So before I started riding again, I really wanted to go SS. I let my lbs talk me out of this (I was getting into the husky sizes at the S-Mart.) They sold me a Kona Dew Deluxe. Not a bad bike, but I'm now 30# lighter and frankly bored to tears with all these gears. They keep distracting me from enjoying meself.

So, should I turn it into an SS? Or save up for a real SS? As much as I have utterly failed to fall in love (or even mild amusement) with the Kona, I'm reluctant to sell it to finance a ssfg a) cuz that would leave me bikeless for a time, and I'm fully back into riding, and b) I've got a damn lot of money --for me-- sunk into this thing.

I lust hard after the chocolate colored Steamroller, but I think my meagre budget is more suited to IRO. (Hey, what's the story with IRO's site not offering frames anymore? Are they gonna only be selling full bikes from now on?)

So what's the consensus: rebuild or rebuy?

Well, you could always drop the ~$30.00 for a SS kit and try it out. If you don't like it, you don't like it and your thirty dollars poorer.

iro's are good.

you could always take off your front and rear derailers, then get a chain tensioner to replace your rear derailer (assuming it's got vertical drop outs, if horizontal you won't need a tensioner) and just pick a gear and ride that.

No need to buy a tensioner. Just use the RD and set the limit screws to lock it in place.

true, I've just had problems with that in the past. very well could just be my incompetence with derailers that lead to them not working just right. you'd think after 15 years of using them, I'd figure them out by now.. but either way, a tensioner would work and leave extra parts for another bike, if there was an interest in building a geared bike.

Or, if you're really serious about SS rather than fixed, PICK A GEAR AND RIDE IN IT.

No one's forcing you to shift. Ride in a gear without shifting for a few weeks, then decide what you want to do.

guy

as long as you wont starve or go too far indebt

buy the iro or surly

turning the kona into a ss wont help

ask yourself if willys suggestion seems like fun

no huh
?

Well it's just like, if that's what you want, do it. When he said the gears are distracting him from enjoying himself I was just a bit put off, since like I said, no one is riding next to him with a beretta demanding he shift.

I bought an old peugeot, i rode around on it and never really switched gears. I thought about converting it, and realized that i never switched gears, so I did. SS didn't make much sense to me, since i saw in it most of the "limitations" of fixed gear without the benefit of fixed gear, so I just went for it.

Granted, after I did some initial conversion work, I found this board, and learned a ton, and now would have done some things differently on the front end, but the knowledge i've gained is worth it all.

we are both saying that the number of gears isnt the problem here

Seriously, though, some single-speed mountain team was road riding recreationally (damned aliteration) as i was out farting around Monday. They slowed (way) down for me, seemed like nice guys. I mentioned that I'd been interested in ss but was concerned I couldn't afford a second bike. Then the one guy pulls out a paintball pistol and shoots me...in the back! I naturally crashed, and took two of them out with me. Umm...anyway.

I have been doing the "not letting myself shift" thing for about four days now and it seems fine. I'm a pansy on the gentlest of hills but that's not new, it's just more evident. But, yeah, bascially, it's more fun to forget about gearing insofar as I'm able. It's not more fun to be riding the same bike. I can't be the only guy here who thinks this way, yeah?

Doofo, number of gears is not a problem...are you saying the heavy-ass unattractive bike itself is, or that I (and my discontent) am?

EDIT: The Kona weighs about 30#. What can I expect a Surly/IRO to weigh in at?
20-ish#?

on the side. yeah the the hell is up with iro's site? is the group buy screwing up stuff or what. i wanted a wheelset. hmph.

I didn't shift my roadbike for a month while i was building up my fg, except when i wanted to try a slightly different ratio. It sounds like it wouldn't be fun but it totally was. It's a great way to try out singlespeeding and see what gear you like best.

the bike is the problem

you lost 3olbs

reward yourself with a new bike if you can swing it

the moment you arent having fun is the moment to change something

Sell the Kona and buy an inexpensive FG/SS. Pick up a MTB if you can fine one used for cheap.

Their online store software fubar'd everything. Things are still open for business if you call though.

Sounds like you're not totally happy with the bike itself. I agree with the above, get yourself a new fixie.

in preperation of getting a fixed gear i just wouldn't ever switch gears on my old road bike
do you know how mentally torturing it is when you're struggling up a hill and you're like:

uuuuuhhhh this sucks so hard and i could really switch gears if i wanted . . .

wait! no! dont do it!

Build up a SS from a vintage steel frame and parts, ride it for a while, and see if you like it. The bike in the picture was a total of about $125, if you don't count the old Brooks. If you don't like it, flip it for what you've got into it. Maybe even more, if you did a good job, and you think profit is a good thing.

Bikes just shouldn't cost a gajillion dollars.

tighten youre derailuerr limiting screws. You'll either 1) bring an instant end to your boredom, or 2) soon realize youre just looking for an excuse to consume.

I vote be happy with what you've got.

for about 2 months I rode my crappy mongoose hybrid in 52x14 to "prepare" for my fixed gear. It made switching to 46x16 feel ever so wonderful.

I recommend you pick a ring and gear on your KONA and leave it on your most comfortable combo. Ride it for a few weeks WITHOUT SHIFTING -- EVER and see how you enjoy, or not, single speeding. Once you've decided, you've already got your gears figured out. Good luck.

There is one issue with this plan, though I agree that it is a good path. The Kona Dew is likely far heavier than a purpose built single speed based on a reasonably light steel frame. If he is converting the Dew, it isn't an issue. If he converts a road frame or buys a SS frame, it may be a slightly (significantly?) easier gear than it was on the Kona.

That's what I'm sayin'.

Alas! Inflation is eroding my earning potential...and I say potential because I'm not actually earning right now. Gotta love the grad school. Or at least love it more than McDonalds.

px10?

.....all the more reason to be happy with whatchagot......