Which Singlespeed MTB?

Crayfish

After many years of mountain biking with steel, aluminium and carbon frames on both hardtail and full suss bikes, I feel I'm ready to give a single speed a go.

However, I'm struggling to figure out how to buy one and what the choices are.

They're not commonly for sale as new bikes, by the looks of it.

Any advice for a first time SS buyer?

cooldad

Just ride a geared bike and don't change gear.

Crayfish

cooldad wrote:

Just ride a geared bike and don't change gear.

really helpful - thanks

Anonymous

Build an On-one carbon Whippet as SS, or even carbon 456 if you wanted more beefy rig (£299 for the frame at the moment).

Whatever you like really. It's just any bike without gears. Build one, or just buy a geared bike and convert to SS (bin gears, SS hub + single ring up front. Chain - ?). Or ride it just in one gear

cooldad

Crayfish wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Just ride a geared bike and don't change gear.

really helpful - thanks

No problem.
Unless I detect a note of gentle sarcasm?
It is the simplest and cheapest way of finding out if it's what you want though.

Crayfish

So can't you buy a singlespeed bike? Why do you have to build one? Surely some manufacturers sell them...?

cooldad

Google is your friend. Plenty out there

29er
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gar ... gn=froogle

Rigid
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gen ... gn=froogle

Titanium
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/5656/products ... -bike.aspx

More
http://www.bicycling.com/mountainbikeco ... tain-bikes

The Rookie

A chap in my MTB group rode his without changing gear for a bit, then he used a geared frame (readily available) and built it SS with a tensioner, used a SRAM cassette you can take apart to fine tune the gear he wanted and then finally bought an SS conversion for the hub. We have a number of SS's in the club (local area quite flat....) about 1/3 run tensioners in a geared frame. Of the rest about 1/3 run Inbreds and the other 1/3 (really) run sanderson soloists with the eccentric BB.

Simon

Crayfish

Thanks cooldad. I did come across these links - the last one is American and I don't think all those bikes are available in the UK (and what prices!!). I can't imagine not having a suspension fork, so the rigid Van Nicholas and Genesis Fortitude are out, and that just leaves the Gary Fisher, which is fairly low spec (mechanical disc brakes).

I'm just not really finding what I'm looking for, which to be more specific would be:
- decent frame (steel probably - e.g. Reynolds 853)
- good suspension fork
- decent spec brakes
- 26" wheels

Simon - thanks. I guess I'm just not that good at bike mechanics to feel confident in taking a geared frame, building in a tensioner and trying different cassette gears, then the hub conversion etc. I'll take a look at the Inbreds though - thanks.

snotty badger

Its easy enough to convert a bike to single speed. You could maybe pick up a geared bargain then convert it? Sell the parts on to get a few quid back.

cat_with_no_tail

Genesis Io (if you can find one)

Sanderson Soloist

Cro-mo frame (4.8lb)
Recon Gold forks
SLX group
All for about £800

That said though, I'd still not rule out the On-ones as suggested before. They'll build one for you you know. You can either spec it yourself and they'll give you a quote, or give them a price and outline of what you're after and they'll spec something up for you within those constraints.

cooldad

Or a second hand On One. Seems cheap enough, but would be easier once he learns how to post pics.
viewtopic.php?f=40050&t=12834435

cat_with_no_tail

cooldad wrote:

Or a second hand On One. Seems cheap enough, but would be easier once he learns how to post pics.
viewtopic.php?f=40050&t=12834435

I'd refuse to buy it on the basis he's clearly a lazy cnut. I mean, not only can he not be bothered to post pics or learn how. But he can't even be arrsed posting up a full spec. I farkin' HATE it when people do that. GRRRRRR

Anonymous

Pikeys make all that effort to nick the things and they can't be bothered on the listing.



(not saying this guy is. Though I'd never buy from a vague listing).

supersonic

Cat With No Tail wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Or a second hand On One. Seems cheap enough, but would be easier once he learns how to post pics.
viewtopic.php?f=40050&t=12834435

I'd refuse to buy it on the basis he's clearly a lazy cnut. I mean, not only can he not be bothered to post pics or learn how. But he can't even be arrsed posting up a full spec. I farkin' HATE it when people do that. GRRRRRR

Annoys me too. Deleted.