Specialized Singlecross - any good?

luv2ride

Fancy a bit of single speed action and have come across a Specialized Tricross singlespeed (Singlecross?).

Any owners or others with opinions who wish to share their views? Are they any good?

Canny Jock

Had one for a while and it was great, usual single speed benefits, comfortable, can take big tyres, full guards and a rack. Canti brakes can be a bit juddery, but this can be cured and I think some came fitted with V-brakes.

luv2ride

Sounds good. This one has V's already fitted so hopefully the fork judder I've read about shouldn't be too bad. Looking for a do-it-all bike that@ll take me me on shortish jaunts with the youngest (7 yrs old) on tracks but still have me feel I've done some cycling, then quick trips to town/shops, then foul weather trainer on the roads.

If it can do all these it sounds like what I'm after 8)

Canny Jock

Yup, sounds ideal!

redvee

Proud owner of a green '08 vintage model and very happy with it. Mine came with full size v-brakes and I've had no brake judder that others have mentioned and last year changed to mini v-brakes as I might go to bullhorn bars in future. I upped the gearing straight away from 42/16 to 44/16 and can still ride up hills. Longest I've ridden is 45 miles although this was on canal towpath with 2 slower friends. Mine now wear marathon plus in 25 size and crud roadracers year round.

luv2ride

Thanks all. I'm guessing the Pompino wouldn't be ideal for "light off-road" or am I wrong. Also, the Pompino is a little out of my (tensely negotiated with Mrs Luv2ride) budget - the singlecross is a few years old and cheaper.

Am I also right in thinking the Singlecross would be pretty bombproof, with the main areas that might fail being: headset, bottom bracket, wheels?

The bottom bracket is (I think) square taper - how much would this to replace, and how much for a new chainring?

redvee

Luv2ride wrote:

The bottom bracket is (I think) square taper - how much would this to replace, and how much for a new chainring?

103mm BB from velosolo for £20 and a 130BCD chainring from anywhere from £15 on ebay to £30 on a shop site. You will need a Shimano freewheel for durability, do not buy the cheap £10 offerings as tey will die far too quick. Shimano MX30 freewheels from Parkers forn under £20.

luv2ride

Thanks redvee. If it's a pretty bombproof choice I may well go for it as the parts look pretty cheap.
If I go ahead I'll pick up Saturday so will post again if I get it
:?

I-S

My Singlecross is coming up to 10,000 miles now, used as fixed. Wheels lasted 8,000miles before bearing failure (used all year). Headset is a pain, bought an expensive Specialized replacement and it lasted months. Now using Cane Creek cartridge. Bottom bracket still original but there's a creaking noise from somewhere... Would buy another without hesitation.

luv2ride

Thanks I-S Everyone who's had one seems to have really liked it so I'm hoping it'll be a keeper. Always hankered after one so we'll see how I get with it. Be interesting to see how different riding singlespeed is!

luv2ride

Quick update. Got the Singlecross today and have managed to get out on it for a couple of hours so thought I'd post some comments.

It's my first time on a single speed and I have to say I loved it. Spent an hour pootling around the villages with the kids and it was ideal. Then went out on my own, cranked it up a little and was really surprised how well it (or I) got up the hills. Only slight issue I've found so far is "topping out" on the flat a little. Also pleasantly surprised at how capable it seemed on unmade roads and farm tracks, etc

So, I would heartily recommend it and I'm sure this will be a keeper! Very comfortable and pleasing ride...

One question though. The bike doesn't have the "chicken levers" fitted on the tops, but I have the levers. Are they easy to fit, and are they worth it? :oops:

cheers

redvee

They can be quite easy depending on your mechanical (in)competance. I took mine off pretty much straight away as I wanted the space on the bars for lights etc.

luv2ride

Yeah, i see what you mean re: bar "real estate" - they wouldn't leave much room for a computer and lights. Think I might given the chicken levers / sissy brakes a miss for a bit and see how I get on.

Have I said, I am loving this bike!!!

luv2ride

Well I've taken this on a few jaunts now, even mustered up the courage to tackle some steeper hills, and I'm still loving the bike, to the point that I think ownership should be mandatory for everyone!

Even noticed that hills I was only tackled in the small (compact) chainring on my Roubaix I now go up suing the big ring - is it possible that the single speed has significantly improved my climbing on a geared bike, or just helped me with my previous "hill fear"?

Anyway, got soaked today so can anyone recommend some good mudguards for a singlecross, and perhaps also a rear rack?

cheers

luv2ride

Fleabay is the place. Quite why Spesh decided to drop it I don't know - seem to have quite a following...

So any suggestions for mudguards? Evans having a Warehouse clearance and doing SKS chromo plastic guards for £25. Not sure if I need the "wide atb" or "narrow atb". Their product description doesn't help a huge amount!

redvee

I'm using Crud RoadRacers on my Tricross SIngle but I am running 25 tyres and custom manufactured brackets for them.

luv2ride

Redvee. I'm guessing the bracket is needed for the front fork mount? I can't see how i'd mount the cruds without a caliper mounted brake. I'm probabaly going to keep larger volume tyres on it, so pehaps sks would be best?

mattsccm

I love mine after nearly 3 years. It gets more use than all my other bikes put together. I have some SKS 40mm gaurds to put on. I use 38mm cx tyres. . great things except maybe a touch slow on rads but I don't do much of that.
The headset will get you scratching your head when you need to fix it. Ignore the Spec version and just bung in some Cane Creek sized cartridge bearings and cannibalise your old headset for a spacer/shim or two to go on top of the bearing. I just hunt around for good deals on 5 arm chain rings. I also use cheap chains and keep one soaking in old and the other on the bike. 4 quid for Bell chains in Asda. I also use 1/8th chains as rhey cope with any slight misalignment well and seem tougher. 4 quid v brake blocks from Wilkinsons work as well as expensive ones.
Now you are sucked in you will be trying funny bars next. Eg One One or Salsa

Monty Dog

Don't both the bar-top levers - completely pointless - they're too narrow to allow you to keep control on anything but the smoothest surfaces and they just get in the way of everything else. If there's a hole through the fork crown, then you can fit a conventional mudguard.

luv2ride

Have to say, I have just as much fun on the Singlecross as on any of the other bikes (if not more). Took it out on an old railway line trail (you know the type) and it was a blast, really quick compared with the mountain bike and really didn't miss the gears. Yes, I'm hooked!

Thanks for the advice on headset. Sounds like it's worth keeping an eye out for parts, and the bottom bracket is definately "knocking" from time to time so that'll need doing soon. But this one's a keeper for sure...

luv2ride

Monty Dog. There is a hole through the fork crown so conventional guards it is - thanks.

I've decided not to go with the chicken levers as there would'nt be room for my light brackets, etc. I see what you mean about a possible lack of control, they'd bring your hands really close to the stem...

redvee

Luv2ride wrote:

Redvee. I'm guessing the bracket is needed for the front fork mount? I can't see how i'd mount the cruds without a caliper mounted brake. I'm probabaly going to keep larger volume tyres on it, so pehaps sks would be best?

I've got custom manufactured brackets for the front and rear which cost me all of an hour of time and swearing. As I've mentioned previously, 103mm BB from Velosolo if yours is on the way out and use Shimano MX30 freewheels.