SS v Gears? Should I buy a 29er?
expandingmaan
Posts: 43
Hi,
I currently ride a standard hardtail bike (24 speed). I find my gears useful as i tackle hills when commuting to work.
Im thinking of buying a single speed 29er on as budget if anyone could recommend me one? maybe the Vitus Dee?
Would you guys recommend buying a single speed to commute over a geared bike. As I love the idea of simplicity and cleaner looking bike with the single speed 29ers.
What are your experiences?
Thanks!! much appreciated
I currently ride a standard hardtail bike (24 speed). I find my gears useful as i tackle hills when commuting to work.
Im thinking of buying a single speed 29er on as budget if anyone could recommend me one? maybe the Vitus Dee?
Would you guys recommend buying a single speed to commute over a geared bike. As I love the idea of simplicity and cleaner looking bike with the single speed 29ers.
What are your experiences?
Thanks!! much appreciated
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Comments
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Gears and no.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
I'd try doing your rides in a gear similar to what you'd buy in a SS and see how you get on. Then you'll realise.0
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Odd.
First you say 'I find my gears useful' then you suggest ditching them :?:
I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?0 -
Either you can manage your commute single speed or you cannot, you may find you have to gear down so much for the hills you then loose a lot of speed, remembering the days you'll have tired legs and a heavy duty headwind.....
I do my commute on a 1x9 with an 11-28 cassette (46T up front) I could lose the top 3 gears without issue really (only use on 2 shortish downhill stretches) and struggle through without the lowest (but it would hurt) but for my commute it would probably add about 5 minutes (onto 26) if I had to do the whole lot in what is currently my second gear (46/25) which is probably the tallest I could get away with as a single speed.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
So is this just a commuting bike? Why a 'ATB' as opposed to a road bike of some sort?
What's the commute like?
I do 15 hilly miles each way, sometimes ss sometimes geared as the mood takes me. It's nice to have a choice, but always on a road bike.
Edit - @ TheRookie I regeared the SS from ~69" to 74" recently. I did wonder how on earth I'd make it up the steepest hill on the commute, 1:10 for a 20 metre section, but it does seem to happen. I think it's easy to imagine a hill couldn't be climbable in a certain gear but when it comes to it, it's not so bad.0 -
There is something to be said for having a dedicated commuting bike (whatever you go for) - puncture proof slick tyres, rigid forks, mudguards, rack, decent lights & not too flashy so its less likely to be nicked. Low maintenance through single speed or hub gears does make sense but it'snt a major issue in my experience. This way you also keep a dedicated off road machine with chunky tyres, suspension set up for off road etc - ready to go.
In other words think what you need the bike(s) to be good at 1st and worry about this other stuff second.
Personally I've used s/s on my commute and it was fine. Good around town but less good on the open road or offroad. Gears offer flexibility. As far as MTBs go I wouldn't worry about wheel size either way despite the seemingly endless deabate about it, tyre choice is more important.'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0 -
passout wrote:There is something to be said for having a dedicated commuting bike (whatever you go for).Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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BigAl wrote:I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?
They do come in quite handy.0 -
Pesky Jones wrote:BigAl wrote:I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?
They do come in quite handy.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Pesky Jones wrote:BigAl wrote:I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?
They do come in quite handy.
I see what you did there.Music, beer, sport, repeat...0 -
Single speed is good, takes a bit of getting used to but as long as you attack climbs rather than trying to just plod up them it's fine.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350
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Sounds like you need the gears, if you like the look of single speed why not look at an 8 speed Alfine.Planet X Kaffenback 2
Giant Trance X2
Genesis High Latitude 2x10
Planet X n2a
Genesis Core 200