To SS or not SS? Opinions please!

Wheelspinner

Right, I've acquired a new frameset (ok, technically it's used but new to me). Bought on the premise that I'd like a single speed MTB, and figured it would be fun to build one from scratch.

Are they daft things really? Never ridden one off-road, so not sure how useful or practical they really are.

Also, eccentric BB or chain tensioner? I don't mind either solution, and while I know the eccentric BB solution looks cleaner, does it really work as well as a good tensioner and normal chainset?

FWIW, frameset is a Storck Rebelion 1.3 carbon, with rigid Syncros fork. Eccentric BB option is a Phil Wood.... looks lovely, but worth the effort or not?

1mancity2

All depends on how fit you are and your gearing as to how practical/ridable it will be, build it ride it and if you don't like it stick gears on it.

chain tensioner for me as I know nothing about eccentric BB.

Wheelspinner

I'm reasonably fit and ride (relatively) easy terrain, so I'm not that concerned about it being useable. More whether they are a novelty that people build and ride for a month then get sick of it, and go back to geared.

Not a cheap thing to do although I suppose the parts will be easily saleable if I don't like it.

The eccentric BB looks elegant, but I wonder whether even with that the tensioner will still be needed to control any chain shenanigans.

1mancity2

I had a SS loved it, low maintenance, if your not hammering DH etc go for it.

supersonic

They are lighter. That's about it really. The extra weight of gears usually makes them more efficient though as you can tailor your cadence to the most efficient - this is why we have gears!

The chains still stretch as they wear on SS. I think the tensioner is thr most practical solution.

mountaingoatimnot

Really is tied to your fitness level and the terrain you intend covering. Just ask yourself how much you currently shift gears, and whether thats because they are there or through necessity ?

Wheelspinner

supersonic wrote:

...The chains still stretch as they wear on SS. I think the tensioner is thr most practical solution.

This is what bugs me about the BB solution. Yes it's adjustable to take up slack if the chain stretches, but who wants to be @r$ed pulling cranks off to do that all the time? Not me..

Think I'll give it a go with just a tensioner then.

nicklouse

or see if you can run a magic gear combo.

Wheelspinner

nicklouse wrote:

or see if you can run a magic gear combo.

Do any of the calculators give you that? Or is it trial and error? Finally found it on a road bike, after much changing of rings and sprockets.. expensive solution really as I used 4 front chain rings before finding a combo that works perfectly.

Chainstay length appears to be 420 mm axle to bb centres.

hucking_fell

You could use a bb mounted roller guide as a chain tensioner.

Like this:

nicklouse

Wheelspinner wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

or see if you can run a magic gear combo.

Do any of the calculators give you that? Or is it trial and error? Finally found it on a road bike, after much changing of rings and sprockets.. expensive solution really as I used 4 front chain rings before finding a combo that works perfectly.

Chainstay length appears to be 420 mm axle to bb centres.

not found one yet.

it just went together.



32/15

hucking_fell

Nice Dennis the Menace horn Nick

My SS gears just worked out too:



edit - 36/16

snotty badger

I'd try SS if I were you. I really love it, and it's surprising how quick you get use to it. My first time up Whinlatter I was seeing stars, now I'm sitting down on the way up. It makes you attack more obstacles too. It's hard to explain but it's nice just pedalling along without the distraction of gears... I think I need to grow a beard and get me some sandals...

blister pus

..eat brown rice, start knitting fog and a quick name change to Peter Kumbayah

Stevo_666

supersonic wrote:

They are lighter. That's about it really. The extra weight of gears usually makes them more efficient though as you can tailor your cadence to the most efficient - this is why we have gears!

Why not use your geared bike and just not change gear when you ride? Then if you change your mind about single speed it's cost you nothing . As SS says, all it's doing is saving a few hundred grams in weight.

ilovedirt

yeah, personally I wouldn't bother with SS except for on a commuter or dirt jumper or something, certainly wouldn't want to take one on an XC ride.

Also, I'm pretty sure you can't retrofit an EBB...

Wheelspinner

ilovedirt wrote:

Also, I'm pretty sure you can't retrofit an EBB...

Sure you can. Have a look at one of these:

http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/philcentric.php



Just fit to your standard BSA English BB (or Italian thread too), and away you go.

Am seriously considering one, since it includes the bearings anyway, so not that much more expensive than a decent BB.

Means any Hollowtech 2 or SRAM GXP crank (with adaptor) can be used.

nicklouse

why not a ENO rear hub? with their disc brake adaptor as i guess you will be getting a SS spec hub anyway.

cooldad

Wheelspinner wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

Also, I'm pretty sure you can't retrofit an EBB...

Sure you can. Have a look at one of these:

http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/philcentric.php



Just fit to your standard BSA English BB (or Italian thread too), and away you go.

Am seriously considering one, since it includes the bearings anyway, so not that much more expensive than a decent BB.

Means any Hollowtech 2 or SRAM GXP crank (with adaptor) can be used.

This
"All Philcentric outboard bottom brackets cups require the Phil Wood Philcentric installation tool. (Please Note: This tool is only available to shops)"
Would rule it out for me.

nicklouse

cooldad wrote:

Wheelspinner wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

Also, I'm pretty sure you can't retrofit an EBB...

Sure you can. Have a look at one of these:

http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/philcentric.php



Just fit to your standard BSA English BB (or Italian thread too), and away you go.

Am seriously considering one, since it includes the bearings anyway, so not that much more expensive than a decent BB.

Means any Hollowtech 2 or SRAM GXP crank (with adaptor) can be used.

This
"All Philcentric outboard bottom brackets cups require the Phil Wood Philcentric installation tool. (Please Note: This tool is only available to shops)"
Would rule it out for me.

well for you we have this
http://www.trickstuff.de/en/products/exzentriker_KL.php

Wheelspinner

nicklouse wrote:

cooldad wrote:

This
"All Philcentric outboard bottom brackets cups require the Phil Wood Philcentric installation tool. (Please Note: This tool is only available to shops)"
Would rule it out for me.

well for you we have this
http://www.trickstuff.de/en/products/exzentriker_KL.php

Oooooh, shiny. WANT.

About the same cost, and looks remarkably similar to the Philcentric, yet they claim a patent? hmmmmm...

The tool problem isn't such a big deal. My LBS loves me, or more specifically, my credit cards. He's great with giving me access to tools and stuff occasionally.

cooldad

TBH the whole single speed thing would put me off. My old frail legs need all the help they can get.