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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Singlespeed mountain riders?

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Old 02-08-05 | 11:22 PM
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Singlespeed mountain riders?

I'm new to this forum and I just wanted to get an idea of how many singlespeeders ride in the dirt? I've read a lot of post by fixed gear and track riders, and I just wanted to know if I was alone with my IRO Highlander mountain bike.

Around town here in Santa Cruz I see what seems like dozens of fixies and track bikes everyday, but I rarely if ever see another guy on a one speed with some knobby rubber and maybe a suspension fork.

Post some pics of your ride if you feel inclined to share.

Here is my bike. I just built it in September 04.
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Old 02-08-05 | 11:26 PM
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I've ridden my SS on dirt, quite fun. Currently she is built up as a bar cruiser. I'll try to dig up a pic.
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Old 02-08-05 | 11:30 PM
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I ride a singlespeed offroad. Mtbs led me to road bikes and ss mtbs led me to fixies. Unfortunately, I don't have time to ride offroad as much as I'd like. Here's a pic. It's a Bianchi DISS with a SID Race fork, a rasta King headset, a Thompson seatpost, and a Flite. The suspension is nice, but I think I'm going back to rigid for a little while.
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Old 02-08-05 | 11:30 PM
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Are those StrongArm cranks on there? I've got a pair of those on my single speed. No pics, yet.
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Old 02-08-05 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by ndelaude
Post some pics of your ride if you feel inclined to share.
Here's my SISS:

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Old 02-08-05 | 11:47 PM
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Bikes: IRO Jamie Roy (fixed-gear commuter), Gary Fisher Rig 29er SS, Trek Madone 5.5, Specialized Allez Comp, Marin Mt. Vision Pro, Specialized M2 Hardtail, beater Nishiki fixed-gear conversion, Gary Fisher Rig 29er SS

Originally Posted by PhattTyre
I ride a singlespeed offroad. Mtbs led me to road bikes and ss mtbs led me to fixies. Unfortunately, I don't have time to ride offroad as much as I'd like. Here's a pic. It's a Bianchi DISS with a SID Race fork, a rasta King headset, a Thompson seatpost, and a Flite. The suspension is nice, but I think I'm going back to rigid for a little while.
Wonder if that's a common progression. That pretty much mirrors my cycling progression. Mtn. biked all through jr. high and high school. For a while there I played around on a redline 24" bmx cruiser that I built up in high-school as a fun project-bike. Later traded it for my first road bike, coincidentally to the guy I originally bought the Redline frame from. Definitely don't regret getting a road-bike, but I sure miss that Redline. Started commuting to work at my first "real" job, on the road-bike (45 mi. r/t), which got me into the best cycling shape of my life up to that point. Which led to centuries and road-training for mtn. bike racing, which led to an upgrade from the "beater" road bike.

Then came my Surly 1x1 (the geared mtn. bikes have mostly been collecting dust since.), which led to an interest in fixies and my first beater fixie build about two years ago, which got upgraded to an IRO Jamie Roy a year ago in March. I'm on track to have over 3k mi. on the IRO before it's 1st birthday. I'm only 133 shy of that now, and I've got a 15 mi. commute 2 - 4 times/week + grocery/coffee-shop runs averaging 10 mi./week. You do the math...

-Trevor
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:14 AM
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I have a mtb ss but its for park and djing. I am definately not in the shape to conquer the surrounding mountains on SS (let alone gearing sometimes)

As long as I live here I doubt I will ever make the full jump to fixie or even all my bikes being SS
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:42 AM
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I've given the Kona Unit a bit of a go on some of the easy trails around Melb.

Goes good. =)

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Old 02-09-05 | 12:43 AM
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mine
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ndelaude
I'm new to this forum and I just wanted to get an idea of how many singlespeeders ride in the dirt? I've read a lot of post by fixed gear and track riders, and I just wanted to know if I was alone with my IRO Highlander mountain bike.

Around town here in Santa Cruz I see what seems like dozens of fixies and track bikes everyday, but I rarely if ever see another guy on a one speed with some knobby rubber and maybe a suspension fork.

Post some pics of your ride if you feel inclined to share.

Here is my bike. I just built it in September 04.
Nice stealthy IRO. I've ridden KHS Solo One at Wilder Ranch and had a blast.
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:45 AM
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Bikes: too damn many

heres mine, i have a different stem on 'er now though.
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Old 02-09-05 | 05:17 AM
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Both SS and fixed on the trail. My latest rig can be seen in this thread.
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Old 02-09-05 | 05:30 AM
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Mines curretly at the top of Fixed Gear Gallery, at least until the next batch gets logged.

Built more as a winter commuter but I bet it'll see a lot of action out amongst the rural farmland.
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Old 02-09-05 | 08:11 AM
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road bikes lead me to fixies, which lead me to mountain bikes... now i'm building a trials bike. hahaha when i first built up my mountain bike last summer i had it as a rigid single speed. that was great for around town and some trails through town, but i found i was way too much of a sissy to ride single speed in the mountains. i also wrecked a lot. i was running 32:16, but i wish i would've done 32:18. i think once my strength and handling skills are up to what they should be, i'll build up another single speed. i'm thinking of a 29"er. but for now, i'm happy with my geared hardtail norco.
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Old 02-09-05 | 08:17 AM
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I just converted my mountain bike to single speed, after the shifting was going downhill and I couldn't afford to fix it. Now, both my rides are one-gear steeds.
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Old 02-09-05 | 08:30 AM
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.,,

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Old 02-09-05 | 08:50 AM
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Here's my ride conquering the world.




Closeup if you're interested.

https://www.zweknu.org/uploads/fixed_mtb_1024.jpg
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Old 02-09-05 | 09:26 AM
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Mine.
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Old 02-09-05 | 09:27 AM
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How are you getting chain tension on that bad boy? Filed dropouts or magic gear?
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Old 02-09-05 | 10:30 AM
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bostontrevor-- this summer you should bring down your SS MTB for the 'one gear good beer singlespeed rally.' and anyone else who wants to make a long haul for one day of drinkin' and ridin'
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Old 02-09-05 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Feltup
Mine.

I have the same frame, what gearing are you running? I can fit a 44/16 with no tensioner but that is too aggressive for dirt.
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:16 PM
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I might just have to do that. Any dates picked yet?
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:36 PM
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Bikes: Independent Fabrication steel delux(my baby), Raleigh Highlife (Single Speed Cyclocross), Surly CrossCheck (commuter.work bike when I was a courier), 1957 Schwinn Panther, Bilenky, Surly Karate Monkey Single Speed 29er, Specialized Stumpjumpper 29er,

I ride a single speed on the road and in the woods. My SS MTB is a voodoo bizango with horizontal fork ends. I have a surly rigid fork, surly rear hub, and race face cranks. I really like not having to worry about gears, or some wimpy chain snapping. I still do love riding my geared Indy Fab though!
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Old 02-09-05 | 12:42 PM
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Awesome rides guys. I'm totally stoked, my GT Backwoods frame is on its way. Won it off ebay. Triple Triangle baby, yeah! I'm looking forward to making it an ss.
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Old 02-09-05 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by trekkie820
How are you getting chain tension on that bad boy? Filed dropouts or magic gear?
The dropouts are horizonal enough to get proper tension. There is about a 1/2 of play.


I am running a 36x18.
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