|   Advantages of going SS | wayneinbangkok
Nov 23, 2002 3:29 AM | | Hi. I have a spare Santa Cruz Chameleon frame and I'm deciding whether I should build it up a an all-around XC bike or convert it to a single speed. I have no experience with single speed bikes (apart from my BMX days 20 years ago), and I was wondering what the advantages were?
Wayne |
| another opinion | AmyTheWasp
Nov 23, 2002 7:04 AM | | Hi Wayne,
Single speeds rock! I just finished building my SS 10 days ago. Its a rigid, 32-18 gear, bright red, hot rod. I am very happy with it and should post a picture of it on this site. I've only put about 50-60 miles on it so far, but I have noticed a few things.
Its going to make you very fast. You have to use muscle to really go on some parts of the trail. yeah, you may have to walk some of the more difficult hills at first, but it gets easier. You will not belive some of the hills you can climb with a single speed. This is not a bad thing.
You have a greater connection to the trail. You gotta pick your lines more than on a multi-geared dual boinger bike. This makes old trails feel new again.
Instant acceleration. You mash the petal, and you just go. No hesitation. No fear of the chain slipping down the cassette. I wish I could run this fast.
Quiet. No chattering chains, derrailer cables, chifting or anything. On my bike I have a pretty loud ringle freewheel. It sounds like the chain pull on a roller coaster.
The bike is lighter. I am not a weight weenine, but I like a light bike. My bike without trying or using breakable parts tips the scales at 19 pounds. That is with heavy tires, a real seat, tubes, flat bmx petals, and 600 gram crankset.
The feeling of passing the multigeared people on a single speed is pretty neat too. This does not happen very often for me, but it is fun.
Riding a single speed kinda makes you the belle of the ball. Everyone is curious about your new ride. If you are starved for attention, this is the way to go. ;o) I'm kidding of course.
the downside is that you are stuck on one gear. Depending on the gearing used, you may run out of acceleration on some of the flat parts of the trail. This is the problem I am running into sometimes with my 32-18 gearing. This seems to be a good gear for most things right now though. Perhaps when I get stronger, I will go to 32-17 or even 32-16.
I still love my purple, dual boinger Juliana to pieces. Each bike is a blast to ride. what bike am I going to ride today? The red single speed.
The Chameleon is an awsome frame. Go for it! It really adds a different dimension to riding. Plus, you can do it on the cheap.
ride like a girl,
Amy |
| re: Advantages of going SS | mt
Nov 23, 2002 8:54 AM | | I have been riding my SS to work for 2 years now, but rode SS in the mountains all summer. I lost 10 pounds (and I wasn't a fatty to begin with - 5'10" 165 down to 155 now) and became a much stronger cycler. I don't race, but compared to my riding buddies I'd finish the climbs in the middle of the pack - now I stand around and wait as they grind away in the granny ring. You are forced to learn different climbing techniques rather than sit and spin. If you enjoy a challenge and can fight through the pain, then go SS. If you are weak willed then save the hassle and keep the gears. |
| re: Advantages of going SS | weather
Nov 23, 2002 12:29 PM | | less maintenance
don't need to drive 2 hours to find a challenging trail
quiet
pumps up yer legs
pumps up yer heart and lung capability |
| My opinion.... | SSue
Nov 23, 2002 1:54 PM | | In my opinion, the best advantage of riding a single speed is you get to feel like a 'kid' again! By the way, LOVED what Amythewasp said about her experiences. I love to hear that other women out there are enjoying this as much as I am. Whoo hoo!
I have noticed a HUGE difference & increase in my strength & skill level since I was given my single speed in Feruary.(In parts) I was very nervous about trying to keep up with the guys that already had been passing me on everything for the 8 months or so. That was how long I had been riding a mountain bike at the time. Now I was gong to try an even 'harder' bike? Well.......I was proven wrong. The first ride out was great, and it has only gotten better each time I have been on it. Bob made sure that I had a great gear to start out on. There is one problem I have now, I tried my full-suspension bike a couple of days ago & can't seem to remember how to shift, stand & climb or go down steep stuff! I have not been on it since our last day in Moab, in May. Probably a good idea to use both bikes. (so, I have been told.) Went today too, rode my favorite.......my SS!
I think it takes the right bike to enjoy this and the 'will' to want to PLAY! Get out there & have a blast!
SSue |
| My motivations | Bonee
Nov 23, 2002 1:59 PM | | I'll be getting my ebay special in a few weeks and hope to have a rough conversion done after Christmas and fully complete with various component upgrades by by the end of Feb.
Here is what my main motivations are:
- Simple maintenance, care-free bike.
- Improve riding skills from having one gear option only.
- Improved wrenching skills
I'll probably get more out of it than I expect. I say go for it. |
| Weight, Maintenance, Ground Clearance, and best of all, skill... | DeeEight
Nov 23, 2002 3:54 PM | | #1 Weight : Taking off the derailleurs, all but one cog and ring, shorter chain, less chainring bolts, both shifters, cables and housing
will save a lot of weight. For practically free. If you have a frame
like a Chameleon or Azonic DS-1 with rear-entry dropouts, you don't need a tensioner to do a conversion from a geared bike to a SS. All you need is a single cog, some spacers for the freehub body, and to keep one of your existing chainrings. Usually the middle for most people, but depends on the size cog you pick and what gear you want, if you used a 12T cog for example you might just run the granny ring.
#2 Maintenance : Only having 1 gear pretty much means nothing gear related to ever adjust again other than chain tension and keeping the chain lubed and clean.
#3 Ground Clearance : No rear derailleur to smash into rocks, no big ring to hang up on a log.
#4 Skill : Having one gear will force you to become a better rider. Same reason why BMX pro's adapt to MTB racing so well. With 1 gear you
can't just cheat and pick an longer line up a hill for example knowing you can drop to some ultra granny gear and crawl up the hill. It pretty much forces you to attack out of the saddle on every climb and mash away with as much power as you can. |
| is simplicity an advantage? | DAS
Nov 23, 2002 11:34 PM | | Hmm...not sure if 'advantage' is the best term. Both gears and singles have advantages.
If I was thinking over SS for the first time, i'd try to test ride somone else's rig to see if I like the concept. It's really a totally different (but not new) concept. Some are hooked instantly, some stick with gears and springs and have just as much fun on the trail.
Good luck, and eat lots of Pad Thai. |
| Thanks | wayneinbangkok
Nov 24, 2002 6:32 AM | | Thanks for all the insights and opinions. I think a SS will be a nice change from my new FS once in a while. And since the Chameleon is set up for SS, I won't be spending any money. Are there any must have components?
Wayne |
| "Are there any must have components? " | nalax
Nov 24, 2002 9:52 AM | | Everything your current bike has less shifters, derailleurs, couple of chainrings, cables, cassette.
Add spacers & a cog to replace cassette. |
| "Are there any must have components? " | wayneinbangkok
Nov 25, 2002 4:36 AM | | Thanks. Sounds simple. |
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