Addicted to SS

[Inspiribomb]

I think this is the BMX'er and rower coming out in me, but I love the simplicity (and agony) of SS bikes. In fact, I'm selling my '07 stumpy in favor of 2 single speeds - a Jamis Exile and a Specialized Langster (roadie).

I test road the Langster today and instantly fell in love with it. It is fast, silent, fast, nimble, fast, light, and did I mention FAST???!!! While I have yet to ride an Exile, I am pretty sure I'll love it.

So, including the Monocog, I'll have 3 bikes in the stable, all of them SS. Is this normal? I just find myself resenting gears and derailleurs and the maintenance/etc that goes along with them. I'd rather saddle up and ride and forget about it, just ride. Anyone else find themselves in this situation???

[waitabit]

Get a rigid 29er steel SS, you wont ride anything else.

[Trevize1138]

Anyone else find themselves in this situation???

Yes. I do.

[Lezgo Cycling]

Yes me too I have ridden many a many bike ...and just a couple months ago I bought a rigid Specialized Rockhopper and converted it to SS and now thats all I ride. LOVE IT, trail, commute, urban everything

[fatbaldpop1]

Man, you nailed it. SS's directly focus you on riding not managing the bike. I just had my SS frame break... and I scrambled to modify a very old Voodoo frame to a 1x1...the boys at One on One saved my sorry tail on that one. I would be curious as to people's favorite places to ride 1x1's. My six favorites right now, in no particular order are:

TW-weavy, winding, great place to accelerate, decelerate with no earthly reason to have more than one gear as far as i can tell. It also has the most interesting mix of people riding from my perspective.
Leb-Groomed fantasy park...makes all aspects of the design more interesting with only one gear...also one of the best places to ride 1x1 in the winter.
Murphy-speed, speed and more speed...I enjoy how the track becomes technical with speed and the off camber...gears would seem a waste here...
Milaca-I haven't done a complete run (all of the black) here w/o having to clip out in 5 years on a 1x1. This is north woods riding at its best...from Pine and Aspen sections to bog monster and sky hill. Gears and suspension would make this trail much easier but also take away a big part of its personality
Hartley-the land of roots, mud and twisting climbs and track stands. Same as Milaca...the trail has a much more powerful personality when riding a 1x1.
Hillside-This trail provides changing personality by section and also provides a glimpse of less groomed northern riding in the metro...

[stoneage]

Is this normal?
Why, yes it is!!

[charliebrown]

Get a rigid 29er steel SS, you wont ride anything else.


I agree 100%, that is what I have as well...

[The Goat Killer]

Single Speeds are great for Morc trails.

[Shorty]

Forums are great for trollers.

[THUMP!]

I find that I really like the rigid SS 29er at Salem, River Bottoms, Theo and tooling around town but MUCH prefer the fs lefty at Hillside, Murphy and Leb. Old knees and wrists appreciate the suspension and just being out of shape really appreciates being able to spin on climbs.

[99FSRComp]

I'm selling my '07 stumpy in favor of 2 single speeds

Ya, you need to get rid of that 07 stumpy real quick, real cheap, to someone who needs to upgrade their '99 FSR Comp. ;)

[Inspiribomb]

Make me an offer, I want it gone.

I ended up buying a 2007 Langster in the silver finish, one of 2 left in the country. I am hoping to find a good deal on a Jamis Exile soon, those things are BAMF's. I'll most likely keep the Monocog for just kickin' around on.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/images/07enlarged/07_EXILE_SS.jpg
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2007/bikes/LNG_GL_Brushed_w_Blk.jpg

[ryno lite]

Nope, never had that addiction. I'll just have to make sure I stay away from all SS bikes so that I don't develop that horrible addiction!

[manual63]

Single Speeds are great for Morc trails.

And fully rigid single speeds are great for Fruita, Black Hills, CAMBA, and even Whistler!!!

Yep, I am messed up by the SS addiction too. Probably for the same reason........the BMX in my veins.

[Lezgo Cycling]

Nope, never had that addiction. I'll just have to make sure I stay away from all SS bikes so that I don't develop that horrible addiction!

It might be an addiction but a good one :D Dont be lead to believing that it is a fad as I have seen many say elswhere.

SS is nto a fad, its a lifestyle :banana: And a damn good onoe too. Cause its as simple as this ...IF YOU WANT TO GO FASTER, PEDAL FASTER :crazy:

[manual63]

Well, do keep in mind that everything is a trend. SSing is big now, but 10 years from now.....who knows??

I do have the feeling good off-road internal shifting hubs at a reasonable price are just around the corner. Might change things up quite a bit for a lot of riders.

[Inspiribomb]

Yeah, one of the best/worst parts about SS riding is when you come up to a hill, you don't think about what gear you need to be in, you just think, "here we go" and start crankin'!!!

[Slimpee]

I'd love to be involved with the single-speed revolution but before I can convert my wreck into SS I need to get a geared bike which costs more $$$ than I have right now.

Patience, my friend, patience...

But I want it now!

[Lezgo Cycling]

Yeah, one of the best/worst parts about SS riding is when you come up to a hill, you don't think about what gear you need to be in, you just think, "here we go" and start crankin'!!!
:banana::banana::banana::banana:

[MisterClaw]

Yeah, one of the best/worst parts about SS riding is when you come up to a hill, you don't think about what gear you need to be in, you just think, <strike>"here we go"</strike> <b> "Oh crap"</b> and start crankin'!!!

Fixed that for you.
At least that's how I felt at steeplechase.

[manual63]

At the Dakota Five-O it was more like, "oh crap......I better walk that one, I still have 38 miles to go."

[charliebrown]

I ended up buying a 2007 Langster in the silver finish, one of 2 left in the country.




They have the London model at Erik's in Burnsville; it is sweet...

[Lezgo Cycling]

If I was to buy a SS cross bike, road bike, commuter..I would like the Bianchi San Jose. If I remember right it is only $5-550 at Trailhead Bike in Champlin




http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/89d8250e22.jpg (http://www.bianchiusa.com/?1830&bikepath=fileadmin/bianchi/07_bikes/images_zoom/07_san_jose_grn)

[Inspiribomb]

I was more partial to the Chicago Langster, AKA Ganster. The white and orange was just way too much for me. The '07 silver Langster is just sexy. I would like to get a Cannondale Capo, but they come in at around $800, which is just too much right now.

[Trevize1138]

Well, do keep in mind that everything is a trend. SSing is big now, but 10 years from now.....who knows??

I do have the feeling good off-road internal shifting hubs at a reasonable price are just around the corner. Might change things up quite a bit for a lot of riders.

It'll be interesting to see, that's for sure. It's no coincidence to me that the SS thing became popular at a time when 27 speeds is the norm for full-geared MTBs. I think there's a huge "this is getting out of hand" factor among bikers that has driven many of us to just ditch those extra 26 speeds in favor of something ridiculous in the opposite direction.

I have converted one of my SS bikes back to gears but with only a 9 speed cluster on the back. So, as Shad says, once you get affordable, internal shifting hubs for off-road use a new trend may start.

[charliebrown]

I also really like the Raleigh Rush Hour... Good Price as well
http://www.raleighusa.com/images/items/Road/full/2006/2006-Rush-Hour-grey-f.jpg

[Inspiribomb]

I test rode the Rush Hour, but IMO it was geared a bit on the high side. Also, it was a fair amount heavier (granted it was Cro-Mo) and didn't give the exhilerating ride that the Langster did. I agree, the price is very good on the Rush Hour. But, for another 75 bucks, you get a lighter bike with a (IMO) better ride.

[robc]

Hey, I just picked up one of these at One on One last night! Got some fenders and a rack, and it is a perfect commuter machine. The ride is just great! :banana:
I am going to eventually drop a Nexus 8 or i-Motion 9 on there to add some gearing and still keep the low maintenance and clean chain line. Just like this:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianchi-sanjos8/index.html

If any of you shorties are looking for one, they have a blue 52 at Trailhead discounted to like $420 I think. Great price for this bike! The '08s are going to be $100 more it sounds like, and the bike is not changing.

Mine came with a flip-flop hub, so I tried out the fixie thing this morning on the way in. Never realized just how often I coast. Sure kept me on my toes, but way fun!

If I was to buy a SS cross bike, road bike, commuter..I would like the Bianchi San Jose. If I remember right it is only $5-550 at Trailhead Bike in Champlin




http://www.bianchiusa.com/typo3temp/89d8250e22.jpg (http://www.bianchiusa.com/?1830&bikepath=fileadmin/bianchi/07_bikes/images_zoom/07_san_jose_grn)

[Lezgo Cycling]

Sounds like I need to go back to Trailhead to see this Blue 52 ..I ride a smaller bike so maybe it will fit. :D

[soupboy]

You smoking bat guano? The Shi+mano Alfine grouppo is *allegedly* coming this way but the mighty Rohloff remains king ding-a-ling.

It's really not that offensively priced when you compare vs. a full XTR or XO kit and the frequency with which you have to maintain them. Big upfront cost amortizable over an exponentially longer life cycle.

I do have the feeling good off-road internal shifting hubs at a reasonable price are just around the corner. Might change things up quite a bit for a lot of riders.

[MisterClaw]

If I was to buy a SS cross bike, road bike, commuter..I would like the Bianchi San Jose. If I remember right it is only $5-550 at Trailhead Bike in Champlin


If you can find one, you might want to look for a 06 Lemond Fillmore. I picked up its sister bike, the Fisher Triton, which has cruiser bars, for 40% off MSRP. The pre-2007 models are all Platinum OX tubing and made in Waterloo, WI.

[Lezgo Cycling]

If you can find one, you might want to look for a 06 Lemond Fillmore. I picked up its sister bike, the Fisher Triton, which has cruiser bars, for 40% off MSRP. The pre-2007 models are all Platinum OX tubing and made in Waterloo, WI.

Thanks I will keep that im mind becasue as I have posted elswhere I am lookinf for a bike and I am actually waiting to hear from someone here UH HUM that has a bike they may be getting rid of. Hoping to see it soon and see if ti fits otherwise I will be in the market

[steef]

And fully rigid single speeds are great for Fruita, Black Hills, CAMBA, and even Whistler!!!

Yep, I am messed up by the SS addiction too. Probably for the same reason........the BMX in my veins.

So when are you going to take the gears off your Surly?:kiss:

[charliebrown]

Ok, I may have broke down and bought another SS, this time it might be a road bike, since I am doing the Dakota County Tour De Sprawl on Saturday... I have the singlespeed bug pretty bad... :banana:

[Inspiribomb]

What didja get???

[charliebrown]

What didja get???

I got the Rush Hour... I rode the Langster, the Cannondale one and decided that I liked the Rush Hour the best. Seemed like the ride was better then the others and I liked the look. Which is kind of funny since you liked the ride on the Langster. And I have been VERY happy with my Raleigh XXIX SS. Oh Well, different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Inspiribomb]

Awesome, congrats! Its a great bike, especially for the price. I did like it, but preferred the Langster. Again, as you said, different strokes. Where did you buy it from??? The Rush Hour is definitely geared higher than the Langster, so once you're up to speed you'll be able to cruise easier. It would be a lot of fun to do a single-speed roadie ride, in addition to the other SS ride.

[charliebrown]

Awesome, congrats! Its a great bike, especially for the price. I did like it, but preferred the Langster. Again, as you said, different strokes. Where did you buy it from??? The Rush Hour is definitely geared higher than the Langster, so once you're up to speed you'll be able to cruise easier. It would be a lot of fun to do a single-speed roadie ride, in addition to the other SS ride.

I got it at Erik's. I have had really good luck there. So they had one in my size. Your right a couple SS rides would be really fun.

[Inspiribomb]

Which Erik's? I shop at the one in Roseville and have always had stellar service.

[charliebrown]

The one in Burnsville, I live in Apple Valley so it is really close.