Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - a good mountain single speed?

Hi im new to single speed and im wondering what is a good mountain singlespeed bike around a thousand dollars and does front shoxs matter a lot?

It really depends on what sort of mountain riding you plan on doing.

Personally, I want to get an On*One Inbred 29er singlespeed with a rigid fork and set it up with disc brakes.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=56&MMN_position=59:59

I ride an IRO Mia, Tony did it up as a 29er for me, and I absolutely love it. It always challenges me. Sometimes I think about suspension, but then I say **** that, if for nothing else than pissing off people at the trails who tell me "hey, you can't ride that thing, it's got no suspension and no gears."

And these are guys that work as mechanics at a mountain in the Sierras. ****ers.

If you go with a rigid, you'll be more challenged to pick better lines and ride smoother, rather than just roll over every rock, root, and rut in the path. Personally, I don't see a need for shocks on a SS. The whole idea is to be minimal and simplistic anyway.

If you are over 5'10'' than a 29er singlespeed is the way to go.

On One was a great suggestion

Redline Monocog 29er is another. You can spend your extra money on ugrades

Surly KM , Soma Juice, Voodoo Dambala. You would have to build these but it could be done for $1000.

I will repeat because I am a true believer. If you are going to go singlespeed and you are a bit tall or big, get a big wheeled bike.

The Bianchi line is real solid, new or used. They were one of the first in the game. Good price point, too.

Does bianchi have 29ers and what about Gary Fisher? and what are some other 29er ss bikes out there?

That Raleigh 29er that's not out yet looks pretty sweet.

i was just looking on Surlys web site and there bikes look wicked but are they good?

I ride a fort frame. Handmade chromo in the Czech Republic and not too expensive either. Redline, Bianchi and Fisher are all good bikes. Just make a decision and get riding.

Here's mine, although I've since added platform pedals:

http://static.flickr.com/53/125335509_369cfc1994.jpg

Fort's Website: http://www.fortframes.com/

Redline monocog . Cheap and well built .

If you are going to ride in what I would call mountains consider having a 11 tooth and a 34 tooth sprocket on either side of the rear wheel.

If you are over 5'10'' than a 29er singlespeed is the way to go.

On One was a great suggestion

Redline Monocog 29er is another. You can spend your extra money on ugrades

Surly KM , Soma Juice, Voodoo Dambala. You would have to build these but it could be done for $1000.

I will repeat because I am a true believer. If you are going to go singlespeed and you are a bit tall or big, get a big wheeled bike.

It never felt like I fit on my mountain bikes until I bought a 29er (6'6" btw). I now have three (geared, SS, and fixed). Bianchi doesn't have a 29er out yet. They will have one out later this year/early next(?) called the Rita. Gary Fisher has the Rig 29er SS. A number of companies have announced jumping into the 29er game mostly with SS.

Are Surlys any good? Search the mtbr 29er board and you will see tons of happy Karate Monkey owners. For many 29er riders the Surly KM was their first. It was my second, but I will never get rid of it.

Front shox suck...
I couldnt imagine a SS with a shok fork :eek:

I do like the Karate Monkey and i think im going to stick with that one? does anyone have any sudjestions on what size the crank a mabober (the thing the chain goes on, im having a brain fart day) should be for mountian?

chainring (the big one at front): between 30 and 34
freewheel (the little one at the back): between 16 and 20

Maybe start with 32x16 and work from there (it'll vary depending on the terrain you ride and your abilities/preferences).

A 2:1 ratio is a common place to start on a 26" SS, but you need to adjust it because of the 29er wheels. If you move up two teeth in the rear it will be comparable to a 26" bike and 2:1 ratio. So 32:18, 34:19, 36:20, etc.

I couldnt imagine a SS with a shok fork :eek:

here's a little visual to help you along;)

I've got a Bianchi WUSS. Great comfortable bike that will go anywhere.
http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_wuss.html

i have a Trek 8000 thats like 6 years old so right now im banging the heck out of it but to get used to ss what would the gear ratio be on a geared bike?

i run a 33/18 on mine...but that gearing would vary according to where you live and the terrain you ride on. as was mentioned earlier, a lot of companies will spec theirs with a 2:1 ratio (32/16, 34/17, etc) but i find that a little tough on heavy climbs, especially starting out. i've talked to customers when they're building/retrofitting a s/s, and i usually recommend a 34/20 or 32/18 combo. nice starter gearing for this area, and our trails...however, as was also mentioned earlier, these would be combinations for a 26" wheeled bike, not necessarily a 29'er.

A 2:1 ratio is a common place to start on a 26" SS, but you need to adjust it because of the 29er wheels. If you move up two teeth in the rear it will be comparable to a 26" bike and 2:1 ratio. So 32:18, 34:19, 36:20, etc.

Damnit, noob mistake! *puts head through plate glass window*

Thanks for schooling me in my moment of not-smart. ;)

Does anyone have a Karate Monkey picture?

Kona has a Unit 29er frame this year.

http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/category_listing.aspx?categoryid=264#372

It's down near the bottom. With a $499 price tag, it'll be hard to get it under $1000 unless you have extra parts hanging around, but it's a sweet frame.

Front suspension lets you go faster, and it takes a little of the worry out of more technical sections. When I'm riding mine rigid, it makes me a lot more cautious, but the squishy fork let's me take a lot of stuff in stride.

Salsa has two 29'er frames, a softtail and a rigid. The rigid is around $600, so you'd have trouble putting together a solid bike for around $1000. Also, check the MTBR classifieds section, there's a lot of good frames on there for not much money.

only way to go...
http://www.moots.com/bicycle.php?ID=6

Does anyone have a Karate Monkey picture?

Ask and you shall receive...