I've become a slave to technology

[berrywise]

Out riding the other day I realized how much a slave I have become to my clipless pedals. I had thought I had clipped into my pedal but hadn't and when I went to bunny hop a log I about wipe out because I was trying to pull up with my feet so bad.

and I won't even get started on how much I'm relying on suspension these days. haha

[grizzly adam]

lol
I've got some old XT pedals somewhere if you ever want to get practice without the clipless.
Oooh - how about some XT thumbshifters too! Friction even. That'll get you back on track.

[manual63]

We were talking about this this last Saturday after the ride. I don't remember who, but someone said that FS gives the extra ability to do things they couldn't before. Then he said it actually has improved his Hardtail skills. This makes some sense, as long as FS isn't being used as a crutch or a way to incorrectly do things......which I see it being used for all the time.

FS or clipless are great tools, but not a replacement for good bike handling skills. Sure, you could give someone a race car, but that does not mean they are gonna be fast.....they still need to know how to handle and drive it.

[noise_is_life]

That was me...the fully gave me the confidence to commit on obstacles that scared me off on the hardtail and that confidence has translated back to riding the hardtail.

I still can't bunny hop for crap without my clipless pedals though...

[manual63]

Here is a good example: A couple of weeks ago I did a drop on someones FS bike. I didn't change how I rode off the drop, except having to pull back a little harder than normal. I rode off and used my legs and arms to help compress the landing like I would riding a hardtail off a drop. It was nice because the FS just helped make the landing smoother. I did not land like a stiff brick like I see a lot of FS riders do. They let the bike do ALL of the work.

[noise_is_life]

Of course on the other end of the spectrum, riding my SS is making me a better rider too, it really makes you try to pick the smoothest line and to pay more attention to what is coming next on the trail.

[manual63]

Of course on the other end of the spectrum, riding my SS is making me a better rider too, it really makes you try to pick the smoothest line and to pay more attention to what is coming next on the trail.
Yeah, I liked your setup. Looked like fun, but I would want two more teeth. Remember I was telling you about gear ratio?

Take the front sprocket, divide it by the rear sprocket and then multiply the wheel size in inches.

(FS/RS) * WS

A typical BMX racing gear is 44:16 with a 20 inch wheel.

(44/16) * 20 = 55

I think you said you had a 36:18, but I am not entirely sure.

(36/18) * 26 = 52

I think that is why you were spinning so badly.

A 38:18 would be the gear I would prefer, but that's me.

(38/18) * 26 = 54.89

The bigger the number, the higher gear ratio. The smaller the number, the lower the gear ratio. You need to take wheel size into account when doing all gear ratio calculations.

[noise_is_life]

I think you said you had a 36:18, but I am not entirely sure.

(36/18) * 26 = 52

I think that is why you were spinning so badly.
Worse than that actually, 32:18. That's a pretty good gear for me for off road so far, of course I pay for it big time when I'm riding on the flats, but that's the price I pay for being a clyde.


A 38:18 would be the gear I would prefer, but that's me.

(38/18) * 26 = 54.89

The bigger the number, the higher gear ratio. The smaller the number, the lower the gear ratio. You need to take wheel size into account when doing all gear ratio calculations.
That would be a pretty tall gear, the most common ratio is 2:1, but I know some of the riders around here go a bit bigger that that.

[manual63]

I guess I think about how I would ride my BMX bike if I were to ride it on single track. The hills would require me to stand and pedal, but on the flats I could just cruise at a nice pace. I don't know, I guess if I ever build a single speed MTB, I will find out.

[KleinCrazy]

I guess I think about how I would ride my BMX bike if I were to ride it on single track. The hills would require me to stand and pedal, but on the flats I could just cruise at a nice pace. I don't know, I guess if I ever build a single speed MTB, I will find out.
Pretty much the starting ratio for Mountian Single speeds is 2:1. depending on fitness, and trail you adjust from there.

I ride 36:17 alot on the river bottoms, 34:17 if I am riding from downtown to Theo, 34:20 at Buck, 34:20 if lazy at Leb 34:17 if I really want my knee's to suffer. Farm and Mammoth are almost made for 34:20, but might work also at 34:19 but a 19 is very expensive to get. Battle Creek, Memorial, Afton are all 34:20 for me. Hillside and Milaca have yet to singled but I am guessing I would do Milaca at 34:17 ( 18 if I have time and tools to spin it on) and hillside ar 34:20.

Out in fruita, I mostly rode 34:20. I did get spun out every now and then, but the quick, steep, enexpected hills, and having to claw your way up rocks made it a requirement.

with a flip-flop hub and 2 chainrings and 2 chain lengths I can switch gears in anywhere from 30 seconds, to just over 2 minutes.

Who needs a derailure?


Like I said it all depends on terrain, fitness, and the give and take you have to make do with when running single.

[manual63]

Your 36:17 is a 55.06. That's pretty much a BMX gear. You go as low as a 44 and it looks like places you do a lot of climbing........oh.....and your lazy.....:D.

[GearDaddy]

Yep, I'm a slave too. I like my gears and clipless pedals. I'm not against singlespeeds or anything, but mashing my way through Lebanon on a singlespeed is not only is bad for my knees (at least in the early part of the season), it kills my lower back. Just getting old, I guess.

Ahhh, let's go back to 1937 when this new fangled derallieur thingy was introduced to the Tour de France. Prior to that the cutting edge technology was to get off your bike and flip your rear wheel around to use a different cog when going into the mountains. The guy with the derallieur kicked everyone's butt. :)

[manual63]

Ahhh, let's go back to 1937 when this new fangled derallieur thingy was introduced to the Tour de France. Prior to that the cutting edge technology was to get off your bike and flip your rear wheel around to use a different cog when going into the mountains. The guy with the derallieur kicked everyone's butt. :)Hey, that's a cool history lesson. So, is that how the deraileur came to be? Or was it around before then?

[manual63]

Hey, that's a cool history lesson. So, is that how the deraileur came to be? Or was it around before then?
http://probicycle.com/jf/jfderail.html

Found a cool site. Any others?

[noise_is_life]

But then we're not trying to win the Tour are we, just having fun on our mountain bikes. :)

I'm still really new to SS, but I gotta say there is something to it, it's not just about "I'm tougher than you" and "I love pain", I get a buzz riding my SS around Theo (which is the only trail I have used it on so far) much faster than riding my geary.

With a geary I always get that feeling that I should be riding in a bigger gear, or that sense of disappointment when I drop down into the lowest cog on my cassette (or down to the granny gear). With SS you got what you got and that's all you got, it is really liberating.

[noise_is_life]

Hey, that's a cool history lesson. So, is that how the deraileur came to be? Or was it around before then?
It is pretty amazing that they used to race in fixed gear or single speed.

I understand that the stages also used to be much longer than they are today which would make gears all that much more helpful since you would be covering so much terrain.

[manual63]

it is really liberating.
Liberating......:laugh:.

I just find that kind of funny, but I am sure that is how you feel. I want to be liberated someday and build an SS.....I just need to be liberated from my financial demons first.....:scream:.

[noise_is_life]

Liberating......:laugh:.

I just find that kind of funny, but I am sure that is how you feel. I want to be liberated someday and build an SS.....I just need to be liberated from my financial demons first.....:scream:.I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth, I was pretty suprised myself.

You've got two mountain bikes, it only costs about $100 to get one converted and you end up with a lighter bike to boot (and it's reversable).

[manual63]

I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth, I was pretty suprised myself.

You've got two mountain bikes, it only costs about $100 to get one converted and you end up with a lighter bike to boot (and it's reversable).
No, I have a P.2 and a mountain bike.......now if I had 2 XC bikes, then I would agree.....:p.

[transplant]

Try the Redline Monocog as an inexpesive intro to SS. You can get a whole bike (minus fr. suspension and pedals) for about 400 smacks. From what I've seen, suspension isn't really needed that much here. You can go rigid and save. I added a Marzocchi Super Fly 80 to mine and just swap the pedals off my other bikes when necessary. It's not the lightest bike around, but it can take abuse. The whole package came to about $650. Incidently, I run a 39:18 on mine 'cause I want a new set of knees for Christmas.

[manual63]

Try the Redline Monocog as an inexpesive intro to SS. You can get a whole bike (minus fr. suspension and pedals) for about 400 smacks. From what I've seen, suspension isn't really needed that much here. You can go rigid and save. I added a Marzocchi Super Fly 80 to mine and just swap the pedals off my other bikes when necessary. It's not the lightest bike around, but it can take abuse. The whole package came to about $650. Incidently, I run a 39:18 on mine 'cause I want a new set of knees for Christmas.
56.33.......ouch....that's gotta build some muscle.

[transplant]

"I like big gears and I can not lie. You other bikers can't deny..." Sir Bikealot.It's to counter the "table muscle" I've been sporting since becoming a desk pilot. I plan on using the "Monster"cog at Afton for the race during the day, and going with the FSXC at night. Are you in with us for the soire?

[manual63]

BCR is setting up some teams, so I will be joining them.....since I am on the team and all.

Sorry, but I will definately see you out there.....

[transplant]

Negative perspiration. Team first. I'll keep an eye out for you guys and introduce myself if I can remember my name. Thanks for showing an interest and good luck.