Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Can we talk about singlespeed mountain bikes for a minute?

I went on my first ever mountain bike ride today (first on an actual mountain, that is.) Holy jeebus it was amazing. It was a single speed Gunnar Rockhound. So sweet. At first I kept freakin' out every time the track would get gravely or rocky. Took me a while to figure out that the tires would make it over just about anything. Once I got that, and figured out that whole getting out of the saddle thing it was the best time I'd had on a bike in a loooong time. I mean, the climbing sucked but it was all worth it on the way back down. So now I'm thinking that I'd like to get myself a mountain bike. Should I go geared? Seems like it isn't really worth it. The granny is great for climbing and I'm just coasting downhill. Is there much of a need for gears? Remember, it was my first ride today, so I don't really know.

Probably the most awesomest part of the day was when the guy who took me up stopped at the top of this nasty ridge full of tight turns and huge rocks and cacti and gravel and he says, "I strongly recommend you walk down this section. Guys who have been riding mountain bikes 10 years walk down this piece, it's super technical." which I took as a challenge and rode that sucker the whole way, only crashing once on that particular part. I was just squeezing the **** out of that back brake, petrified as hell, and skidding down the whole way. Probably not the coolest way to do it, but damn it was fun. I'll need to adjust the spring tension on my pedals for the next ride (I ride ATACs every day) and swap my cleats back to the right shoes (they are reversed right now).

So, yeah, anyway, tell me about your single speed mountain bikes, why you love them, what parts you have on them etc etc.

I don't have a single speed mountain bike, but I know that I wouldn't want one. I have a Cannondale F1000, and weight has never been an issue for me. I don't really see any practical reason for getting a single speed bike for mountain biking other than already having one and not having the money for a new one.

SS mtb's suck if your trails have long flat sections, or really steep climbs. Most of my local singletrack is very twisty, without steep climbs, so a SS is perfect. I can get up all the hills, and because of all the tight turns, I don't really have the opportunity to spin it up to a high speed anyway. A full suspension geared MTB is not needed and, frankly, would bore me to death. I have seen trails, however, that I would never attempt to ride SS, but nothing near me.

If you go SS, buy something with a disc compatible rear hub, so you can bolt a tomicog on it and ride it fixed. Also plan on buying several freewheels or cogs. You will begin to develop a sense for what gear works best and where. I use a different gear ratio for practically every different trail I ride. Judging the right gear to use is an important SS skill.

Sounds like you are going to be hooked! If you were already digging the single speed thing, stick with it. I stopped riding geared bikes in 2000 and the only thing I've missed is the added expense, extra weight and extra maintenance (OK, I haven't missed any of that). You can also get into the MTB game a lot cheaper when you are buying your first bike.

Some people will tell you you can only ride them where it's flat, but many of us know that's not true. I've ridden mountains in the west, east and in a few other countries.

Just a tip: Skidding is bad, you don't have control and it causes trail erosion. But you'll quickly get your technique down so you won't have to do that.

My current quiver is a Jeff Jones, a Q-ball and a Surly 1x1. As to why I love them? Well, I have a whole web site (http://www.singlespeedoutlaw.com/) dedicated to that...:D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3109665325_3c9fce0701.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/singlespeedoutlaw/3109665325/)

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i am a mountainbiker at heart..i have a gary fisher ferrous that i run SS, 34:16 on 29 inch wheels. I love that bike...its pretty hilly around here and i can make it up most stuff. I ride full time SS too..there is no need for gears...plus SS is cheaper!

do some more mountainbiking, you will be hooked!

I would not want to give up my gears on my MTB. I'd be OK having a MTB without them, but not my fulltime bike without. You should probably ask this in the MTB forum to get opinions from a wider array of riders.

PS welcome to the most fun part of biking.
PPS don't skid; it screws up the trails. Use your front brake

Gears on a mountain bike are overrated. Why are you riding? To get out on the trail, ride some challenging terrain, and have a good time? Or are you in a hurry, racing, or trying to just _go fast_? The answer to that question should resolve the gearie vs. SS issue.

Sure, the SS will be slower on the flats, and you won't be able to pedal 30mph downhill... but if you set it up with the right ratio (mine is currently setup 38:22), you can climb most anything, walk what you can't, and take your time over the more 'touring' oriented portions of trail. Just relax. You've earned it with all the gruesome climbs.

OTOH, the gearie will have you spinning up stuff that looks like a wall, and always finding a gear you can put more power/speed into the bike. Up, down, or across. It will also have you thinking "uh-oh, a hill... better downshift quick... okay that was a short climb, probably could have made it on my SS... better upshift for this fast grade here... sweet!" etc.

One is not better than the other, just two different preferences/riding styles. I prefer the quiet simplicity of SS. I do not race. I want to go ride 20 miles in however long it takes, stop and eat a sandwich in the woods, and keep right on rolling. That said, I know alot of SS guys who are really hardcore and just fly through everything.

In the end, it's hard to have just one mountain bike if you start with a gearie. You'll always wonder about the SS. If you start with a SS, you may never want a gearie... you may _need_ a gearie. Who knows? Give it a shot... even try taking a geared bike, stripping it down to a SS conversion. Keep all the parts. That way, if you don't like it, you can just make it a geared bike again. Problem solved.

Good luck, and go ride.

This thread is relevant to my interests. Anyone else have anything to share?

OTOH, the gearie will have you spinning up stuff that looks like a wall, and always finding a gear you can put more power/speed into the bike. Up, down, or across. It will also have you thinking "uh-oh, a hill... better downshift quick... okay that was a short climb, probably could have made it on my SS... better upshift for this fast grade here... sweet!" etc.


I hate hate hate getting stuck behind a geared rider on narrow singletrack. When I approach a hill, my instinct is to stand and start hammering. Geared riders seem to slow down at the approach, so they can shift and granny their way up over every little hill. Even the fast riders that I have a hard time keeping up with, I will almost rear-end them as we start to climb. It makes me want to yell, "get the **** out of my way"!

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try and buy a geary, and maybe convert down the line. One thing is that I live faaar from the mountains, so I'll need to ride the bike to the trails on the days when I can't get a ride up. Then again, finding a nice frame with cheap components will be tough, and I can't afford nice frame + nice components, and I don't want to buy cheap frame + cheap components. Might look around for a used something or other.

PS I won't skid down anymore :)

My first new mtb was an older high-end full-suspension S-Works Enduro. It was cushy over everything but climbed poorly and there was a lot of mechanical stuff to maintain. I moved on to a newer midrange hardtail that I set up 1x9. Better in most respects, but I still wasn't happy. My newest ride is an old Bianchi BASS (equipped with the fork from the Enduro), and I totally love it. It's super-light, climbs up almost anything (2:1 ratio), and my only mechanical issue has been with the beat-up old v-brakes. I thought at one time that I'd never go ss for mtbing, but now I can hardly go back.

Pictures later!

i just built up a SS MTB bike. On my old frame it went from 3x9 to 1x9 to 1x1. I hate adjusting the R.D and F.D! Hate it! so i just lost them and now i love it. There is some times when its difficult but for 90% of the time one gear is totally do able.

i've had 2 SS MTB. i agree with what a lot of people have said about terrain. it is hard for me to keep up with my buddies on any flat terrain, but tight turns and lots of hills are awesome. my first MTB was geared, but i found i only went between 2 gears (and that was in the rear, not the front) so i figured a SS wouldn't be much different and a lot simpler.

my first bike was a Rock Lobster that i built up with an ENO eccentric hub (highly recommended) i miss the bike dearly, but it never fit quite right, the geometry had my saddle too close to the back axle so i couldn't keep steering traction on steep uphills. it was an awesome bike though.
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my second was a Giant XTC Two-2-One. the alum frame was nice and light, i loved it too but once i got into trials i stopped riding, ended up trading it for a trials bike. if i ever get another MTB though, i'll definitely be SS again!
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I love single speed mountain biking, although there is always that one hill that you just can't make it up. What about a 3 speed mountain bike, built around an old Sturmey Archer AW, see how bombproof those things really are?

As soon as I find one for cheap (and a good trail to test it on...) don't hold your breath, though.

I love single speed mountain biking, although there is always that one hill that you just can't make it up.

Then use a smaller gear ratio. An important SS skill is being able to judge the right gear ratio for the trail.

hmm i saw this mountain bike the other day at a coffee shop that was AMAZING:

Sycip frame
King headset
Eno crank
Phil hubs

You get the idea. The part that blew me away was the crank/cog situation. It was SS, not fixed, but it had two chainrings and two sprockets. The way it work was that you could use the bigger chainring/smaller sprocket and keep the same chain tension as using the smaller chainring/bigger sprocket. If you have the cash, I think that setup would be PERFECT. Guy said that he still enters it in SS MTB competitions and what not. Coolest MTB i've ever seen...

I ride a Monocog 29er and it's a whole lot of fun. I would like to add an aluminum geared 29er soon, but I will never get rid of the SS. I also demoed a Gunner RH and it was Super nice.

I converted my trek 7000 a few months back, but have yet to ride trails on it. I'm going this weekend though, and really looking forward to it. I'm not sure what to expect. All I know is that my legs should be in shape from riding my FG. Hopefully I'm right.

I have both a FS MTB and a SS non-suspended MTB. I personally would rather have a geared MTB if I were to only have one bike.

I think SS is fun, but you have to guess the trail and gear accordingly. As for adjusting F/R Der,... set up correctly, they should only need cable tension adjustments and that should only happen a few times as the cable stretches in.

One thing you will NEVER get tired of however, is the silence of riding a SS on the trail. Chain slap on the chainstay can get seriously annoying.

I am a fan of suspension on DH, and as a 30-something, my body likes suspention better at the end of the day too. If I am going on a ride that has a big DH (and as a result a huge uphill where a granny gear is a must), I ride my geared FS bike. Some may be strong enough to do a huge climb in a 36/18,... I'm not.

hmm i saw this mountain bike the other day at a coffee shop that was AMAZING:

Sycip frame
King headset
Eno crank
Phil hubs

You get the idea. The part that blew me away was the crank/cog situation. It was SS, not fixed, but it had two chainrings and two sprockets. The way it work was that you could use the bigger chainring/smaller sprocket and keep the same chain tension as using the smaller chainring/bigger sprocket. If you have the cash, I think that setup would be PERFECT. Guy said that he still enters it in SS MTB competitions and what not. Coolest MTB i've ever seen...

Thats what I do, 34/14 to get me there, 32/16 for the trails.

So, I ended up riding this weekend. My friend has some sick mountain bikes. He rode a full suspension iron horse, I was on my singlespeed, rigid trek.

Going straight through the trails we were pretty evened out. I was faster through some of it. On the downhill portions, he blew by me, but I did better than I thought. On the climbs, I failed towards the top, probably due to my gearing (38x17). I could hop logs fine, I hit a ton of jumps, and even went over some slim bridges that rode over logs, etc. I used to ride mountain bikes pretty regularly for years, and always a hardtail with suspension. I can say that a suspension fork would have made it so much less sketchy. I felt pretty out of control on some of the downhills.

All in all, for me, I just like ripping through trails and hitting some jumps. I did better than I thought I would on the SS. I can say I do miss the suspension. I've been doing some internet window shopping today for a new fork. I think I caught the mtb bug again though. Not that I'll hang up the FG, but I sense my wallet will be hurting again soon...

I just sold my full suspension ironhorse (3 chainrings X 9 COG) for a budget build FG...I LOVED my mtb..on downhill...there is nothing like having milky smooth suspension...BUT when it comes to climbing...it sucks...it's heavy, it bobs (converting crank energy to the suspension)...I mean I could lock out my suspension, but who really does that when getting ready to hit a hill--not many. But looking back. If I were to get another mtb. I would be more of a XC setup 3-4 inches of travel whereas my ironhorse had more like 7 inches. For the riding I did here in Charlotte. It wasn't serious enough for that much travel. But test some bikes out. If you like the SS, get it. Try out some full sus if you can too.

I have only rode a SS MTB once but it was the OS Blackbuck and it was amazing. It was geared perfectly for the trails i was on and i went so much faster on the trails even the flats that i had to lead the whole time and had to constantly check where the rest of the guys were behind me so i wouldn't get to far ahead. I'd say go hardtail, front suspension, SS, disc breaks. Thats what i'm doing soon..

I built one up last summer (kona explosif) but I've only gotten it out a handful of times, but it's a blast. I'm riding 32x15 right now, but I like the idea of having a few extra cogs around. One of the great things about a 32 chainring in front is you clear the hell out of most of the logs laying on the ground. It's a blast to just go out and ride, and not have to worry about anything except for pedaling.

I am an unabashed fan of singlespeed 26" fat-tired bikes, but mine see actual dirt a lot less often than I'd like.

Still, they're tons of fun in town too.

i am an unabashed fan of singlespeed 26" fat-tired bikes, but mine see actual dirt a lot less often than i'd like.

Still, they're tons of fun in town too.

+1

my swanky FS XC bike sits too often in favor of this 10-year-old SS conversion. just like with fixed roadies, an SS XC bike will force you to develop some fundamental skills that gears and/or suspension allow you to gloss over. you'll be a much better rider for it. picking lines, maintaining momentum at all costs, powering over the hills, etc.

http://middlepath.gotdns.com/bikes/kona.jpg

your minute is up.

any one ever ride one of these or anything along these lines? http://www.harobikes.com/mtb/tab2_subNav2.php i was looking at the thread 1. but i am contemplating the 8 as well. i have been riding with a buddy a bit and my bike needs work. it's about 9-10 years old and i haven't given it any TLC in years. so i want to fix that up and get a new bike. i want something i can have some fun with. nothing like the Inspired video floating around, but some off road jumping. the trails we ride are pretty mellow, and i don't change gears to often. we are going to do some harder trails once he gets into shape and gets a new bike (i gave him an old bike that i had laying around and he loves it), so by then i should have my Fuji taken care of. so anyone have/ride a Dirt jump/urban style bike? Giant makes the STP in a 24" (not e if haro makes a 24". going to the LBS this weekend to talk to them) which is waht i would prefer at this point so i can throw it around a bit more.

I have a Fisher rig, completely rigid, with a dinglespeed.
Much more fun than a geared bike, IMHO.

Just converted my 2001 GF Mt Tam back to SS. I went a few years with gears, tried SS and loved it, converted back to gears because well, didn't want all those gears to go to waste right? I basically stopped riding it for a few years but now that I'm back to SS, suddenly mtbing is fun again!