I've been scouring various websites looking for reviews of SS/fixie offroad setups. I found a few, but most don't talk about the ride, more than "singlespeeding is so esoteric!" I know some of you ride 1x1 offroad setups, but I haven't really read much in the way of "reviews" of them.

I've been checking out the more popular builders like Surly and IRO, but building a custom setup is a bit outside my price range. I've got a frame that I'm looking to convert, but the 1" steerer is going to sink my budget, I think.

The bikes I'm looking at are these. If you have any gripes or gushes, have at.

IRO Mia
Surly 1x1
Spicer
Spot
Redline Monocog
Specialized P.1 Cro-mo

Thanks, and if you're in the PDX area, we'll have to get together for a ride and some beer.

Have you checked out the SS forum on MTBR.com? Lots of friendly info there. And hey, they've even got a SS FAQ!

you might want to give the kona unit a look also. they have a really nice dropout set up. adjustable vertical drops that are connected to the disc tabs, much better than an eccentric BB in my opinion.

or try to find an early nineties specialized hard rock or rockhopper. they have short horizontal dropouts that make sweet SS conversions. i love mine!

have you seen 63xc.com?

I understand what you are talking about as far as looking for reviews that focus more on "the bike"... I am doing the same thing as I am trying to put together a bike. But I just think that since theres no mech on it really, the only thing to talk about would be your gearing, and what can ya say about that?

Thanks for the pointer. They have a few more manufacturers for me to check out. I'll have a list to go out and kick some tires with.


I'm not too worried about components, because I'm confident they'll break or be upgraded.

The kind of review I'm looking for is about the frame, mostly. Things like "chainstays are too long"; "toptube too short, so I bang my knees on the fork crown"; "slow/fast is too squirrley"; etc. I'll admit, I don't really like shopping all that much, so the more I research I can do at home, the better.

ahhh, i see what you mean.

I borrowed a Surly 1x1 to try out, it was sweet off-road as a SS, didn't try it fixed as it wasn't mine for long enough to switch it over. Really nice ride though.

What's up with the 1" head tube messing up a cheap conversion? If you have a shop that has spare parts bins they'll let you get to, you should be able to do a conversion for next to nuthin'.

And, you can run a skewer in the rear! Kona has a great set-up. They also have the same dropouts on the Explosif frame, so that's another option. I own a Bianchi SISS. I cannot say enough good things about this bike. Good luck with your search! Here's a pic of the Explosif:

a picture of my 1" threadless headset conversion, and an action shot!

specizlized is alum ... and ugly
redline has cheap parts... (and ugly)
iro has cheap parts, too

i like my khs solo .......... a lot
for a bit more $$ the kona unit looks nice