Forum home› Mountain biking forum› MTB general

ss fs how long till i get used to it?

scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
edited May 2009 in MTB general
hi guys,

just completed my conversion to ss on my scott genius ltd carbon fibre fs, i had been thinking about it for a while but when i saw a few on the trails i decided to go for it. i'm running 32:18 which is just about do able for where i live. things i like so far are, the quiet, the simplicity, the fact that i don't need to spend more time cleaning than riding to keep xtr running, better lines on the trails (weirdly i can clear more than with gears), the satisfaction of clearing any hills easier than i thought.

things i hope i will get used too,

pushing (lol), trying to puke my lungs out, lower back ache(this is getting better each day), sweating more than i thought possible, face ache from grinning too much!!!

i did feel like i was starting again with regards to ride lengths but i've been at 3 weeks now, and amazed at how quickly my body is adapting, did proper conversion saturday.

how long did it take you guys to get to the point that it felt second nature and start clearing everything? for example, i could clear lee quarry up and down but now i do have to push a bit more than i would like.

ow ow another question, where can i get a single speed red chain?
Cotic Soul rider.

Posts

  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    what are you using as a tensioner?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Chaz.HardingChaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Took me about 2 months before I stopped reaching for the gears. It's awesome though - lighter, minimal maintainence, and brain-free riding. You don't have to pre-empt (spelling!) hills, just spin down, and mash up. Not found a hill that's beat me yet (32-11).

    Also, PICS!!! You HAVE to post!

    Here's your red chain, but you know you want the ultimate chain!!

    :wink: 8)
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    at moment i recycled my xtr mech, i removed the top jockey wheel, replaced the stops with longer screws to lock it in position, got a dmr on order, it hasn't skipped once yet.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    32:11 omg you must have huge legs, the hills round my way are 25% in places, it's 20% to get off my estate. both items discontinued.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    scottgeniusltd2005

    the reason i ask is that many SS fully tensioners do not like SS chains.

    Which DMR tensioner? I was not aware that they made any suitable for a fuuly!
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Chaz.HardingChaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11288 - Beast chain.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31089 - Red chain.

    Sorry for the sh*t links man!!

    Yup, up some of the hills in Bristol, thought I was going to die, but never gave up. My claim to fame anyway!!

    It was 36:12!!

    **I meant 32:12.
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    nick,

    not sure which model as lbs recommended it. i would of thought that any spring tensioner would work to take up chain growth, you're getting me worried now, it's £40, hope it's not a waste of money, didn't know tensioners wouldn't take an ss chain either. worst come to worst tho i can leave my xtr mech on, but does look a bit too ghetto for me.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • Chaz.HardingChaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Even if it doesn't like the SS chain, you could probably modify it, so it did :wink:

    Credit crunch and all... :lol: 8)
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    you can not have a fixed SS tensioner, as all the DMR ones seem to be (they only list 2) as all that will happen is as soon as you hit a bump the tensioner will get moved and the chain will go slack.

    Put the bike in a stand and remove/let the air out of the shock and move the sus through its travel and see how much the mech works.

    Ok it is a short travel bike but there is still chain length change.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    sorry nick you lost me. the dmr i've got on order is spring tensioned and my bike has 130mm rear travel. i am well aware of how much chain growth i have, i think i will ring lbs tomorrow and check tho. if they have got it wrong i will order the yess edr - t i think it is.

    like i say the bike is working amazingly well as it is, i'm just trying to make it look better as it's a very nice bike and looks a bit like a rat bike at mo, with it's cut down xtr chainset and ghettoed ss rear mech tensioner. chaz i'll do some piccies when i've got my proper tensioner on. i know what you mean "brain free riding" :D:D:D:D:D
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    the 90mm genius has 9,4mm of grow. so i would say the 130 has a bit more.

    take care as it would not be nice to get a chain at full tension mid travel.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • salsarider79salsarider79 Posts: 828
    I've used a surly chain tensioner on a ful sus before and it's been ok.

    Singlespeed wise: I was converted first ride. I live in Bath, and am still convinced. I have both MTB and road ss.... :wink:
    jedster wrote:
    Just off to contemplate my own mortality and inevitable descent into decrepedness.
    FCN 3 or 4 on road depending on clothing
    FCN 8 off road because I'm too old to go racing around.
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    nick i owe you an apology, just googled and it's a surly i've got on order. which is good as salsa says they are A-ok. phew no wasted money.

    isn't it weird going the opposite way to technology on a ride, this year i've got rid of my on board computer, i refuse to take a watch on a ride, my mobile is on silent and in the bottom of my bag, ditched sat nav and got my maps and compass out. i really enjoy riding now.
    i'm not against the average mph anymore, i'm not scared of my heart beating too fast or going above my preset limits, i'm not constantly listening to make sure my gears are running right or worried i'm cadencing at the right rpm, not worried if i'm in the right gear for this or that part of the track, which i obviously got wrong as i can clear technical uphills better ss than in granny, and i've rediscovered a long lost friend from my childhood, MOMENTUM, it's good to get her back.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • KiblamsKiblams Posts: 2,423
    I already run a 1x9 at the moment, and you guys are seriously making me pine for SS. I think that's the way that I am headed at the moment anyway.

    ...curse you!... :P
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    the Singleator?

    dont know if it will have enough movement.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    i nearly chickened out and went 1x9, glad i didn't tho :D:D:D
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    nick,

    eek!!, i will try it at lbs and if it's no good it's no good. i hope so tho as it looks tidy
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    please do check.

    http://www.surlybikes.com/downloads.html

    have read about it and setting it up as a push down or push up tensioner and also how to get it to work with either sized chain.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    ow ow and another rediscovery is the half pedal back if you know what i mean. where you pedal back half turn to get pedals in right position to either get the power on or move pedals out of way to miss the sides of ruts.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    was planning on push up to try and tidy up chain line. but i will check, cheers for heads up, could have catastrophic on the trails taking a big hit.
    Cotic Soul rider.
  • ThanksByeThanksBye Posts: 519
    Have you got Pics?
    Cotic Soul
    Pearson Hanzo
    Airborne Zeppelin
  • scottgeniusltd2005scottgeniusltd2005 Posts: 575
    not yet. but i might do some tomorrow as a few people have asked, but she won't be washed i'm afraid as it's very very muddy on pennine bridleway at mo
    Cotic Soul rider.
Sign In or Register to comment.