sgtdirt

this is for those "special" riders who prefer the simpler things in life.

oh, the many questions we endure....
- WHY?
- do you know they make bikes with gears?
- isn't it harder?
- you must like to suffer.

i, like you, understand the attraction/aura/need of the single speed bicycle. the pureness of the whole package; you, the bike and the road.

it's not enough that we enjoy just riding our single speed but we also feel the compulsion to compete on the oneness steed.

anyone signed up for some SS gravel races?

50voltphantom

I would if one was happening within an hour from where I live.

sgtdirt

so far, i'm registered for the Amish County Roubaix and the Hilly Billy. there's a few others i want to do but i need to coordinate a few schedules.

sgtdirt

were do you live?

sgtdirt

latest and greatest list of rides.
Gravel Cyclist Event Calendar | Gravel Cyclist: The Gravel Cycling Experience

sgtdirt

the first gravel race of the season is under my belt. last sunday i completed the Amish Country Roubaix. in spite of the cold temps, the turnout was good. i saw some high level racers in both the 100k and single speed categories. the race is divide into two races, a 50k and 100k. in the 50k, racers do one lap were as the 100k do two laps. for those that do the 100k, this plays a little with your head because you know what to expect- climb wise- on the next lap. ugh!
the descents are what's really fun about this race. some are long with sweeping turns and some are short with lots of gravel and rocks. bombing one at 42 mph has a high pucker factor.
this was a redemption race for me. last year i came in dead last. this year, i finished 4th in my category. (which sounds impressive until you see that i was an hour behind 3rd place).
now to start training for the dirty double.

palu

I race cross on a SS, but haven't done a gravel race yet. What gearing are you guys using (and tire size)? For cross season, I'm typically at 42x19 (on 700x32). Kept the same gearing for dirt road rides but with 700x40 tires. I think I need to gearing it up by a couple of teeth.

sgtdirt

i found this calculator to be pretty accurate.
BikeCalc.com - Bicycle Gear Ratio Chart

mack_turtle

I rode an On One Pompino for a while with a 39/17 ratio with 700x32 slicks. the ratio was low enough to climb some long, steep hills but high enough to get some momentum on flat sections of road. I replaced it with something that had the option for gears because I started doing longer and longer rides on it and SS was not fun on some of those rides. It also does not have room for "big" tires.

my mountain bike is usually singlespeed and my CX bike will probably go single as some point too. 38/16 or 17 gear on the CX, 32/20 on the mtb.

I rode a 100K gravel race recently with a 38t single front and 11-36 cassette in the back. 36 was more gear than I never needed but it was nice to have as a bail out gear. I think I could have done the whole thing SS, but I am not sure about how my knees would feel after all 100 kilometers of that. maybe SS on a shorter race would be tolerable.

50voltphantom

I'm gonna do this one in August.

https://www.facebook.com/RustySpokeUtraCross

50voltphantom

That's right about the gearing I run for gravel/dirt road riding. For cross I run 38x17 or 19 depending on conditions.

NormanF

Did someone say single speed gravel? Or how about a fixie? Bikes Direct has the new Vanquish for 2016:




One speed is all you need!

Wspsux

That is not fun to look at.

mongol777

I just got my first gravel with gears, AWOL. But I still likely to grab one of my SS or FG gravel grinders when I go out.
And I did couple of gravel races on them - lots of fun. I was geared low enough not to suffer and usually geared riders and stronger SS riders with higher ratio would pass me on the flat stretches. But I would outclimb them almost every time.
And between SS and FG for gravel - FG is more fun, IMHO.
42x19 is my choice for SS and 42x17(18) and 21 (22) bail out cog for FG.
The very first race was on 39x17, SS

mack_turtle

Soma Juice, Salsa fork, 29x2.0 Furious Freds, 38/18 gear, TOGS and Ergon bar ends.

fietsbob

See Cruiser bikes , it's what everyone used to ride on the unpaved roads in Farm country...

egear

I ride my 1x9 most days. But I am just as happy on the all-city with 39x19. Some of the roads I ride are ROUGH and the lower gearing helps get thru the muddy sloppy stuff. One of my routes has 2 stream crossings and those are always fun this time of year. I run Surly Kinard tires at 700x40.

thehammerdog

I just build up my SS 26 inch Mt Bike with drop bars and look forward to a great year and a race or two

mack_turtle

Rode the Texas Chainring Massacre 100k SS yesterday. Rode my Soma Juice with 38/18 on 29x2.0 Furious Freds and finished in just over 5 hours. "narrow" bars with bar ends and a rigid fork really helped. rode strong the whole way but not exactly "fast." still had a good old time!

https://www.strava.com/activities/848350534

NoGears

My absolute favorite bike I've ever owned to date...

Lazyass

double post

Lazyass

I'm back in the gravel bike game, this time with a steel SS. I just bought a Swobo Accomplice and will be doing a drop bar conversion, I just need to buy some levers. The frame is very sweet and it fits up to a 45c. The BB height isn't listed in the geometry chart, but one of the reviews I read said it was low. The best part is Random Bike Parts had one in my size for only $255, and with the SAVE10 discount code I got it for $230.

https://www.bikerumor.com/2014/06/22...he-accomplice/

TimothyH

^^ nice.

SRAM S500 levers are super comfy.

Now you can post in the SSFG forum. Go see what they say.

Edit: I see that you already posted.


-Tim-

salad_goat

I just bought myself a SSCX. It's a 2011. Thing is cool as hell.

sgtdirt

i don't think i've posted a pic of my rig in this forum...
here it is after the Black Fork Gravel race. it was a brutal 48ish miles of rain mud.