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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - Singlespeed
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be honest,the REAL reason we s/s mtn. bike (23 posts)
|  be honest,the REAL reason we s/s mtn. bike | kennyclean
Sep 15, 2002 11:17 AM | | Blah Blah Blah,the simplicity,the old school feel,the smooth look,the blah blah blah... be honest, the REAL reason we ride s/s bikes is the FEELING we get when some guy on a 5,000 dollar high zoot fully suspended rig CAN'T SHAKE US in the single track, or when we PASS the same guy on a long climb is'nt that what makes you smile just a little bit more after a ride?! |
| yeah but
| Spar¡cus
Sep 15, 2002 12:09 PM | | Sometimes I AM the guy on that $5000 high zoot FS bike. (But I won't let you pass me!) It all depends on what I feel like riding that day.
What I find interesting about my SS experience is that my singlespeed has become my bike of choice. I've gotten to the point where I actually prefer singlespeeding over riding my geared bikes, and I can't say for sure just why that is.
Can't be purity -- there are many on this board who'd say (who've said) I've bastardized the whole sport with my disc brakes and 5" fork.
Whatever.
I like singlespeeding. I like belonging to the SS cult, though an outcast I may be. I like refining my cycling abilities -- holding speed longer through a corner, into the next hill, becoming as efficient a rider as I can be.
And yeah, I like being at the front, which is especially sweet when there's a high zoot "princess machine" in my wake.
--Spary |
| Sparty... | Andy aka Rut
Sep 15, 2002 12:50 PM | | Are you or any other "Northerners" heading to the worlds???
BTW..Catching the "rabbits" is always fun on the single, especially on the steep climbs.
I think I've gone full circle....I am a cyclist who happens to singlespeed. I could give the excuse that it is my only bike and that I sold the $4000 fs bike to ride ss only, but I just enjoy the ride. If you don't like it, don't do it.
That simple
Andy |
| I would but
| Spar¡cus
Sep 15, 2002 1:33 PM | | I would attend the Worlds but there's just too much driving involved to make it feel worth it to me. Originally I planned to drive down with shiggy, but now it looks like I'll be in Bend that weekend for Paul Thomasberg's Big Fat Tour. The BFT is a way fun gig; if not for it I'd prolly justify the travel time to the Worlds. As it is, shig's gonna have to represent.
It's gotta be a lot easier to get to for you, eh?
As for riding whatever bike appeals, thanks for the tip. That's what I'm gonna do. (Not that I haven't been all along.) Damn the torpedos. But I'd be lying if I said the 'holier than thou' comments don't get under my skin. Sometimes it seems like the retrogrouches wanna segregate the sport.
--Spary |
| Amen to that my brother.. | Andy aka Rut
Sep 15, 2002 1:52 PM | | Ride your ride and screw everyone else. J/K-sorta. It doesn't matter if they "get it" or not. If they want to try it, borrow my bike. No big deal. I have a few friends that haven't converted over, yet. They prefer gears, we all seem to get along just fine.
It takes about 9 hours for us to drive up. What kind of driving time does it take you guys?
You think Shiggy will be wearing the skinsuit??? Oh my eyes!!! I got to meet him at Sea Otter with the General. I was just hoping to meet some others.
I think, if we get enough Socal locals to go up, we'll be representing well. We may not be the fastest, but AC/DC will be heard throughout the night!!!! Maybe even some Scorpions.
andy |
| Worlds.. | Brandon
Sep 15, 2002 6:23 PM | | I'm planning on it, as is Noah, then we're heading over to Moab and Fruita.
According to Yahoo Maps it should be about 8.5hrs from Corvallis to Downieville, subtract 40 minutes or so from Eugene. |
| Worlds.. | Andy aka Rut
Sep 15, 2002 6:56 PM | | How to hook up???? I'll be wearing a MTBR jersey and will be riding a titanium frame with an Avid disc brake up front.
andy |
| Andy, how do you like the front-only disc? | kyezle
Sep 15, 2002 11:29 PM | | I've been thinking of going disc but can do front-only because of lack of rear disc tabs. I've heard from others that it works fine since most braking is from the front wheel, but would you agree? I'll probably go for it if doesn't completely butcher the braking. Does the modulation feel the same between the V's and disc?
Are you guys renting the big white party van for this road trip?
Got any Ted Nugent? |
| I run the disc front and V's back | Roger
Sep 16, 2002 11:53 AM | | It's a great set up, you can really hang it loose coming into a corner and bring the bike way down in speed quick without locking the rear. |
| Ted Nugent???? | Andy aka Rut
Sep 16, 2002 2:05 PM | | I'm sure he can be found.
I installed the Avid's yesterday. I haven't ridden on them yet, so, so far they look and feel great! I have a couple friends on front only and they love it.
The Big White SoCal Party Van...oh the memories. It is unknown how we will be heading up there. I was hoping Terminaut would chime in and say something like, "OK, I'll only bring 1 bike so everyone else can make it in the 15 passenger van." But I haven't heard from him yet. |
| Worlds.. | Brandon
Sep 16, 2002 8:33 AM | | Look for Shiggy, ask Him, I don't stand out nearly as much in a crowd :)
I'm sure you've seen my Vulturized GT, not too many of those around I'd guess. No real clue what I'll be wearing as far as jersey. |
| me too ssshhhhhhh | kennyclean
Sep 15, 2002 4:40 PM | | I got a 4,500 dollar Ellsworth sittin' in the garage but come Sunday morning I always seem to reach for the Surly, go figure!!!! |
| LOVE IT! | Menny
Sep 15, 2002 10:39 PM | | I just turned my Canzo Ti into a SS and I love it. I couldn't think of any other way to get a return on my $4000 investment without breaking down and crying. It was either that or ride a geared bike again and I don't ever want to do that. |
| I wish that were the reason... | Spudmeister
Sep 15, 2002 3:00 PM | | I wish I could say I'm passin' the guys on fancy rigs, but the truth is I can't pass anybody. I'm fat - I'm slow - I have kids. But, I do have a new ride... |
| Whoa! Nice rig in a big way! | Spar¡cus
Sep 15, 2002 5:23 PM | | But I gotta chuckle. when I first scrolled into the photo I thought the bike had a BBQ in a basket on the front and a wire patio chair for a seat -- oops!
Ha ha. anyway like I said -- WAY nice rig! Aren't those XT discs? Whaddya think?
--Spary |
| XT discs = very nice | Spudmeister
Sep 15, 2002 6:07 PM | | I like the XT discs a lot - make my Avids feel sloppy. Not hard to set up as long as you take your time! |
| Cause the bikes are so Freakin SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!! | Trevo
Sep 15, 2002 10:57 PM | | Basicallt they're guiet, simple, reliable, The people are friendly. I cant really explain it too well. Just something makes me shiver with joy when I see a bike that has only one single cable guide. And thats for the brake! Everything else is just butters smooth.
Trevor Martin |
| Nope, not for me..re: be honest,the REAL reason we s/s mtn. bike | baka-san
Sep 15, 2002 5:48 PM | | The single overwhelming reason is it's so much fun. Yesterday I cleared a section on the SS that is really difficult for me on my gearie too. It's a stream crossing with lots of rocks where you have to perfectly hit the single line through, followed by a loose, rocky, steep short climb that just a few months ago I thought was impossible on a SS. I've been working it all summer without success so it was a huge rush to finally clear it. Shortly after that I rode a really fun doubletrack that has lots of short little climbs that are easy *if* you carry some speed into them. The doubletrack dumps you out at a beautiful secluded overlook in the back of a very pretty lake. I sat on a rock for several minutes, taking in the view while laughing joyfully. The riding was so great, so much fun, that it seemed like I had discovered some great & wonderful secret.
On my SS this happens more often than on the gearie. I don't know why exactly, just that it does. Life is good, ride SS.
bruce |
| SSing and the Worlds | MikeGarritson
Sep 15, 2002 7:05 PM | | To each their own, but every time I hear the bit about how "pure" and "back to the roots" SS'ing is I want to throw up. If that's your reason for doing it, then more power to you. My own reason is that I like to be a little better on my SS than the good riders on their gearies. I've yet to convert anybody though; they all say they don't get it or it's too hard. That just makes it that much more fun for me.
As for the worlds, I'm either going there or to Sedona, but I can't make up my mind. A big group of friends are headed to Sedona, but I can go there anytime. Who knows when the Worlds will come back to CA? If I do go, I'll have to hook up with some of you socal SS'ers. I've raced against some of you before and I'm going to try to look some up at Idyllwild. Time to get off the fence. |
| re: be honest,the REAL reason we s/s mtn. bike | statusman
Sep 15, 2002 8:09 PM | | it is a good feeling to pass gearies on a ss. i just did bikedc this weekend (road ride) and did it on my suspended ss. had a blast getting by people sitting on roadbikes on the hills. listening to them downshift as i went by was a great feeling. only saw 2 others on ss bikes.
anyway, just my $.02.
patrick |
| Kinda like that ... I love saying something like: | Humma Hah
Sep 16, 2002 3:01 PM | | 1) You are about to be passed by an antique, 40-pound, singlespeed Schwinn.
2) If I pass you on this thing, you have to KILL yourself.
3) What are all those gear-looking things on your bike for? |
| at the feast of EGO, everyone leaves hungry...(nm) | JAK
Sep 17, 2002 7:06 AM | | ! |
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