Mountain Biking - Your opinions on SS MTB's?

Can some SS MTB owners give me some feed back on thier bikes, what you like, don't, and wish you had done differently?

I'm considering two brands: Bianchi and Sycip.. but am trying to keep my options open. I have no MTB riding experience, so don't know equipement levels, etc.

steel, rigid, 29er. Yeppir, pretty much covers it. Oh yeah, get one that fits. I like Redline, but brand really doesn't matter as much as fit (or steel, rigid, and 29er).

I have a Norco Rival that I converted with a kit from misfitpsycles (something like thant) I would say that it's relaly fun ...

Thats all I ride

Some friends of mine ordered the Bianchi Lewis from a LBS and looks pretty cool. they ordered 4! Cost around $1600 CAD each. As far as I know and what Bianchi has told them, those are the only Lewis in Canada. They are green with RockShox Reba which is paint green (yes green) by RockShox to match the frame color.

I don't know too much about Sycip.

Ventana and Salsa also makes good Single speed.

Someone wrote "steel, rigid, 29er"...
I don't 100% agree with that. The Lewis and I tested it is Easton material and its very light. Complete bike with Reba and Disc brake weights 21 lbs and my friends were able to average 18 km/h on XC racing. It doesn't have to be rigid either or 29er. Lots of people are going with 29er SS but you will notice that it is next to impossible to climb long steep hills in XC.

I like aluminum mtn bikes for the lack of compliance [seriously] and 26" 'cause it's easier to to steal parts from my friends. :D I'm still not 100% sold on full rigid, but it's working for me so far.

For the money I'd go Redline Monocog Flite if you're insistent on aluminum. Its very light and the price is right. Sweet geometry too. If you want suspension, the Cannondale 1FG is the ticket. The headshock is so light and so sweet.

I like aluminum mtn bikes for the lack of compliance [seriously] and 26" 'cause it's easier to to steal parts from my friends. :D I'm still not 100% sold on full rigid, but it's working for me so far.
im with ya on the stiff frames.

If you are tall get a 29er. Get steel. Get a rigid fork and get big meaty tires. don't be proud about your gearing. enjoy

If you are tall get a 29er. Get steel. Get a rigid fork and get big meaty tires. don't be proud about your gearing. enjoy

Bianchi makes one: the Lewis or the Rita I think. Sycip is out: cost.

Why rigid? I'm not planning on being a down hill racer, but it seems (and I'm just asking because I don't know) that a shock is a good idea to deal with constant banging around..

I figure I'll need to accept the 32 x whatever the bike comes with. I ride 48x15 street..

Gearing is highly dependent on terrain - I ride a 50x18 in town [CX bike], but 32x20 when it's time to hit the dirt. I started out with 32x16 and damn near popped my kneecap off. The easier gear is more fun, and I still climb faster than most of my geared buddies. :D

but it seems (and I'm just asking because I don't know) that a shock is a good idea to deal with constant banging around..


A front fork is fine and indeed preferrable is some cases. I would advise you to ride both if possible and make your own choice depending on what type of terrain your ride, length of rides, etc... Or get both and swap.

i kinda new in the biking scene (and my first language is french)
but what 29ers means???

I've got a Gunnar Ruffian, fully rigid, which I built up last year from a mix of new and used parts (I bought the frame used). I ended up riding it almost exclusively for a few months last summer since my geared hardtail was out of commission.

I love riding it. Not more, not less than my geared hardtail. It's just a nice change of pace.

As for whether or not to go fully rigid, I agree with Curt Kurt that you may want to try both to see what you like. If it's your only mtb, I'd go with a suspension fork. I only chose a rigid fork for the change of pace I mentioned before.

I don't think I would have done anything differently, but I built the thing from scratch and put some thought into each part I bought. Fortunately I was lucky enough to come across some nice deals on lightly used parts and price-shopped e-bay for the rest.

Thanks!

For the money I'd go Redline Monocog Flite if you're insistent on aluminum. Its very light and the price is right. Sweet geometry too. If you want suspension, the Cannondale 1FG is the ticket. The headshock is so light and so sweet.


How much is the 1FG? I looked over the trek.. OMFG, a little pricey for me.

i kinda new in the biking scene (and my first language is french)
but what 29ers means???

29er is the MTB name for 700c wheels with fat tires built for trail use. They are larger than the standard 26" wheels used on mountain bikes.

Some friends of mine ordered the Bianchi Lewis from a LBS and looks pretty cool. they ordered 4! Cost around $1600 CAD each. As far as I know and what Bianchi has told them, those are the only Lewis in Canada. They are green with RockShox Reba which is paint green (yes green) by RockShox to match the frame color.

I don't know too much about Sycip.

Ventana and Salsa also makes good Single speed.

Someone wrote "steel, rigid, 29er"...
I don't 100% agree with that. The Lewis and I tested it is Easton material and its very light. Complete bike with Reba and Disc brake weights 21 lbs and my friends were able to average 18 km/h on XC racing. It doesn't have to be rigid either or 29er. Lots of people are going with 29er SS but you will notice that it is next to impossible to climb long steep hills in XC.


While I don't think that the steel, 29, or rigid are necessary, I disagree with the long steep hills part of this last post. I find I pass more people on my steel rigid 29er singlespeed than I ever did on my geared bike. Probably because I've got two options and or speeds, pedal or walk. I choose pedal.

http://www.workscollective.com/myronicus/studio-3.jpg

If you are tall get a 29er. Get steel. Get a rigid fork and get big meaty tires. don't be proud about your gearing. enjoy

Oh, and you can get a 29er even if you aren't tall, I'm all of a grand 5'7" and fit my 29er just fine.

yes, but didn't you go full custom?

I love my Redline Monocog 29er. It was cheap, rigid and 29, which is exactly what I was looking for. You just can't go wrong with it for $450.

They also sell the Redline Monocog 26 if you're not interested in the 29er route. Another quality inexpensive ride.

inexpensive = steelhead. but, y'know, steel.

While I don't think that the steel, 29, or rigid are necessary, I disagree with the long steep hills part of this last post. I find I pass more people on my steel rigid 29er singlespeed than I ever did on my geared bike. Probably because I've got two options and or speeds, pedal or walk. I choose pedal.

I like everything about that bike, save for the ecc. bb, and that is just personal preference.

All around awesome bike.

to the OP: i bought a bianchi MUSS, and i love it, but i fear changing gear ratios too much, b/c the disc-only in the rear kinda limits the actual use of those fork-ends. hasn't been a problem yet, with just taking the slack out of the chain as it stretched, but i think i'd like to gear down from the 32/16 factory standard. oh, and the headset is straight up from the butt. creaks all day, despite adjustment. i'm getting another asafp. otherwise, once i canned the laughable tires, saddle and pedals, it's been good to me. i suspect the wheelset isn't long for this earth, but it's held up under my 220lbs so far.

but, to be truthful, if i was paying full retail, and i had to do it again, i'd buy the redline monocog flight, with the sliding rear and the sanko tubing and the better saddle and what have ye. the 29er option is nice, too, if you're into such things. but, for this year, you still cannot beat 26" for the variety of rims, wheelsets(not as applicable to the ss world), tires, and frames. 29ers do roll nicely, however.

-rob

I ride an old Specialized Hardrock conversion. It's a chromoly, full rigid and rides great, but it won't fit fat tires like some of the newer models. Oh yeah, 32/18.