Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - New SS Dual suspension Design

Hey everybody,

I just wanted input on what people would think of a dual suspension singlespeed bike. This bike would have the peddaling efficiency of a VPP system but it isn't the VPP system. A local bike builder has designed a prototype that is SS but has the option of running gears. What do you all think?

single speed dually??? ur gonna snap ur chain in no time and it'll fall off as soon as u hit the smallest bump. unless its some mesed up model that i cant picture...post a pic

Hey everybody,

I just wanted input on what people would think of a dual suspension singlespeed bike. This bike would have the peddaling efficiency of a VPP system but it isn't the VPP system. A local bike builder has designed a prototype that is SS but has the option of running gears. What do you all think?

Kona (while not VPP) already has a full squishy SS ... the "A". With Konas dropout system, you can run gears, or not:

http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/frames/2K4_Frame_A_650.jpg

I have no idea what is happening here. VPP?????????????

Virtual Pivot Point

VPP is nice because the arrangement of the two pivots allow for the suspension to travel under vertical stress but not bob under pedaling stress.

I was gonna say, the bike you want to design is the Kona A. But the reason I went to a single speed mountain bike was the simplicity of it. Fully rigid with a big Nokian Gazzalodi Jr downhill tire up front and all is good!

The problem with dually SS is their novelty value. I agree that some of them are really beautiful, and quite functional (I wouldn't mind getting an "A" for myself, had I a much bigger bank account). The problem is that the singlespeed community just isn't feeling it (if one were to allow sweeping generalizations).

This is a biking community torn about whether or not front suspension is a good idea. Much of this has to do with the inherently luddite philosophy of many SSers. Most SSers, including myself, would be more inclined to drop the bling on a custom rigid Ti frame (front suspension debatable), than a complex, bearing failure prone full squish. That's what fat tires are for.

Maybe Jeff Jones will perfect a rigid frame with 8" of travel ...

Virtual Pivot Point

VPP is nice because the arrangement of the two pivots allow for the suspension to travel under vertical stress but not bob under pedaling stress.


This sounds kinda bogus. Any good explanations/web pages how the suspension can differentiate between vertical stresses of the road and vertical stresses as a result of pedalling?

This sounds kinda bogus. Any good explanations/web pages how the suspension can differentiate between vertical stresses of the road and vertical stresses as a result of pedalling?

Everything you've always wanted to know about VPP, but were afraid to ask:

VPP by (actually just licensed by) Santa Cruz (http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/vpp/)

Why not find an old unified rear triangle frame. Schwinn used to make good ones, first homegrown I think. These would be great for SS applications. This way you get to recycle an old bike too.

Old Gary Fisher Joshua would work