under" it. It would provide for better chain wrap. A tip I got from The Path when I was building mine.

[allison]

Dude, nice! I dig the idea of taking the lettering off so it only shows SS!

We'll have to do a SS ride next month! How's Noble sound? jk.

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

You can also, change the spring in your tensioner(your kit should've came with one), so that the chain is "over" the tensioner cog rather than "under" it. It would provide for better chain wrap. A tip I got from The Path when I was building mine.

I'll have to look into that, thanks for the tip. I don't know if my tensioner will allow that though. The chain runs through a port (for lack of a better word) on the underside. I don't know if it could be flipped.

[J_Sims]

IS ther anyway to spin the Hoop around so that the "port" is on top??

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by allison

Dude, nice! I dig the idea of taking the lettering off so it only shows SS!

We'll have to do a SS ride next month! How's Noble sound? jk.

Sure!! I'll start SS'ing Noble as soon as I loose about 50 more pounds, gain a whole lot more skill and endurance and change my name to Aqua.

[allison]

Originally Posted by PacMan

Sure!! I'll start SS'ing Noble as soon as I loose about 50 more pounds, gain a whole lot more skill and endurance and change my name to Aqua.

haha!! Me too!