Singlespeed MTB 101 or: Singlespeed by Dummy
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- Опубліковано 25 січ 2021
- Please subscribe to my NEW channel where all future SINGLESPEED content will be!
/ @tommypmtb
I get more questions about singlespeeds than anything else.
In this video I unload everything I know about singlespeed mountain bikes.
Stay tuned for more stupid SSMTB content!
Hat and shirt by my friends at: endurancethreadsne.com/ - Спорт
Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback on this wideo. Got some more singlespeed stuff in the works, stay tuned!
I always get crazy questions or people in complete denial its possible to just ride your freakin bike anywhere you please! SS allows you to get off the upgrade wagon. Ever notice how the sworks epic from 2016 looks lame and outdated? Yet a steel 29r SS from 2010 is still perfectly fine with a decent fork and wheels?
Tried SS for the first time last fall. I'm in my 50's and not the strongest climber, the occasional back and knee issues, and thought SS would wreck me and my riding...that I'm not strong enough to do it. After years of heckling from a SS friend to do it, I decided to throw $40 at it and give SS a try. So much anxiety going to that first ride at a technical, steep climbing park. I thought for sure my riding would be over, my body wouldn't hold up, and I wouldn't be able to climb anything. I couldn't have been more wrong. What an eye opener to be able to climb hard stuff as well or better than my geared setup!. I so hat rocks, but going through technical stuff on a SS is easier than it's ever been. Descending is just more fun, probably because it's quiet and the bike feels more responsive? The only thing that sucks is riding flats or downhills where you just go so slow because you're not able to spin fast enough. I thought I would be slower overall but was surprised to find out most of my riding was as fast or faster. My body took a little time to adapt, using more core than I'm use to, but mainly just muscle soreness. I would recommend a little more stretching after rides but us older riders should be doing that anyway. Bottom line... I am blown away at how SS has improved my riding and just how much just plain FUN it is. I highly encourage everyone to give it a try.
🤙
I’ll be 50 in a few months and just started SS. My experience has been remarkably similar.
Considering SS, your comment is what I needed to hear. Thanks👏
Me too I’m 55 been riding mountain bikes since the start and I’ve been riding a kona unit fully rigid SS for the last 4 years, most fun I’ve ever had and the fitness level is amazing, I have visible abs constantly now too !! Best bike I’ve ever owned. Simplicity, silence and flow.
61 here. 5 single speed mountain bikes, 2-29'rs , 3-26'rs. One 26r is mid fat, 3" tires,one 26r is fully rigid personally my favorite. No other mtn bikes. Single Speed or Death 🤟
There's 3 gears for us SS'ers; sitting, standing, walking. Great video!
I've been riding for 30+ years and only used one or two gears when I had a deurallier, so decided to rip it off many years ago and have loved every pedal stroke since!!
Single speed is pure and it's fun
Tommy, I was at the Pisgah Stage Race (thank you for the daily highlight vids!) and on the flight home told myself that I'm going to spend the summer riding my singlespeed. Found this channel when I got back, which is great motivation. Keep the content coming! Thanks.
Not enough SS vids out there. Been riding one for a dozen years or so. Keep the vids comin!
I just started ridin SS last year and I'm lovin it!
I'm 51 and gave up 2 SS bikes about 3 years ago. So itching to try it again now and gonna convert my Salsa Timberjack into one. I'm now settled into a full suspension, and a SS hardtail will round out my quiver. What a great video to inspire new SS riders, and bring the old guard back.
Since I had Galvatron (my 26” hardtail SS) resurrected, I’ve ridden 34 different trail systems in six states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Tennessee and Arkansas since April of 2020. Arguably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After watching your video I’ve realized I’m doing a lot of the things you speak of. One matter you didn’t mention is the rhythm, flow and meter regarding one’s riding style. Those aspects as well as understanding speed and momentum have contributed to me becoming a solid intermediate rider for now. Along with the fact that I live in Duluth, MN, with its incredible amount of diverse terrain. I’ve begun to excel @ climbing and in 2022 I’m going to ride up mountains in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. That’s where I’ll be working after I finish telemark skiing this winter in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Keep up the good work.
This is the Way
I PRed local trails consistently within a few rides on my SS. It’s not harder, it’s just fun and there is some magic to it that will make you a better rider.
I’m 50 and have knee problems while cycling. Riding SS mtb has increased the mileage I can do on a road bike. I’ve never had knee pain in my ss
You’re dog is amazing! I love how he looks at you flying towards and by him and he’s just like, “oh it’s just him…”
I’ve been riding a singlespeed since 2009 and find this video just great. It explains really well why one gear is lots of fun and how it feels.
Hey Thom, I recently got into SS and I freaking love it. It has made me a much better technical rider or at least it makes my hit stuff faster so it’s easier to clean. Great video!
Thanks for the new wicked hard video! I’ve been riding SS for 12 years now, great to see a dedicated video for this topic! I look forward to the gearing video, thanks again.
That makes SO MUCH SENSE! Very informative and insightful. The only little suggestion I'd make is to take your single speed bike, and add an 11-42 cassette on the back with a derailleur and shifter. It's just like a single speed, only more speeds. I'm only kidding... I spent a year in 2007 riding single speed most of the summer and it taught me more about momentum and how hard you can actually go... it forever changed my approach to trail riding. Nicely communicated, Dude! Look forward to more nuances through your most excellent explanations!
Great video!I was walking my dog 2 years ago on a hiking path and a single speeder blew past me as he came back toward me he stopped and I talked to him and he said Real Men ride single speeds lol.... so of course I had to go out and get a single speed absolutely love it! Love the challenge
Great video. I do xc racing and switched to a SS 10 years ago. I complete in my regular age group (70+,), against my geared buddies. I usually win. In my opinion the SS is the faster bike for several reasons. It is usually lighter, mine is 17 pounds. There is less chain friction, about 12w less. That is power added to the rear wheel instead of being used to overcome derailleur pulleys and cross chaining. Third, it just makes you a better, more attentive rider. Finally it is simple and fun. Thanks and looking forward to more SS videos.
Wait ... it's not just magic?
So approx 5lbs less than average competition and 12 more watts, on top of less maintenance and costs.
Been thinking of getting one, enjoyed your input.
So glad to see you put up another video!
What I like about single-speed is that it all comes down to you. If you couldn't make a hill, it's because YOU couldn't make a hill, and you better work harder if you want to get it. It gives you something to work toward, and forces you to overcome your own weaknesses. That's what MTB is about for me: Getting out and conquering the trail, and conquering myself. 💪🏻
Never heard of SS until last week and your video is a great intro. Good stuff.
I just love your singlespeed content even more than anything else! Keep on please!
you maybe mentioned it but if not I'd recommend people start out by going to an easier trail system or a trail system you know well to start with. Starting out on easier trails would help you get used to looking ahead, using your momentum, and anticipating the uphills. Great video and welcome back to the youtube!
This and your other videos on SS have answered tons of questions for me and provided much needed inspiration. I've been riding SSMTBing now for about a year.I acquired a hardtail SS and it has evened out the riding that I do with my wife on her geared bike. I'm still faster than her, (and generally faster than I am on my geared bike), and need to wait for her, but now I'm breathing hard while I'm waiting, so it's useful, not wasted time. I also have a SS fully rigid bike for when I need to punish myself for watching too many MTB UA-cam videos. SO THANKS TONS FOR YOUR EFFORTS!
That was a really well produced and informative video man. you're a beast on that single speed thanks for the tips.
hey brother good job on the videos..I'm from NJ and first started SS in mid 90's, I'm working in Massachusetts near fall river so I've been riding Freetown forest and village park on my SS. I give all the riders in this area much respect for the trails they ride.
crazy amount of boulders and rocks everywhere you go. it's definitely teaching me different techniques that I never really thought about in my area in nj..
Props from Northern Finland! 🍺
Ss mtb since 2007, currently starting third season with quite light carbon Farley - need to tackle the snowy conditions here too.
Keep the singlespeed content coming, cheers!
Loved this video, look forward to your gearing chat 👍
The best ss intro I’ve seen, I’m new to the game of ss and loving it, I’ve broke the sub button hitting it so hard
Haha, thanks!
Nice content and all true, love my kona unit fully rigid SS. Subscribed because I’m looking forward to the gearing vid 😁
Great video! Just converted my old 26" Specialized Epic to SS, makes an incredibly light xc bike (no cassette, no derailer), utter fun!!
Ride it more than my at the moment Merida 1x11 Full suspension rig...made me such a stronger rider aswell, SS is the future.
Not sure how we have gone full circle in this discipline, with biking technology moving so fast, but it's just so good and pure - try it if you can, definitely breathed new life into my older well loved frame 😊
Also has MASSIVE bragging potential with your mates when you blast them on their geared rigs 🤪
Return of my favorite bike channel ! Totally awesome dude.
Thanks. About to build a single speed (Canfield N9). Perfect timing for this vid - Cheers.
Perfect series for me to discover. Just picked up a Kona Unit. Thanks for the content to hold me over till I can hit the trail.
How are you liking it?
@@chris4536 The Unit really is an amazing bike. I ended up putting a 130m suspension fork on it & run it both single speed or with gears. It's such a versatile beast.
Beautiful description of the dynamics of single-speed grinding!
Where has this product been all my life?! Works like a charm!
Thanks for the video!
I ride mainly on-road, but have been doing more gravel riding over the last year or so. I am thinking of building up a single-speed gravel/light off-road bike, and your insights have been extremely helpful.
When riding on-road, I own two bikes - one is a single speed, the other is a 20 speed. In the last eight years or so, I have cycled 11,000 miles, plus change, on my single speed road bike and roughly 2,000miles on my geared equivalent. Go figure…
I built my single-speed from scratch. I bought a second hand frame, got it shot blasted and powder coated and then went to town building it up. I ended up with a 48:18 gearing with 700x32 tyres, which is roughly 70 gear inches. I think.
When I was debating gearing, a friend mentioned that whatever gear I actually go for, I always have a second option of exactly 24 gear inches. This gives me two feet, and I walk. No shame in that!
Thanks again, keep up the good work and keep well :-)
Got a Honzo ST build started, with some Maple wheels. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Tom, going SS this year and we are the same age, terrain and region so this helped a great deal. If you need a flat surface to park your RV in Central VT, your welcome to ride the Northfield Valley base out of our place.
I just started riding a SS a few weeks ago. First time out on it, I set 10 PR's on 16 segments on my local trail. I'm not a KOM hunter nor do I particularily try for PR's. Truth be told, I only know where one segment on that trail starts and ends. I just got out and rode and did my best to stay on top of the gear and it took care of itself. Yes my average heart rate was greater than normal so I was putting in work, but I figured out several things you mentioned like throwing in 4 or 5 peddles when you are coasting just to keep on top of the gear. On my geared bikes, I get lazy and coast then ether shift to an easier gear to get back up to speed or grunt it out.
It's definitely harder effort wise than geared but that just means I can get the same workout in a much shorter time and distance :) It also means that getting back on the geared bike, I can go longer because my endurance is greater which was the main focus of the SS. I've been amazed at how quick I've progressed fitness wise in just a few rides.
I am totally impressed with your skills when it comes to biking at extraordinary places for biking. Very cool.
This was hilarious, inspiring and informative... thanks!
Hello from India... I am a single speed rider too... Thank you for the video... I believe single speed makes you stronger.... Helps you build stamina.
Hello there! What's your SS' gear ratio? How many teeth do you have for your chain ring & sprocket, respectively
Thanks in advance!
Wicked Thom, i can't wait for the next episode 🤘
Just pulled down my Giant STP SS and you just validated my decision before my first ride has even happened haha
Bro,your hilarious and informative at the same time.. love the video 😎🤘🏻
Great video. Was looking foe an explanation and all The other videos gave no explanation. I get it now. Thanks
I rode SS for years back in the day and always remember a buddy's comment riding behind me laughing like drain saying I had calfs like popeyes biceps!🤣
Fun talk is what happens when singlespeeders try to ride with geared weirdos. Esp going up hill... they go so slowly!
I think about this looking father ahead (always my problem in CX - staring at the few feet in front of the wheel) like WC Rally, except w/o a co-driver. I'm setting up or thinking about the feature (line) one or two features (lines) ahead of where I am at, kind of laying down the cards - setting up for the next one before getting through the one you are on.
When you get to gearing - covering the oval/round thoughts -also tire size factoring- and then what chain is best (breaks the least often)
This was awesome dude - thanks for this
I had a rant about following geared riders but that was in the original 28 minute version of this wideo (yikes!). Mike Wissell is one of the only geared riders I've ever felt "comfortable" following. He gets it and has the power to punch the climbs in a way that doesn't stack up a singlespeeder.
@@DirtWireTV nice, I'm lucky too, Syl L is like that. He's also about half my size and his bike is 20# lighter (ok maybe only 15#) but it is definitely not the norm, everyone else I have to remember to give em a bit of a lead or just plan on running, like you mentioned.
Great video and advice :) I am hoping to get back into single speed mtb racing soon. I rode a 26” single speed Giant dirt jumper with a dropper seat post. Gearing at my peak was 34/16. I think bike weight was 26lbs. Rear brake only.
When I started out I was geared at 32/20. I used the red road trail at oak mtn state park in Alabama as my gauge. If I could do the whole trail without putting my foot down once, I would gear up a tooth in front or down one in the back.
100% on point. 🤘🏼
My inner trackie loves this series... Alas until I get back to my trackie shape I need that 52. :)
Never thought about racheting until you mentioned it. Oh yeah, I do it.
It’s the most fun riding, I used a ss track bike for anything under 40miles
And in Missouri so, mostly flow trails and I like riding anything under a 16 on the back end to just keep the flow going.
But, it’s so much more intuitive and having a lighter back end (enduro style hardtail, kinda a heavy bike) is far more fun to get in the air.
Good advice
Priority bikes has some dope single speeds with a belt drive system!
Wicked nice! Lets talk about flats vs clips and 29 vs 27.5+ all on SS.
Working on something now ...
Nice vid!! 🤘🏻
Thanks very much for all your advice is really good inform me and funny
Good Stuff Tom! Make more videos!
I've always wondered why I was faster on my SS!
Single speed road rider myself, although this time of year it would probably be better to have a full suspension mountain bike with the shape the roads are in! Recovering from Covid and my lungs were shot after a trip around the block, also been a while since I had my bike out.
Awesome video. I got a single speed recently and I'm committed for life it's incredible. I used to trail run a lot and it has a similar feel. I would love to hear what you think about single speed specific geometry.
now thats an interesting concept!
@@felderosa I've thought about since and I think it's mostly a fit thing. My main thought was of weight distribution front and rear to maintain good traction for climbing and control for descending.
@@ABFPV584 interesting. I've never tried a singlespeed but I could imagine that a different geometry could be in order!
I had my derailleur get sucked into the back wheel and chewed up out on the trail once so I took it off, luckily I used to carry a massive toolkit, selected middle ring ( it was the 80’s) and middle rear, shortened the chain and just got on with it. I had such a great ride, the power I was putting in felt crisper, down hill I let gravity do it’s thing and I was surprised just how Steep I could climb. I guess it harps back to the original klunker bikes. Have you ever considered a Sturmey Archer 3 speed or 2 kick shift ?
Just moved up to VT, my old SS 29er got stolen in Chicago years ago, think I might have to get another one lol. See ya at Burke!
I always laugh when people say they are low maintenance. I ride rigid as well but the torque and rattling does terrible things to bottom brackets (especially), chains, chainrings, hubs, etc. A couple of my buddies and me have all had the same experience. Also the breaking a chain thing is real! As is skipped chain or a slipped bottom bracket. So scary when it happens, put your foot down and the floor drops out!
Hei! Great vid mate, am just thinking, do you know if there are any frames with sliding dropouts? Or do I need to get a "conversion kit" and a chain tensioner etc?.....would love a steel 1x1....but seems impossible to find any.
Edit, what are you riding yourself?
Just bought my first bicycle, and i choose a single speed. My place is on a hill, going to work is downhill, going back home is uphill, roads are Rocky. Hope my bicycle survive for years to come, cost me 2 months pay
Hey Tom! I am very interested in going SS. I was wondering what crankset/chainring you recommend? Thanks for the awesome videos!
I've had the same 1999 Schwinn Homegrown (made by Yeti) 26" SS conversion since I broke the deraillure sometime around 2004. I'v been doing more trail running than cycling over the last few years. I'm interested in getting a new 29" SS. Any recommendations? The Kona Unit seems like a good choice with new geometry plus add a fork. Or the steel Honzo? What else is out there?
I think those are both good choices. The Pivot LES is great too, but fancy. If you wanna get crazy, there's the Kona Honzo ESD.
been ss for 14 years now, it is the most pure form of mtbing....ss on a great bike Niner sir 2012 is amazing...modern marketing does not work for reasonably flat xc
ss
Great video on singlespeeds! BTW are you doing True Grit this year?
Thanks! I don't think so, unfortunately.
entertaning:) good stuff..try single speed on an ebike on an xc track...defenatly some sort of magic with single speed just that reved out or bogged down thing:)..maybe a wide range 3 or 4 or even 2 speed home made cassette??? ps i can feel the diferance in rear suspention when there is only 1 gear/weight on the cassette..its notisably better suspention.
i started off as a roadie, bought a hardtail but got rid of that because heavy and the fork takes alot out of you.
i got fitter and bought a gravel bike but stuff on that bike keeps breaking.
i bought a single speed mtb and its coming tommorow, has a rigid fork. keen to see how it goes.
any tips for dialing in gear ratios?
Nice video! Curious if you know about how many miles you get out of a chain on your singlespeed?
I appreciate you mention that a single speed is not for those who is not prepared physically and one may actually injure themselves. Usually I don't hear that from exalted single speed evangelists.
We need a singlespeed dummy sticker!
also I'm going to be in rhode island for like 6 months for work, staying near Lincoln woods state park.
Excellent info dude. I’ve been considering doing SS for awhile now but I do worry about injuries as I approach 50. I now have to wear those stupid arm bands as I have tennis elbow and golfers elbow. lol. I’m conflicted about having a low enough gear to do trials and a high enough to not completely suck trying to ride somewhere. I know you do some trials, can you muscle a pedal kick from static with 32/20?
I've actually got a low gear experiment going right now-30 X 21. It works great in very technical stuff (would suck anywhere else) and would probably be better for trials. Don't think I could pedal kick from standing very well with a 32 X 20, but I also only have "baby trials" skills.
@@DirtWireTV my cassette has a 21 I think. I’ll have to resist the urge to shift and see how bad I suck. I pretty much suck anyway so it can’t really hurt.
I feel the force.
Converted my bike to a single speed. Did this because shfiter cable broke. Funds don't exist to immediatley fix (yes its cheap but like... if money isn't there it isn't there) so why not have a little adventure in dumb.
Funny that you stress 32x20 as your preferred gearing since that's what I'd settled on (4th gear with a 32t chainring.) I'm out of shape but that gives me a sortof happy medium on the cogset I was using. Plus enough space left in the dropouts i ncase i gear up.
I think I might need a single speed in my life after watching this video....time to put my baby legs to work
is there big difference between single speed converted wheel over wheel with single speed specific hub?
May I ask you what camera and what lens you were filming this on (when at home)?
Sony a6500. Thanks for watching!
Thom P, when are you doing the single speed workout vid? I need to get in shape. Thanks.
SS for the win. I have only 1 mountain bike and its SS. I will have it no other way. Everyone is different but SS has just made me such a better, stronger rider. I am just not the sit and spin type.
SS for the win...pure bred mountain biking.
Single track with single speed hardtail 26, can't get any better than that 🥳🥳🥳
Thoughts on a dropper?
I’ve been using a shimano 16t cog for about 9 years now never replaced and I ride most street and trials I keep expecting it to snap one day still going strong 💪
What chain ring and cog did you run in this video?
What do you ride? I ride a SC Chameleon a want to set up as a SS? GEARING ??
Hi, im planning to convert my enduro mtb to single speed, whats the best cog teeth for 32teeth chainring, any advice please? Cheers! SUBSCRIBED
What bike companies make single speed mountain bikes from the factory ? I was possibly wanting a giant but I couldn’t find any the are putting out
Off the top of my head: Kona, Pivot, Trek, Specialized, Surly, and Canfield. Don't think giant makes one.
What shoes and cleats?
When I was a kid, all bikes were single speed. ^^
Does converting to single speed reduce or increase the resale value??
what if i have a 1x12 and start using only 1 gear ?
So, this might be a stupid question but here goes: How much extra power and effort can a single speeder generate by consistently doing upper bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, dips, etc. 3-4 days a week? It seems to me there are too many bikers who have good legs but not enough muscle up top. I wonder how strength training like this benefits riding? Do you do upper body workouts? If so, what do you do?
This question actually warrants a full wideo response ... and I am planning one. In short, I definitely do a good amount of core and strength work so my rickety old body doesn't fall apart while I'm riding singlespeeds or just riding my trail bike on chunky terrain.
Your right on! Simple, fun, mega challenging, builds strength like crazy, silence, and single speeding is a meditative state of "oneness" See what I did there?
How about using an oval chainring? Would it be beneficial for single speed?
You’d snap the chain first rotation
Even if you use chain tensioner for the slack?
No problem
I’ve run absolute black oval on 3 different single speeds
Makes the stroke power smoother
I watched only because it’s honzo ti 😎