What's the benefit of a Single Speed bike?

[imapodaddy]

I can't beleive how popular those bikes are. I've never riden one before and I am curious what makes them so popular?
I figure the bike weighs less than a standard Mtn. bike, I've also read that if you can climb hills on a SS you will develop some strong legs that will out run anyone on the trails.

What do you think?

 

[chumbaracing]

...

i have a SS, definitely makes you a better rider all around....makes ur legs stronger, forces you to ride different lines, and u dont have to worry about shifting!


get the khs solo one if ur interested, u could prolly get one from ebay for 2-300 bucks. not bad@!

 

[JamR]

Re: ...

They just make a great all around bike. The only drawback is when you want to get some real speed on moderate downhill’s and you can't keep up with the pedals.

Other than that, you get really strong on the climbs and actually climb faster because you're forced to stand and hammer.

I have not been on my geared bike since October. I just dusted it off this past weekend and will be using it for the first time this coming weekend.

I highly recommend SS's

 

[Evel Knievel]

JamR can you recommend a ring/cog combo for a first time SS'r that rides up STT, and SJT, Matis regularly ?

2:1 seems way to large to ever get sit and get a break.

TIA , Evel

 

[JamR]

I've had pretty good luck with a 32/20.

SJT, STT, Mathis, Rock-It, Cholla, Meadows, etc......

Seems to be an all around good climbing gear for me, and I'm running into quite a few people running that combination.

 

[Evel Knievel]

32/20 sounds better than 32/16 for our hills. Thanks I will try that. As soon as I can collect the few more parts I need to finish the SS project.


Thanks again, Evel

 

[JamR]

What rear hub are you using?

Are you going with at SS specific hub or converting a geared hub?

 

[Evel Knievel]

What rear hub are you using?

Are you going with at SS specific hub or converting a geared hub?

It will be a cassette conversion. Either a LX with rim brakes (only need levers). Or an XT with disks (will need new disk system).

Once I create a converted SS cassette I hoped to swap it between wheels when finances allow for disk system.

 

[Evel Knievel]

I've had pretty good luck with a 32/20.

SJT, STT, Mathis, Rock-It, Cholla, Meadows, etc......

Seems to be an all around good climbing gear for me, and I'm running into quite a few people running that combination.

Thanks JamR

Did another ride today without shifting (poormans SS), at 32/20. It feels like the right combo. Just enough to stand on for steep ,able to sit and grind with some difficulty on normal hill grades. Also enough gear to surmount small obstacles. Just a little short of comfortable when setting up wheelie drops.

Evel

T