How do single speeds work on single track?

[rusty]

I am considering selling my XC bike and buying a nice single speed with disc brakes ect. XC bikes with their shocks and gears are way too expensive if I want to upgrade. I am wondering what peoples' experience has been riding single track on single speed bikes. Is the lack of shocks rough? Do you miss the gears off road? Are the good ones lighter than your average XC bike? Do most people use them as commuter bikes? It is reading about the relatively inexpensive but nice Bianci D.I.S.S. and S.I.S.S. in Dirt Rag this month that has led me to this rambling series of questions.

[ZMAN]

NO-NO-YES and YES

[wooglin-at-home]

Ride my big fat knobbies on the road? Are you nuts? That's why god invented road bikes.

And FYI, you don't have to go rigid. Ain't no shame in a suspension fork.

[hairygrump]

I've ridden a rigid single speed on moderately rocky downhills, technical singletrack, easy rolling single track, city streets and once over a squirrel. It's rough, sure, but that's a strength issue more than anything, IMHO. You won't want to be bombing down 5 mile descents or hucking off your garage every day with your rigid DISS, but your hands will get stronger and/or you'll learn to like the pain. Or you'll buy yourself an oil fork and slap that dirty bastard on there. There are many satisfied single speeders that have done that.

I've never wished I could shift a gear ever. When I've been on geared bikes, I've been glad I could shift, but I've never been on a singlespeed and sorry I couldn't. Dig?

[i8urbrain]

I went from over teched hard tails to the Bianchi D.I.S.S I love my bike. most of the guys I ride with own a SS and one will never ride a geared bike again. He is working on riding fixed MTB. I never miss having gears. My SS is named Humility cause it is always humbling on steep climbs. However that happens less and less. I am waiting for FOX ShoX to send me my new fork, but I doubt they ever will.

[stump ss]

Single track is by FAR the place to ride a ss. Mine doubles as a commuter but that's just because it is so bad-ass I can't stop riding it. I agree with the guy above, when I'm on my gearie bike it is a good ride, but when I'm on my ss it is still a good ride - often better!

You'll learn to pick the sweetest lines, you'll be a better climber too.

And, the new Bianchis are sweeeeeet. So go for it!

[Lane]

http://www.explorejasper.com/sights/wabasso_oldfort.htm

I ride SS only. This is where I live and ride. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed if you go SS. It's a little more pain on the hills but you will be faster and stronger.

[Tubes of Steel]

Singlespeeds and singletrack were made for each other, which is why I'm still single.

[salsaboy]

This is how it works Rusty.
Singlespeed sucks on the road, stay off the road. On singlestrack you will generally be able to keep up with geared riders, which has the added bonus of pissing them off! I ride both a rigid and suspension ss, but only ride rigid in winter, you pays your money, you takes your pick.
Singlespeed and Singletrack just works.

[striker]

Full suspension is gathering dust...

[ZMAN]

I need someone to convince ME of that. Something in the back of my head keeps saying "You must get a full suspension frame!" It'll be single speed,of course, I can't ever go back on that-But, I can't help thinking it would be so much better on TWO springs. Maybe it's all the advert' propaganda in the bike rags.

[mtnsparky]

zman-
there are only 2 s/s dualies known to man that don't have tensioning devices, and there both just softtails. the moots ybb, very expensive and very pimp. the khs, apiece of shit! the reason is with out a dangly spring thingy, the distance between your bottom bracket spindle and rear axle has to remain constant. get a steel ridgid s/s frame, biuld it with some lock-out sus. forks and sus. seatpost if your worried about a cushy ride. Buuuut if and when you get to ride a 19lb. steel full ridgid with big tires, you'll never look back! the Bianchi siss looks like the best buy out there.

[ZMAN]

Well I have a beautiful steel Bontrager frame with all those things you mentioned-(well,except the sus.seat post. I never thought of that.)I shouldn't want for more. OK screw it! I can't afford a good full sus. frame anyway.

[mtnsparky]

ZMAN,
if the 'trager isn't your only bike and you don't mind permanent "enhancement", take it to a frame biulder and have track dropouts put on it and all your extra cable stops removed, then get it powder coated. it would cost alot less than a new frame and the finished would be bitchen. if that all makes you cringe, you'll need a chain tensioner. the one made by soulcraft is the best, get the whole kit it will save you alot of grief. you can find it at harris cyclery.

[ZMAN]

No.I wouldn't mind altering that frame-I'll look into it,Thanks!:D