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Can I build a single speed mountain bike...!?
So the wife has agreed.
I can build the single speed utility bike that I desire.
But she has now decided she would like to go mountain biking with me...
You think its possible to build something that might be able to handle both? like a CX single speed frame, aslong as it could take chunky tyres.. Or am I being too ambitious.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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22 comments
Concurrent with SingleSpeeds 10 point plan.
I THINK the kind of riding we would end up doing is much more cross country/cross bike capable.
Some youtubing makes me think its possible on a cross bike and hey, shes slow. so maybe this might just give me a challenge!
The fact that I'm used to road bike geometry makes me think I'll be quite at home on a cross style bike. just with knobbly tyres.
So now I just need to examine finding the correct frame to purchase...
Start here:
On-One, Surly, Niner, Salsa, Curtis, Singular
Presumably pros riding XC racing could go SingleSpeed if they wanted? Any rule against it?
No rule against it, but you'll never win against geared riders unless the condition favoured it, i.e. conditions so bad that gears simply fail to work.
Most 12 & 24 hour Races will have a Singlespeed Category, short track XC races won't as the advantage is simply not there.
So your comments about going faster don't apply to Pros, but they do apply to you?
I do accept there is some merit in some of your arguments, but I won't be joining you anytime soon.
Yes, because I'm not paid to ride a bike, get them donated but I'm not paid to to ride 'em thats for sure! Nor am Iriding on UCI XCO courses, I'm riding Bontrager Twentyfour12, Torq 12 races etc where there it makes a degree of sense.
I've just built up a new steel SS road bike, carbon 50mm wheels 38:16 gearing it's my Fred Whitton 2018 bike
1) Going up Hills - Standing up and mashing up a hill in 34-18 is invariably faster than twiddling around in 34-42 assuming...
2) You've got the legs for it - no gears means you have work harder
3)Going down hills - unless you are going down a super long fireroad you're not going to spin out on most descents plus it improves your...
4) Technique... because you're not changing gears you tend be a smoother rider relying on pumping and not braking into corners so you carry more speed plus because your chain is pulled taught you will...
5) Never drop a chain.
6) No gears means no chainsuck or clunking gears in terrible conditions.
7) Weight ... my Niner One RDO is a pure SS Race machine it weighs 7.5kg and is stiffer than my Cento Uno
8) Improvements in cadence - I can happily bob along on my MTB at 27-9kmh on the flat running a high cadence, even dropping into some MDCC rides on a SS MTB
Translate that over to a geared road bike and the results are noticables
9) Whole body conditioning - you have to be strong none of this emaciated disgraced cyclist Bradley Wiggins upper body. you've really got to pull hard and feeding back into technique of how to really pull a powerful stroke when standing up
10) You'll never find yourself in the wrong gear because you're never in the right gear in the first place, no missed shifts, no bad gear choices you have to be a master of momentum and smoothness
One of my favourite bikes is my single speed MTB, I say go for it
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/raleigh-m-trax-ti1000-1994-27740
Yes you can.
I too have seen a single speed surly at swinley forest. I was very impressed. I need most of my 3x9 xtr.
What do you mean by utility bike? I'm unclear what it would be used for other than MTB...
Why not hire a pair of bikes for you and the wife to do a MTB ride?
If she doesn't like it or feels she has scratched the itch then you won't have splashed out. If she decides she wants to do it regularly then you could either play the n+1 card or build a really nice do-it-all 'cross/gravel/MTB machine.
When I got back into cycling about 4 1/2 years ago I did the first 2,000+ miles on my 1990's Dave Yates running 1x9, it was awesome.
A single speed MTB, or a bike with a single chainring?
A single speed sounds a bit silly. 1x for MTBs, plenty of those.
A lot of comments assume, by single speed, the OP means 1x (single chainring, but with a range of gears on the wheel).
However he was talking about a utility bike so a single speed (1 chainring, 1 rear cog, with either a free or fixed wheel) is a sensible set up - low maintenance, perfect for just nipping to the pub/shops (unless in a hilly area).
The answer to can you build a MTB with SS is of course you can, but as Sniffer says, you would be silly to do so.
Give me one reason why and I'll give you ten good reasons why I'm quicker than you on my SS MTB
Hills?
On the trails I ride I don't use the front mech much (and could do without it) and I use the rear cassette plenty.
MTB for completely flat areas did sound a bit silly to me. If it has hills then changing gear keeps a sensible cadence and I would expect it to be faster.
I look forward to be educated on the 10 reasons why I am wrong.
Plenty of people up at my local trails (Swinley Forest) on single speeds - the "hills" there are more of a short, sharp shock, so can be attacked without changing gear.
I ride up there on a 3x9 and probably stay in the same gear for 90% of the time - there's only a couple of bits where I'll change to go up/down a hill.
When I have time, I've got a spare frame and wheels I might build into a single speed for there and winter commuting.
The answer to your question is "of course you can". Lots of people ride single speed MTB's. Some over rather mountainous terrain.
You need to decide how serious your wife's desire to go mountain biking really is. Assuming she fits the same size bike as you, you may be better off letting her ride your regular MTB and you ride your SS when you take her off road.
I'd use flat bars because SLX brakes. Maybe a Surly of some description (although they aren't the cheapest you usually get a fork as well)? I am currently on a disc long haul trucker with flat bars, lots of clearance and fine on gravel paths etc. But if you wanted to go MTB maybe something like the Krampus.
32 front 11-42 back all round MTB bike
Mountain bikes have a wide spread of gears for a good reason. A single speed MTB is a very bad idea unless you intend to keep to canal tow paths. You can build a single speed CX bike into a light duty MTB but why you would want to is beyond me (yes, I have used a single speed commuter based on a mountain bike and off road with any sort of hill involved is not a good environment to be riding it).
WTF are you talking about?
I only ride SS MTB's 34 - 16-20 depending on the conditions or length of race for instance 24hrs I might even drop to 32-20.
I'm invariably quicker on any climb and descending you learn to pump through corners even better as you can't brake and accelerate as you'll spin out.
There is no chain suck, and whilst others might have to stop and pull mud from their gears I can just keep on rolling.
SS MTB is a very good idea indeed.