Mountain bikes

Mountainman38 said:
Hmmm... I'm not convinced the single speed is such a great idea. I had one as a kid, and didn't like it then. If all you have is flat terrain, and you ride one speed, I guess it might be ok. Here on the west coast, where I've been riding mountain bikes since my first Gary Fisher in 1987, we have a very wide range of terrain. I go from grueling straight up climbs to screaming fire road descents, and there's no way a single speed would cut it. Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I figure that we have excellent bike technology these days, so why not enjoy it?! No need to revert to biking like Orville and Wilbur did, eh? :p
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I grew up and started riding mountain bikes in California. Lots of people ride singlespeed out there. Ive been up and down plenty gnarly trails riding single speed and it was wonderfull. :thumbup: Something very wonderfull about it, give it a try, you might be suprised. :)

Gears are over rated. :p
 
Jake, I'll agree it's more than possible to ride a singlespeed off road. I was at the Moab 24hrs in '99 when John Stamstad competed in the Solo class on a SS, he did 14 laps compared to the class winner's 15. To give you an idea of what a feat that was, the Duo Pro/Expert class winning team did 17 laps.

Brett Wolfe was also there, and I have to say he was the fan favorite by far even though he only completed 10 laps. His effort was easily the most inspiring thing I've ever seen. :thumbup:
 
Is that the granny gear productions race? I rode in the Missouri one a couple years ago. It was a good time. I did it on singlespeed.

I have always wanted to ride Moab. Since I was a kid. Ill bet it was awesome watching those guys race. 14 laps in 24 on a singlespeed in solo is awesome!! Thats a feat in itself!! 10 laps is incredible given his situation. Definatly a proud moment for him.
 
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j williams said:
Is that the granny gear productions race? I rode in the Missouri one a couple years ago. It was a good time. I did it on singlespeed.

I have always wanted to ride Moab. Since I was a kid. Ill bet it was awesome watching those guys race. 14 laps in 24 on a singlespeed in solo is awesome!! Thats a feat in itself!! 10 laps is incredible given his situation. Definatly a proud moment for him.
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Yes, it's put on by GG. Moab is a very cool place, think 'Roadrunner cartoon'. The race site is about 15 miles out of town so you get to camp out...and have fires. :thumbup: It's in Oct so you have plenty of time to get ready for it. :D
 
i love these mtn. bike threads..:D great looking bikes guys... i'll try and get some pics of mine up soon...:thumbup:

Mountainman38 said:
Hmmm... I'm not convinced the single speed is such a great idea. I had one as a kid, and didn't like it then. If all you have is flat terrain, and you ride one speed, I guess it might be ok. Here on the west coast, where I've been riding mountain bikes since my first Gary Fisher in 1987, we have a very wide range of terrain. I go from grueling straight up climbs to screaming fire road descents, and there's no way a single speed would cut it. Maybe it's an acquired taste, but I figure that we have excellent bike technology these days, so why not enjoy it?! No need to revert to biking like Orville and Wilbur did, eh? :p
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MM38-- i am a long time mtn. biker and i live in CA... about 10 years ago, i converted my bike itno a single speed and rode a SS consistantly for many years to follow... riding all over Ca. as well as many other states..
i have now had 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, and was forced to add some gears.. i now ride an 8 speed... there are a ton of SS riders here in Santa Cruz where i live...
 
Like many people I started riding a beater MTB, then bought a Marin full suspension bike many years ago. Very nice bike but heavy. I just picked up a used Gary Fisher Superfly. It's a 23 lb, carbon fiber framed, hardtail 29er. I've only ridden it a couple times but so far I love it. Fast, energy efficient, and climbs very well (considering the old, fat bastid powering it!). Probably the only time I'll use the old Marin is on predominantly downhill runs (car shuttle outings).

DancesWithKnives
 
There is quite a fad for single-speed bikes currently, even fixed-gear bikes for the roadies.

Old road frames with the horizontal dropouts are in demand for conversions.

Nostalgia...Simplicity... Perhaps.

Not for us old guys with wonky knees, thanks. The more gears the better.

Mr. Campangnolo invented the rear derailleur for a reason.
 
Agreed. For mountain/hill terrain I run a triple crank on my touring bike. I went to "Dr. Bike" (quoted earlier in this thread) and got a special TA small front chainwheel. It's 24 teeth and works on a Shimano Ultegra triple (replaces the stock 30 tooth). That gives me a 24:25 ratio with my 12-25 Ultegra cassette. On my Kestrel road bike I bought an IRD 11-34 rear cassette because the Kestrel is only an Ultegra double crank. I'm driving it with an XT mountain bike derailleur, per Sheldon's advice. I take a little crap over it but at my age and weight I'd rather get razzed about ultra-low gearing than have a heart attack.

If I ever tour someplace like the Alps with a load on the triple crank bike, I'm swapping over the rear drive train from the Kestrel so I can run a 24:34 tooth low ratio. That's almost as low as the mountain bike setups.

Pedal on!

DancesWithKnives
 
You single speed guys are just nuts imho. And what's with the fixed gear? Yikes! I think I'm going to hang on to my derailleurs thank you very much.

Any downhillers/freeriders around here? Nothing like screaming downhill at lunatic speeds holding on for dear life all while aiming for something huge to jump off. :D I don't think I'll ever get sick of it.
 
j williams said:
I grew up and started riding mountain bikes in California. Lots of people ride singlespeed out there. Ive been up and down plenty gnarly trails riding single speed and it was wonderfull. :thumbup: Something very wonderfull about it, give it a try, you might be suprised. :)

Gears are over rated. :p
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J,

I've run across a few of those nutcases, including one who worked at a bikeshop. It seems to work for some, but I still don't think it would be for me. Guess I'll have to try it, sometime!

BlackHills said:
Jake, I'll agree it's more than possible to ride a singlespeed off road. I was at the Moab 24hrs in '99 when John Stamstad competed in the Solo class on a SS, he did 14 laps compared to the class winner's 15. To give you an idea of what a feat that was, the Duo Pro/Expert class winning team did 17 laps....
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I think I was at the same one. Moab is a great place to visit that time of year, for all sorts of outdoor fun. I took my XR600 and rode all over that Behind the Rocks area, and it was great. I'm looking forward to taking my kids there to ride when they get old enough.

mtnfolk mike said:
...MM38-- i am a long time mtn. biker and i live in CA... about 10 years ago, i converted my bike itno a single speed and rode a SS consistantly for many years to follow... riding all over Ca. as well as many other states..
i have now had 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, and was forced to add some gears.. i now ride an 8 speed... there are a ton of SS riders here in Santa Cruz where i live...
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Hey Mike,

Ever ride up near Angwin? When I was in school, we rode all over that Napa Valley and even ventured down to Marin a time or two. Great country. My hat is off to you guys who can ride that stuff on a single speed -- I had enough trouble riding a bike with 18 speeds up and down all those steep hills!

mwerner said:
.....Mr. Campangnolo invented the rear derailleur for a reason.
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Heh heh. Well put!

vret said:
You single speed guys are just nuts imho. And what's with the fixed gear? Yikes! I think I'm going to hang on to my derailleurs thank you very much...
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I dunno about nuts, but methinks you have to have a little bit of the sadist in you to want to ride a single speed on all terrain.
 
Suhweet bikes. That Somec looks CLEAN (and just my size).

The Scapin is awesome too (well they all are). Back in the days when they kept MTBs simple. I noticed that you have an adjustable stem on that one. Any problems with it? I've been thinking about getting one, but I'm not sure if I trust them to not loosen up.
 
Mountainman38 said:
J,

I've run across a few of those nutcases, including one who worked at a bikeshop. It seems to work for some, but I still don't think it would be for me. Guess I'll have to try it, sometime!



I think I was at the same one. Moab is a great place to visit that time of year, for all sorts of outdoor fun. I took my XR600 and rode all over that Behind the Rocks area, and it was great. I'm looking forward to taking my kids there to ride when they get old enough.



Hey Mike,

Ever ride up near Angwin? When I was in school, we rode all over that Napa Valley and even ventured down to Marin a time or two. Great country. My hat is off to you guys who can ride that stuff on a single speed -- I had enough trouble riding a bike with 18 speeds up and down all those steep hills!



Heh heh. Well put!



I dunno about nuts, but methinks you have to have a little bit of the sadist in you to want to ride a single speed on all terrain.
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Definatly a little sadist, and nuts. :D I rode bikes with gears for many years. Grew up riding up at big bear and other places in So Cal. Well, about 6 or 7 years ago, I decided I wanted to try something differant, and started reading up on singlespeeds. I converted my bike about 5 years ago, and rode 20miles a day 5 days a week on it, including a granny gear 24hr race, and various trails around missouri. Im hooked. I love the ease of maintnance, the quietness of the bike, and it really helps me focus on manuvering the bike and not so much on shifting. Hasnt needed a tune up on the drivetrain in 5 years. My bike is much lighter now, easier to pedal, quieter, and in Missouri underbrush, I havent had to deal with snaging my rear deraileur, or chain. Which sucks when you are 15 miles into the great unknown trying to bend back a deraileur hanger. Its also a great bike to just hop on and go for a cruise. :thumbup: It really is not for everyone, but the guys who I have convinced to give my bike a try, really enjoyed it, and some lost their gears even! I know its totally not for everyone, and thats fine. It brought a new joy to mtn biking for me, along with new challenges. I respect everyone who puts time in the saddle, yes even roadies. :rolleyes::D Id love to share a ride with some of you guys. :thumbup:
 
mwerner said:
There is quite a fad for single-speed bikes currently, even fixed-gear bikes for the roadies.

Old road frames with the horizontal dropouts are in demand for conversions.

Nostalgia...Simplicity... Perhaps.

Not for us old guys with wonky knees, thanks. The more gears the better.

Mr. Campangnolo invented the rear derailleur for a reason.
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I dont know if its a fad or not, but it sure is fun.

I know why derailleurs were invented. Maximum output for minimal effort. There are trade offs though. ;)
 
Ok guys I've been reading all this & my mind is blown away, I never knew there was this much to bikes ! I think You guys misunderstood me, I'm just wanting a bike so when I take my twins to the lake or just out for a ride, I'll be able to ride, there is no one here that races MNTbikes or anything like that. Thats why the only bike shop we had went under after 6mnths
I'm going to re-do the MonGoose & still might get the huffy. I won't be jumping & racing & riding wheelies & so forth:o Just a simple ride for the exercise & fun. Keep up the post.
Oh I also have one of those old schwinn bikes from the 60's ( I guess) its gold, got the chrome fenders, looks like a book rack ( rat trap ) on the front fender. It's really rough looking if dads still got it, it was out back of his shed the last time I saw it. I rode it alot when I was a kid.
 
vret said:
You single speed guys are just nuts imho. And what's with the fixed gear? Yikes! I think I'm going to hang on to my derailleurs thank you very much.

Any downhillers/freeriders around here? Nothing like screaming downhill at lunatic speeds holding on for dear life all while aiming for something huge to jump off. :D I don't think I'll ever get sick of it.
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Ya know whats nuts? Those urban riders who go fixed gear and brakeless!!! :eek:

Ya, speeds of 70mph+ on a bike is CRAAAAZY!!!! Fun too. ;)
 
Coaldigger, IMO for a cruiser, and fitness bike, you cant beat a singlespeed. No gears to make it easier, and its almost maintnance free. Be carefull though. Alot of guys start out just cruisin around and develop a serious bike addiction. Almost like blades!!!
 
wintermute said:
Suhweet bikes. That Somec looks CLEAN (and just my size).

The Scapin is awesome too (well they all are). Back in the days when they kept MTBs simple. I noticed that you have an adjustable stem on that one. Any problems with it? I've been thinking about getting one, but I'm not sure if I trust them to not loosen up.
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Thanks. The Somec is supposedly unridden and I can believe it, there's hardly a mark at all on the derailleur cages.

That's not an adjustable stem on the Scapin, it's a Girvin Flexstem. They were around for a short time in the early 90s. It was on the bike when I bought it and I haven't bothered to replace it, it adds to the retro-ness (if that's a word) of it IMO. :)
 
coaldigger said:
Ok guys I've been reading all this & my mind is blown away, I never knew there was this much to bikes ! I think You guys misunderstood me, I'm just wanting a bike so when I take my twins to the lake or just out for a ride, I'll be able to ride, there is no one here that races MNTbikes or anything like that. Thats why the only bike shop we had went under after 6mnths
I'm going to re-do the MonGoose & still might get the huffy. I won't be jumping & racing & riding wheelies & so forth:o Just a simple ride for the exercise & fun. Keep up the post.
Oh I also have one of those old schwinn bikes from the 60's ( I guess) its gold, got the chrome fenders, looks like a book rack ( rat trap ) on the front fender. It's really rough looking if dads still got it, it was out back of his shed the last time I saw it. I rode it alot when I was a kid.
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Yeah, this thread went off track quickly. Nothing wrong with just wanting to ride, it's great fun and good exercise as well. :thumbup: I think fixing the Mongoose up is the best course of action, it's a better bike than the Huffy. That old Schwinn might be worth fixing up as well as long as the frame isn't in too bad of shape.

j williams said:
Blackhills you have an amazing collection of bikes bro.
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Thanks Jake. That's not even all of them, at present I have 7 road bikes, 2 cyclocross and 4 MTBs. Yeah, I have a problem. :o
 
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