Singlespeeding makes me enjoy the ride. I'm not worried about what gear I'm in or how fast I was up the hill. Fast enough to get there, slow enough to enjoy the journey.
Been a singlespeeder for 15 years now. Love it 'cause it's an honesty device - Any shortcomings in performance on a ride are in my riding, not the bike.
I have a 1987 rockhopper I converted to a single speed with 1.95" commuter tires. Best set-up I have ever made! now I want to only ride my single speed.
Yesss a SS vid! Congrats on being a new father! I just did a 140mi ride - 32x22 - and it has completely changed how I view bikes. Light rear end, CHEAP, extreme durability and, best of all, you are never exerting mental energy in selecting or switching gears and you're never thinking about your cadence etc or at least I don't unless I'm spinning out on flats :)
Always cool to see some single speed love. I'm lucky that where I live I can get away with a single speed for most trails and then back to gears for the mountains with the double black diamond trails.
Well said Neil. I've been riding mountain bikes since 1981 and was always AMAZED at single speeders (like Victor Vicentti of America). Flashback 15 years ago and I bought my first SS a Surly 1x1 fully rigid mainly because I wanted a new bike and thats all I could afford with a 5 year old and new house payments. What a revelation ! It was so much fun and I found I was faster on our local race series on the SS. Today I have a road, cross, monster cross and hardtail single speed bikes and I find myself grabing these more than my geared versions. However at 62 I do notice more aches and pains if I SS too much....so the old adage of too much of a good thing. One thing I have not tried yet is bike packing single.. Maybe next season.
SS changes my psychology on the trail. Even when I forced myself to stay in one gear on a geared bike, it wasn't the same. I felt like I was battling myself, whereas on SS 100% of my focus is on being the best rider I can be. It also does something to the nervous system. Like how a mother can lift a car off her child even though she'd never be able to do that otherwise, clearly muscles are much stronger than we think, but the nervous system places limits to prevent damage. SS bikes work all the muscles hard when climbing, creates that psychological stress of "need" in order to make it over obstacles and up through technical terrain without shaming ourselves, and trains the nervous system to release more of our natural strength. This translates to more skill even on a geared bike, because our muscle memory is more precise and better tuned to the tiny, almost unnoticeable motions we need to maneuver the machine. The best thing for me is it blows my mind how little I actually know about my own body. I'm just like you: Stubborn as hell and will always attempt every hill no matter how I feel about it. And even when my muscles are shot, feel like trash, look like trash, and can't possibly under any circumstances make it up that hill, I end up doing it anyway and feel amazing by the time I reach the top. How is this even possible, I think to myself. And every time it happens, it feels like an epiphany, and I become a little better. Great video.
I recently converted my vintage road bike to a single speed. It's awesome and SO much lighter. Since my frame has drop outs all I had to do was remove the derailleur, hanger and shifter and shorten my chain with a tool. I kept my five speed free wheel on the back and have enough room in the drop outs to set it up on fourth or third gear. All I have to do is get off the bike, loosen the quick release and move the chain up or down a gear then re-tighten everything.
I just finished a singlespeed bike I started to work on after seeing this video. Thanks for inspiration. What pushed me the most was the this additional thinking you need to put to your daily ride and the acceptance that walking with a bike is a good opportunity to take a look around. Keep it up.
Simplespeed is the way to go, been riding SS for decades. I'm a big dude and i send hard. Singlespeed is the only drivetrain i can really put power through without destroying the drivetrain. I don't save any weight because i run a 415 size chain, often steel bmx cranks, sometimes a double stack chainring to keep it from stripping and bending, and ACS wide claw freewheel. I've never been able to put even half my power down with dainty delicate geared drivetrains and it's super frustrating. I've folded and stripped chainrings, snapped and stripped countless mtb bb and cranksets, used to break a chain every ride, and have even grenaded a few cheap freewheels that weren't ACS, had one shatter the outer race into 3 pieces on a climb and put shrapnel in my calf as i faceplanted. With singlespeed and a beefy drivetrain i can charge as hard as i want, or as much as the frame can take without bending, snapping or crushing the stays, just dig in and sprint up climbs. Because of the extra power that SS can let you deliver effectively it pairs awesomely well with a good sturdy steel frame. Not only is it more compliant and better feeling, especially rigid, but aluminum frames will literally get eaten alive by all that torque. I've literally had xc chainstays crush like a beer can under load, tore off the whole rear triangle on a 4x frame, and had another frame the downtube tore and twisted from bb to headtube in a spiral while pedalkicking off a stairset. Bike just turned into a wet noodle on launch and exploded into scrap metal on landing lol. I'd get up to a month out of a 'strong' aluminum frame before adding it to the mass bike grave. Meanwhile i'm still riding steel frames from the 90's (vintage Stumpjumper FTW lol!) that feel better, are stronger, and either haven't broken yet or if they have, i just weld or braze the steel to fix it easily.
I've always loved having a ss in the quiver. They're just so different and fun. And I really don't see as much conversation about geared bikes as much as I do about single speeds. I am a proud member of both, btw!
These are great insights! I ride a Kona Unit rigid SS (32T oval/18T), 29" (2.6 front, 2.4 rear). This setup is totally awesome and it always surprises me how steep it can go uphill. Some of the uphill segments on SS are even faster than those on my Transition Spur, (but the descent is slower because it has no suspension). I feel stronger and better equipped as a biker, physically and mentally.
About a month and a half ago, one of my favorite all around bikes got stolen. So, I needed to replace it (I mean...need/want...whatever). As I was searching, the opportunity to pick up a solid, sporty, low cost single speed appeared. I hadn't spent any time on a single speed since I was a kid. So, I bought it, customized it, and now I ride it more than all of my geared bikes with the exception of my commuter. As for the details...you pretty much have said everything I would have shared. 😁👍🏾👊🏾
Single speed is the way. I bought an old raggedy pugsley off Craigslist for blizzard commuting and converted it to single speed. I was so hooked after that first trail ride. Stopped riding my squishy bike entirely and sold it. My riding improved so quickly and I gained so much confidence. Started racing ultra endurance and 4 years later I am still obsessed. Single speed is ❤
Love this video! Riding singlespeed is beautiful simplicity. It allows me to mentally check out and focus on technique rather than shifting. Its hard work but very rewarding and low maintenance. SS brings me back to my roots as a kid riding a SS BMX bike everywhere. I am a stronger and more well rounded rider since I started riding SS. Riding SS at night is the most peaceful riding experience I have every had. Quiet, simple and peaceful! Thanks for putting out this video today and Congratulations on your new baby!
Great vid as an introduction to SS. I've been riding a SS MTB for over 20 years. For me its the mental simplicity (above cost savings, mechanical simplicity etc.), simply get on and ride (or push) when I go out for a ride I will take an SS simply because its fun - I always come back from a ride on an SS with a big smile, definitely more so than on a geared bike. In fact I only got a geared bike so the guys I rode with could keep up...
I was never into caring about weight until I got a ss cyclocross bike. It's amazing how fun it became to climb. I love that it makes my local pretty mild trails a bit harder and more challenging, as you said, you gotta think ahead. I'm not converting my hardtail to a ss set up. Also, I love the comradery of ss riders. You just automatically make friends with other ss riders. Downside. I tend to find myself ahead on climbs and behind on flats in group rides.
I always thought SS’ing was dumb, but I found a complete bike (in the color I wanted) that came built as a SS. It’s now my go-to bike. I love the simplicity. Only having one gear can act as a governor for my body (so I don’t bonk by over-exerting), the chain stays cleaner longer (especially in dusty and sometimes muddy eastern Kansas), and as you mentioned, it makes you a more aware rider. It’s like driving a manual transmission in a vehicle. I find myself engaging with the experience more. I still can’t trackstand, but having to mash up hills at slow speeds has helped my balance a lot. I can climb and descend better than I could pre-SS.
I know this is an old video, but I started riding a fixed gear a couple of years ago, then I got tired of the fixed downhill. It’s now setup with a Sturmey Archer S2 kicker hub. It’s essentially a 1-1/2 speed. It has an internal gear reduction that if you back pedal a 1/2 step it drops the internal gearing to a slight gear reduction to help get up hills. I’ve been riding it this way for about 2 years now with a 49/19. I’m now laser focused on getting a single speed gravel bike. I’m leaning towards the Salsa Stormchaser single speed. I’m planning on buying soon before the fall. By the way I stumbled onto this channel not too long ago, great videos!
All the same reasons as you. I love the challenge. It trains me to be a better rider. My SS is light as hell and it's so simple. Just me, my bike, my pedals and my brakes.
love the simplicity of ths SS set up. Mountainbiking in the Netherlands lacks mountains for the larger part of the country, but the 1 gear set up adds the challenge for climbing!
Learned how to ride/got my first bike at 17 and it was a single speed. At 24 now, I still haven’t jumped that line and got a geared bike. I find that the single speed is all I really need, especially living in New York City. Longest ride i did was about an 80 mile ride on a 48x17 fixed gear, and that was really tough, but i finished the ride none the less. I can only imagine how much easier that ride would be on a lower gearing. Riding single speed/fixed gear really has been just the most fun for me
Every ride on a singlespeed is an adventure! I've been riding my SS a LOT in the last year, as my wife wants to ride more often. Rather than get her an eBike, I handicap myself by riding "My little pony" at 48 gear inches. I even rode a century on it last April. It was fantastic!
I accidentally got into single speed. I rebuilt a Specialized Work 2 as a mountain bike, but didn't have a working shifter. So I temporarily set it on the straightest gear to start using the bike. I hadn't biked in 5 years so I fogured that would help build my legs back up in a hurry. That sure did the trick! What surprised me is that I'm hooked. The simplicity is great and I love not fiddling with gears.
Second time I've watched this and it's a really good video - thank you Neil. It's also my second time singlespeeding. I sold my full sus bike and my gravel bike to go down to one bike, and I bought a Kona Unit last year. A few rides on one gear and I hated it. So I fitted an old 11sp groupset I had in the shed. Just like that riding was easier again. And... much less fun. So I've re-singlespeeded the bike and I'm now loving it. Yes it makes me stronger more quickly (everything Neil says is true folks), the bike is WAY lighter, and I no longer need to wear a chamois (yeah I know you don't anyway but I've always done so) because you're so mobile on the bike in terms of positioning compared to running gears. Having a sore butt just isn't a factor any more. And yes it's a full body workout. I even need to stretch less than with a geared bike - the extra movement on the bike stops muscles from becoming tight so quickly. It just makes everything that bit more simple and basic; back to my roots riding simple bikes as a kid. I had become tired of £300 worth of maintenance on my full sus bike every year just to keep the thing serviceable (minimum of a fork, shock and dropper service). Apart from the expense, for me when riding a bike became more about how the bike was tuned/set up rather than it getting out of the way and letting me enjoy my time riding, it was time for a change. If you're curious (it's not for everyone) and you haven't tried it do; once you've acquired the taste for one gear it's hard to go back.
Hi there! Regarding cycling technique and physical effort, everything you say can be applied to a geared bike, by simply staying in a single gear and never shifting. I regularly do such single speed simulations, and the best part is that changing the gearing for a different course is quite simple!
Wow! Been riding SingleSpeed for 9 years now. Looks like you figured it all out all the tricks and trade in this video. Yup SS is fun, sometimes with Magic. Super less maintenance. Glad you made this video!
I have two single speeds; a Critical Harper and a State Bicycle Klunker (Beatles Edition). I ride 12 miles to work and there are a few small, challenging climbs. Once you get past those, the bikes ride super smooth. The Critical is set up for fast flats, the Klunker is set up for slower flats but easier climbs. I've never thought of setting up a trail bike with one gear. I may just put that on my list. I love the simplicity and the idea of yes, slowing down. I have a vintage road bike I've been considering setting up as a single/fixed gear. That's the winter project. Haven't committed yet but when I do, we'll post a video. Thanks.
I really loved this video, Neil, thank you! For me this was the best explanation yet out there of the great and true advantages of riding single speed. I actually started out riding MTB trails on an All City Mr Pink I got second that was set up single speed, and had such a dang blast with it! Then I geared it up, and while that was nice for longer gravel rides and bikepacking in Denmark where I live, I think that now, thanks to you, I finally realise what I had lost by doing so: the extreme fun, the beautiful simplicity, the great full-body workout and the fantastic feeling afterwards. I am converting back first chance I get (so thanks also for the gear ratio bit - that is knowledge I had not yet incorporated, but will now!). Gratitude:)!
I recently converted my CX pit bike to single speed. Used 65 gear inch locally with some modest road climbs with at just off tempo rides and discovered I LOVE IT! Next I raced CX in Florida age group (55+ with gears) and open SS using 58.3 Inch set-up. My lap splits were consistently faster both days on the Single Speed. Mind=blown.
Love my singlespeed, Rigid Kona Big Unit 32x20 3” tire in front 2.25 rear and Rigid Waltworks 29+, 28x18….great to climb and simply fun minimalistic rides!!
Agreed on all points. I have a geared bike but it just doesn't. Make me smile the way my SS does. Especially climbing!!! Sure a geared FS goes down faster but SS definately makes me a better, stronger rider. And I love the simplicity... nothing to think about but pedaling.
I have been toying with the idea after a local abosultley handled me on our local trails. I have most of the parts for my salsa beargrease and with my new rocket ron 3.0 tires I just might try it. Boost that stay at home Dad speed👍
Great video, thanks for sharing! Some great points which I agree with entirely. The simplicity is one of the main reasons for me - less brain power used in considering gear changes. Just point and shoot. It's like being a kid again! I often get a bit 'faddy' with these things, but SS has been with me a couple of years now and all of my bikes (commuter, roadie, MTB) have ended up getting converted - I can't see myself changing back. What I also find interesting, and joke about with riding buddies, is that SS naturally makes you faster on the climbs and slower on the descents (generally). Ask any rider if they'd like to spend less time climbing and more time descending, I doubt many would say 'no'...
It's like being a badass 9yr old on a bmx bike again. No shame in walking and taking in the eye candy around you, no shame in ripping the bars right off the stem with all you got. Interested in the oval chain ring, I remember having a Biopace set up but it's application for SS seems legit. Thanks fer the tip, you guys rock like Led Zeppelin.
I do really enjoy your videos and curated bike packing information with your website. I didn’t know about the publication and that’s nice, I’ll look at joining because I value great resources. As for SS, I’m a very active SS rider. I ride my same local trails and have found it simple and rewarding to do a 1-3 hour ride. Mostly because it’s a workout grind on the ascent with almost no flat sections to pedal on the descent, so like you said, less braking and learning how to flow through the trails. As for oval ring I don’t like it for SS because of a few reasons, I don’t want a loose chain and 2nd is that I completely feel that the extra forward momentum you get when standing on a round ring is lost with oval SS.
I converted an old specialized hardtail into a rigid urban single speed (29 32x13). I agree with everything and am just waiting to pounce on a single speed cog for my mountain hardtail
I love SS because it's hard. Also, the simplicity of it is refreshing. It makes me a better rider, physically and also with skills - picking better lines.
I have singlespeed as my secondary bike for about ten years now and i love it. For those exact reasons you mentioned. It started out of need when i broke my bike in the middle of season. So i built a singlespeed bike form old parts i had lying around. Now i can´t live without it.
I grew up riding bmx bikes to school and across town as my main source of transportation. Thought a road bike with gears was the next step, but I hated the hassle. This is perfect for me.
I ride a 29 and 29+ rigid single-speeds and really have a difficult time riding anything else on Single-track. I just built up a steel frame 38/18 gravel ride. If you like single-speeding on Single-tracks, I highly recommend ya give this a try……ya won’t go back…….single-speed is really a three speed….stand up, sit down or walk!
Great video Neil - I am definitely a fan of running SS - I recently tackled a pretty big day in New Mexico all on my SS and everyone thought I was nuts - but there is something about that out-of-the-saddle, methodical, rhythmic mashing that comes from pedaling a SS up big hills. And when it did come time to push - the bike was certainly lighter! 😝 I have definitely become more confident working on my bike as well - swapping out Cogs and chainrings etc... 🤘
I love single speed because even though I’m not actually going as fast, I feel faster. I’m more engaged with the terrain I’m riding over, and with a ridged fork that isn’t necessarily tracking the ground as well, all that trail input makes it feel like I’m going faster than I am.
All of my bikes, tandem, fat tire and fixie are single speed with the exception of one. I replaced all my 18t cogs with 26t cogs on all my single speed bikes. I like the simplicity of a single speed and little to no maintenance of a single speed bike and the light weight of a single speed.
Thank you for the nod to single-speeding; nice to know it's not just a few stray 'crazies' like myself who part or full-time eschew the overcomplicated geared/f.s. rigs. It's Still an aspect of the sport most will never touch because of what it demands and generally, only more experienced riders will have/ride a single-speed. Have bikepacked once with my s.s. and find the comments when folks note the fact it's a s.s. funny but cool; great icebreaker (!). Found by happy accident that 28x18t gearing for most everything works just fine for my needs; bike is a 'one-bike' that does everything from bar-runs, errands, day-rides locally, all the way to bikepacking trips well. The flats I just pedal more chill and keep a smooth, quiet cadence so I'm not spinning out. The elliptical chainring is a godsend; no more dead-spot between the 12 and 3 o' clock part of the pedal-stroke. Love the fact also that the shape helps one's sprints via a more powerful 'grab' that once felt, can be played with in a nice, smooth way in one's cadence. Lastly, it's a cool 'secret handshake' amongst us of the s.s. brotherhood and something the geared crowd sees and comments upon due to the spartan nature of the beast. Full-rigid just adds to the interesting comments one might get on the trail... For bikepacking, the simplicity makes life one-hundred times easier. No rear derailers to trash on the wrong rock for starters..! Also, you ride your pace and only your pace. Additionally, you're forced to pick better lines or pay the price (650b+ tires/rims give you more of a 'fudge-factor' but..!) if flying full rigid.
For me, the simplicity of it i find relaxing but funny enough i enjoy the focus also in maintaining the speed. Plus SS's look lean n mean! Thanks for the great video.
Thinking of getting a cruiser. I will add a front caliper brake. It will save me wear and tare on the back brake. Most of your stopping is in the front brake.
As a newbie to the SS world, I've recently upgraded my fork to rigid carbon. HERE GOES NOTHING! Honestly I've been riding my SS bike more than my 150mm squish bike. Great video.
Just started getting in to single speed. Started full suspension, changed to a hardtail, now I find myself ditching all the gears. Guess I am on a quest for ultimate simplicity. One thing not many people mention is using your geared bike to help hone in on the range you will be comfortable single speeding. Put your geared bike in a specific gear and go out for a ride, see if that cog will work for you on a single speed. Just have to resist the urge to drop down 🥵
I’m ordering a 2023 Salsa Stormchaser Single Speed to commute on and for bike packing. Nervous about single sipped but like your video says I will just make myself a stronger rider!!!!!
A single speed conversion kit is a good thing to carry for if your derailleur setup is unsalvageable on a long trip. With a frame capable of tensioning and the kit you can strip it back and convert to a single speed, shorten the chain, and carry on with your journey.
Absolutely prescient timing on this video, thanks Neil and BP crew for sharing it. I spent the last few nights in my garage SS'ing my beloved Surly Troll frameset and now I just need a little more snow to melt and a trail or two to dry out so I can shred!
I love always being in the wrong gear. All my bikes are single speed. 50 and 16 at the back for my 8kg hipster Street fighter track bike. 46 and 20 at the back for my cyclocross bike. Blessings from Berlin.
I really miss my fixie which I donated away when I moved out of Vancouver. It was a Trek 560 crit bike originally. It was great. But I only have room for so many bikes since I moved! Anyway I saw a guy in town with a Mercier Kilo TT and fell in love. Not only was a Mercier my original bike in '71, but the Kilo is a beauty. It is a pure track bike so I might put a brake on it if I get one.... They are less than $500. I'm very tempted.
Haven't ran a SS in roughly 15years or more. Ordered a Canfield Nimble 9 last week..... arrives tomorrow. I've been more excited about that frame showing up than my most expensive road or full squish builds. Something about cyclists that just love to hurt. 😁
My favourite bike is Single Suzy she is a flat bar 48T 17 cassette steel bike. Of all the bikes I ride I own 2 Road bikes, crit bike, mtb bike. I always enjoy the challenges of a single speed, I feel more connected to the bike. Your cardio machine hits the roof as your cadence is generally higher 110 at 30km/hr average. You have to work hard going uphill and get out of the saddle. Plus I like the look of Roadies as I whizzzz past on single Suzy with my mini TT bars on the front. There like wtf pardon my French. Good on you for hitting the trails on one I might try that in a gravel set up OTSO cycles do a frame for SS
I watched my buddy Justin start single speeding and thought he was high. After he crushed the CO trail on it, I soon realized that it will make you strong. I've been doing it for a few months now on my REEB and not only is it simple, but it gets you strong for backcountry skiing as well. Great info here, thanks!
Awesome video. I’ve been SS for 13 years when I was introduced to MTB at age 45. There’s nothing like it. You should ditch that Boomer fork and go rigid, you’ll drop 5 lbs. And try a Vassago VerHauen with a carbon fork, sublime.
I'm attracted to the simplicity of single speed hence why I have three single speed bikes. One is a disc brake beater/commuter riser bar single speed 39x20. The other is a folding bike with coaster brake flat bar single speed 42x16 and my fixie/track drop bar single speed 46x16.
there are several reason why i choose the SS for racing. 1. it's me against you. no mechanical advantage. my fitness against yours. 2. It's hard! 3. i can't count to 10 let alone 11 or 12.
For all sort of rides you have a specific tool. I ride my single speed Jones when the trail is not that rough and steep. The fun for my is definitely in the climbs, trying to climb stuff that geared guys struggle with and making it. Best feeling.
I still have my old Voodoo Nzumbi I've had since the late 90's. Don't ride it all the time and typically takes me a good chunk of time on my geared bikes before I can ride it more efficiently. To me it's like being a kid again since there is only one gear and you have to "shit or get off the pot" when tackling a hill. Thanks for sharing this video:)
I've had my singlespeed setup for almost 3 years now. I'm treating it as a dirtjumper/enduro/commuter/adventure bike. Every once in a while I'm tempted to put my gears back on only to take it off again the next day because it, already, feels wrong for me to ride with gears... My bike is a 27.5 slightly aggressive hardtail. I've tailored my drive train to be 55 gear inches (same gear inches as a 25/9 gear ratio bmx bike). That's 27.5 x 32 ÷16... and i love it....
Why do I like single speeding? That is so hard to explain. It's simple, yet complex. There's less to go wrong with the bike, but you have to think ahead. You have to understand how to use your momentum. You have to be able to climb out of the saddle without losing traction. It turns riding into more of a mental exercise. But there's more to it than that. It's zen. I have a stable full of bikes. And the one I find myself on the very most is my single speed. It is the bike that makes me the happiest.
I've been riding single speed (and fixed gear) for so long that when I do ride a geared bike I do it all sloppy. My current build has no option for running gears, I have a Paul WORD 148 through axle rear hub with a thread-on freewheel.I'm considering sawing the derailleur mount off my frame (2020 Surly ECR). As for why single speed: I like the simplicity of it, the extra challenge and maybe the "holy shit, you're riding single speed!" comments. I was on the GDMBR twice, both times single speed. As I descended the pass en route to Steamboat I stopped to talk to two people who were towing trailers with dogs. We agreed that the other was a little crazy. The reality is riding single speed isn't that much more difficult that riding a geared bike. I find when I'm walking up a giant hill I'm moving about the same pace as someone grinding up in a low gear, plus I have the chance to use different muscles, look around, have some snacks. Flat ground or the dreaded slightly downhill but not enough to coast are where single speed goes from fun to "I'm going to die." As for the stiff shoes point, that's mostly true. Walking up a giant hill in super stiff shoes can be super tiring. I had a giant paved hill (NW McName Rd, north of Portland, OR) near the end of a 125-mile ride, I knew I would walk it and I was comfortable with that; however, I was wearing a pair of Sidi Tiger 2. While those shoes are like magic for pedaling, they're terrible for walking. It was tiring and I ground down the (replaceable) lugs a surprising amount. I did that again (different road, much longer, less steep; mix is walking and pedaling, super killer views) with Specialized Recon 2 and it was way more better. I haven't done a giant hill yet while wearing Chrome Southside Pro shoes. Keep in mind how well single speed racers do in races like Big Lonely and Tour Divide.
I started my cycling hobby with riding single speeds and single speeds only. They just made sense to me. So simple that I could maintain my bike myself. In 12 years I have come a long way and now as a parent my bikes need gears. At least those that I use for commuting.
I do have a single speed bike but it's for road. A Fuji Feather to be specific. It's quite an interesting bike because it adds variety and challenges to an otherwise ordinary ride while being simpler than a geared bike. It's the very definition of "Simple and easy are not the same thing". Which is true for many activities I enjoy.
17 ½lbs. WABI Lightning is like owning the Colnago back in the 70's I never could afford. Simplicity of Singlespeeds is the essence of bicycling. The more cables, levers, things that isolate you from the bike isolate you from the sensations. Plus the satisfaction of getting there on a singlespeed is higher. .
I very much enjoy single speeding. I have done a few bikepacking trips this way, even on my fatbike! I enjoy the simplicity, less stuff to break, clean look on the bike and well..... One gear more beer right?
Worst bike-sell mistake was selling my 2015 Trek Superfly SS. I miss that bike to this day. I have a Salsa Timberjack and a Fuel EX and this video has inspired me to convert the Salsa to SS. I can do it for $60-70 total (32t ring, 20T cog, freehub spacers). Once I got into singlespeeding, I rode it exclusively for over a year and you get to a fitness point where you have plenty of cardio, but your leg muscles hurt. Early on, it's the other way around in my experience.
I single speed gravel. I think it humbles the geared riders to see a single speeder fly right by them going up a hill while they are seated spinning at less than 5 mph. I always figure if I can get off and push my bike faster than they can pedal with those pie plate size rear cassettes what's the point? That said I do have gears on some bikes but the single speed is the most fun
I love the simplicity and lightness of my rigid SS and feel it allows me to ride without overthinking things. I'm always amazed that I can climb most things with my SS that I can climb with my Karate Monkey and it's low gearing... standing up and cranking it anyhow. I hope I'm still riding it into my 60's and beyond! (56 now)
single speed (especially ridged) is the Zen, purist form of mountain biking...makes you feel life so much better for been uncomplicated. 15 years in and my ridged Niner sir is the bike I always want to ride....welll..at 54 ...unless it's too extreme. Quality steel, super flexi carbon fork, Mr surly cogs...no better place. I have a Bronson and a Tallboy that may see sunlight twice a year!
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please nerd-out more about the oval chainring on a single speed with no tensioner
seating-standing-walking = the 3 speeds of singlespeeding and loving it
It's great for cardio
I have found myself parking my MTB and vlasting trails with my BMX bikes at times and finding the single gear a more pleasureable experience. Lol.
Singlespeeding makes me enjoy the ride. I'm not worried about what gear I'm in or how fast I was up the hill. Fast enough to get there, slow enough to enjoy the journey.
Well said!
Well said. I'm stealing this and claiming it my own!
Been a singlespeeder for 15 years now. Love it 'cause it's an honesty device - Any shortcomings in performance on a ride are in my riding, not the bike.
I have a 1987 rockhopper I converted to a single speed with 1.95" commuter tires. Best set-up I have ever made! now I want to only ride my single speed.
Yesss a SS vid! Congrats on being a new father! I just did a 140mi ride - 32x22 - and it has completely changed how I view bikes. Light rear end, CHEAP, extreme durability and, best of all, you are never exerting mental energy in selecting or switching gears and you're never thinking about your cadence etc or at least I don't unless I'm spinning out on flats :)
Always cool to see some single speed love. I'm lucky that where I live I can get away with a single speed for most trails and then back to gears for the mountains with the double black diamond trails.
Great point, it was hard a mental challenge at first, I kept reaching for that shifter and it wasn't there.....LOL
I’m 60 & rode singlespeeds for many yrs, I love the mentality, it’s all about power & momentum, you & everything in front of you & crushing it!
I love singlespeeding! Simple riding, easy maintenance! And riding my rigid has taught me more than I thought there was to know about line choice.
Well said Neil. I've been riding mountain bikes since 1981 and was always AMAZED at single speeders (like Victor Vicentti of America). Flashback 15 years ago and I bought my first SS a Surly 1x1 fully rigid mainly because I wanted a new bike and thats all I could afford with a 5 year old and new house payments. What a revelation ! It was so much fun and I found I was faster on our local race series on the SS. Today I have a road, cross, monster cross and hardtail single speed bikes and I find myself grabing these more than my geared versions. However at 62 I do notice more aches and pains if I SS too much....so the old adage of too much of a good thing. One thing I have not tried yet is bike packing single.. Maybe next season.
SS changes my psychology on the trail. Even when I forced myself to stay in one gear on a geared bike, it wasn't the same. I felt like I was battling myself, whereas on SS 100% of my focus is on being the best rider I can be.
It also does something to the nervous system. Like how a mother can lift a car off her child even though she'd never be able to do that otherwise, clearly muscles are much stronger than we think, but the nervous system places limits to prevent damage. SS bikes work all the muscles hard when climbing, creates that psychological stress of "need" in order to make it over obstacles and up through technical terrain without shaming ourselves, and trains the nervous system to release more of our natural strength. This translates to more skill even on a geared bike, because our muscle memory is more precise and better tuned to the tiny, almost unnoticeable motions we need to maneuver the machine.
The best thing for me is it blows my mind how little I actually know about my own body. I'm just like you: Stubborn as hell and will always attempt every hill no matter how I feel about it. And even when my muscles are shot, feel like trash, look like trash, and can't possibly under any circumstances make it up that hill, I end up doing it anyway and feel amazing by the time I reach the top. How is this even possible, I think to myself. And every time it happens, it feels like an epiphany, and I become a little better.
Great video.
My bikes are all single speed and I save a lot for beers, cheers!!!
Working on bikes for a living, at times the last thing I want to do is work on my own bikes, so simple is really good!
I recently converted my vintage road bike to a single speed. It's awesome and SO much lighter. Since my frame has drop outs all I had to do was remove the derailleur, hanger and shifter and shorten my chain with a tool. I kept my five speed free wheel on the back and have enough room in the drop outs to set it up on fourth or third gear. All I have to do is get off the bike, loosen the quick release and move the chain up or down a gear then re-tighten everything.
I just finished a singlespeed bike I started to work on after seeing this video.
Thanks for inspiration. What pushed me the most was the this additional thinking you need to put to your daily ride and the acceptance that walking with a bike is a good opportunity to take a look around.
Keep it up.
Simplespeed is the way to go, been riding SS for decades. I'm a big dude and i send hard. Singlespeed is the only drivetrain i can really put power through without destroying the drivetrain. I don't save any weight because i run a 415 size chain, often steel bmx cranks, sometimes a double stack chainring to keep it from stripping and bending, and ACS wide claw freewheel.
I've never been able to put even half my power down with dainty delicate geared drivetrains and it's super frustrating. I've folded and stripped chainrings, snapped and stripped countless mtb bb and cranksets, used to break a chain every ride, and have even grenaded a few cheap freewheels that weren't ACS, had one shatter the outer race into 3 pieces on a climb and put shrapnel in my calf as i faceplanted. With singlespeed and a beefy drivetrain i can charge as hard as i want, or as much as the frame can take without bending, snapping or crushing the stays, just dig in and sprint up climbs.
Because of the extra power that SS can let you deliver effectively it pairs awesomely well with a good sturdy steel frame. Not only is it more compliant and better feeling, especially rigid, but aluminum frames will literally get eaten alive by all that torque. I've literally had xc chainstays crush like a beer can under load, tore off the whole rear triangle on a 4x frame, and had another frame the downtube tore and twisted from bb to headtube in a spiral while pedalkicking off a stairset. Bike just turned into a wet noodle on launch and exploded into scrap metal on landing lol. I'd get up to a month out of a 'strong' aluminum frame before adding it to the mass bike grave. Meanwhile i'm still riding steel frames from the 90's (vintage Stumpjumper FTW lol!) that feel better, are stronger, and either haven't broken yet or if they have, i just weld or braze the steel to fix it easily.
I've always loved having a ss in the quiver. They're just so different and fun. And I really don't see as much conversation about geared bikes as much as I do about single speeds. I am a proud member of both, btw!
These are great insights! I ride a Kona Unit rigid SS (32T oval/18T), 29" (2.6 front, 2.4 rear). This setup is totally awesome and it always surprises me how steep it can go uphill. Some of the uphill segments on SS are even faster than those on my Transition Spur, (but the descent is slower because it has no suspension). I feel stronger and better equipped as a biker, physically and mentally.
I have a "new to me bike" that I'm currently running the 32 oval & 19 in rear. It's a game changer. I'm getting a 2.6 tire installed this week. Sweet!
32 with 19t good for bikepacking load 😅 ?
About a month and a half ago, one of my favorite all around bikes got stolen. So, I needed to replace it (I mean...need/want...whatever). As I was searching, the opportunity to pick up a solid, sporty, low cost single speed appeared. I hadn't spent any time on a single speed since I was a kid. So, I bought it, customized it, and now I ride it more than all of my geared bikes with the exception of my commuter. As for the details...you pretty much have said everything I would have shared. 😁👍🏾👊🏾
I'm so glad that you found a bike you love after that
Single speed is the way. I bought an old raggedy pugsley off Craigslist for blizzard commuting and converted it to single speed. I was so hooked after that first trail ride. Stopped riding my squishy bike entirely and sold it. My riding improved so quickly and I gained so much confidence. Started racing ultra endurance and 4 years later I am still obsessed. Single speed is ❤
Damn, dude! Good deal and congrats
I ride a Wabi Classic steel single speed as my everyday bike -- love it. I most appreciate the simplicity, directness & _quietness_ of the ride.
I have a wabi as well. The Thunder Cyclocross has fantastic tire clearance for a fixed gear
Love this video! Riding singlespeed is beautiful simplicity. It allows me to mentally check out and focus on technique rather than shifting. Its hard work but very rewarding and low maintenance. SS brings me back to my roots as a kid riding a SS BMX bike everywhere. I am a stronger and more well rounded rider since I started riding SS. Riding SS at night is the most peaceful riding experience I have every had. Quiet, simple and peaceful! Thanks for putting out this video today and Congratulations on your new baby!
🙏
Great vid as an introduction to SS. I've been riding a SS MTB for over 20 years. For me its the mental simplicity (above cost savings, mechanical simplicity etc.), simply get on and ride (or push) when I go out for a ride I will take an SS simply because its fun - I always come back from a ride on an SS with a big smile, definitely more so than on a geared bike. In fact I only got a geared bike so the guys I rode with could keep up...
I was never into caring about weight until I got a ss cyclocross bike. It's amazing how fun it became to climb. I love that it makes my local pretty mild trails a bit harder and more challenging, as you said, you gotta think ahead. I'm not converting my hardtail to a ss set up. Also, I love the comradery of ss riders. You just automatically make friends with other ss riders. Downside. I tend to find myself ahead on climbs and behind on flats in group rides.
I always thought SS’ing was dumb, but I found a complete bike (in the color I wanted) that came built as a SS.
It’s now my go-to bike.
I love the simplicity. Only having one gear can act as a governor for my body (so I don’t bonk by over-exerting), the chain stays cleaner longer (especially in dusty and sometimes muddy eastern Kansas), and as you mentioned, it makes you a more aware rider.
It’s like driving a manual transmission in a vehicle. I find myself engaging with the experience more.
I still can’t trackstand, but having to mash up hills at slow speeds has helped my balance a lot. I can climb and descend better than I could pre-SS.
I know this is an old video, but I started riding a fixed gear a couple of years ago, then I got tired of the fixed downhill. It’s now setup with a Sturmey Archer S2 kicker hub. It’s essentially a 1-1/2 speed. It has an internal gear reduction that if you back pedal a 1/2 step it drops the internal gearing to a slight gear reduction to help get up hills. I’ve been riding it this way for about 2 years now with a 49/19. I’m now laser focused on getting a single speed gravel bike. I’m leaning towards the Salsa Stormchaser single speed. I’m planning on buying soon before the fall. By the way I stumbled onto this channel not too long ago, great videos!
Hi there, excellent clip, so much SS truths. What width is your handlebar? Thanks and cheers, Chris
All the same reasons as you. I love the challenge. It trains me to be a better rider. My SS is light as hell and it's so simple. Just me, my bike, my pedals and my brakes.
The simplicity. It’s just awesome. It’s me and the bike and not the bike and me. Love it 💪
love the simplicity of ths SS set up. Mountainbiking in the Netherlands lacks mountains for the larger part of the country, but the 1 gear set up adds the challenge for climbing!
Learned how to ride/got my first bike at 17 and it was a single speed. At 24 now, I still haven’t jumped that line and got a geared bike. I find that the single speed is all I really need, especially living in New York City. Longest ride i did was about an 80 mile ride on a 48x17 fixed gear, and that was really tough, but i finished the ride none the less. I can only imagine how much easier that ride would be on a lower gearing. Riding single speed/fixed gear really has been just the most fun for me
Every ride on a singlespeed is an adventure! I've been riding my SS a LOT in the last year, as my wife wants to ride more often. Rather than get her an eBike, I handicap myself by riding "My little pony" at 48 gear inches. I even rode a century on it last April. It was fantastic!
I accidentally got into single speed. I rebuilt a Specialized Work 2 as a mountain bike, but didn't have a working shifter. So I temporarily set it on the straightest gear to start using the bike. I hadn't biked in 5 years so I fogured that would help build my legs back up in a hurry. That sure did the trick! What surprised me is that I'm hooked. The simplicity is great and I love not fiddling with gears.
Second time I've watched this and it's a really good video - thank you Neil. It's also my second time singlespeeding. I sold my full sus bike and my gravel bike to go down to one bike, and I bought a Kona Unit last year. A few rides on one gear and I hated it. So I fitted an old 11sp groupset I had in the shed. Just like that riding was easier again. And... much less fun. So I've re-singlespeeded the bike and I'm now loving it. Yes it makes me stronger more quickly (everything Neil says is true folks), the bike is WAY lighter, and I no longer need to wear a chamois (yeah I know you don't anyway but I've always done so) because you're so mobile on the bike in terms of positioning compared to running gears. Having a sore butt just isn't a factor any more. And yes it's a full body workout. I even need to stretch less than with a geared bike - the extra movement on the bike stops muscles from becoming tight so quickly. It just makes everything that bit more simple and basic; back to my roots riding simple bikes as a kid. I had become tired of £300 worth of maintenance on my full sus bike every year just to keep the thing serviceable (minimum of a fork, shock and dropper service). Apart from the expense, for me when riding a bike became more about how the bike was tuned/set up rather than it getting out of the way and letting me enjoy my time riding, it was time for a change. If you're curious (it's not for everyone) and you haven't tried it do; once you've acquired the taste for one gear it's hard to go back.
Hi there! Regarding cycling technique and physical effort, everything you say can be applied to a geared bike, by simply staying in a single gear and never shifting. I regularly do such single speed simulations, and the best part is that changing the gearing for a different course is quite simple!
Wow! Been riding SingleSpeed for 9 years now. Looks like you figured it all out all the tricks and trade in this video. Yup SS is fun, sometimes with Magic. Super less maintenance. Glad you made this video!
I have two single speeds; a Critical Harper and a State Bicycle Klunker (Beatles Edition). I ride 12 miles to work and there are a few small, challenging climbs. Once you get past those, the bikes ride super smooth. The Critical is set up for fast flats, the Klunker is set up for slower flats but easier climbs. I've never thought of setting up a trail bike with one gear. I may just put that on my list. I love the simplicity and the idea of yes, slowing down. I have a vintage road bike I've been considering setting up as a single/fixed gear. That's the winter project. Haven't committed yet but when I do, we'll post a video. Thanks.
Neil you're a funny and cool dude, id love to shed some dirt if we ever cross paths! Keep on being you!
I really loved this video, Neil, thank you! For me this was the best explanation yet out there of the great and true advantages of riding single speed. I actually started out riding MTB trails on an All City Mr Pink I got second that was set up single speed, and had such a dang blast with it! Then I geared it up, and while that was nice for longer gravel rides and bikepacking in Denmark where I live, I think that now, thanks to you, I finally realise what I had lost by doing so: the extreme fun, the beautiful simplicity, the great full-body workout and the fantastic feeling afterwards. I am converting back first chance I get (so thanks also for the gear ratio bit - that is knowledge I had not yet incorporated, but will now!). Gratitude:)!
I’ve been rocking a single speed mtb since 2013. Strong like donkey. Stay hardcore
I recently converted my CX pit bike to single speed. Used 65 gear inch locally with some modest road climbs with at just off tempo rides and discovered I LOVE IT!
Next I raced CX in Florida age group (55+ with gears) and open SS using 58.3 Inch set-up. My lap splits were consistently faster both days on the Single Speed. Mind=blown.
Love my singlespeed, Rigid Kona Big Unit 32x20 3” tire in front 2.25 rear and Rigid Waltworks 29+, 28x18….great to climb and simply fun minimalistic rides!!
Agreed on all points. I have a geared bike but it just doesn't. Make me smile the way my SS does. Especially climbing!!! Sure a geared FS goes down faster but SS definately makes me a better, stronger rider. And I love the simplicity... nothing to think about but pedaling.
I have been toying with the idea after a local abosultley handled me on our local trails. I have most of the parts for my salsa beargrease and with my new rocket ron 3.0 tires I just might try it. Boost that stay at home Dad speed👍
Love the message at the end. Don't take it so seriously. I am a rigid 29er SS rider and love it
Great video, thanks for sharing! Some great points which I agree with entirely. The simplicity is one of the main reasons for me - less brain power used in considering gear changes. Just point and shoot. It's like being a kid again!
I often get a bit 'faddy' with these things, but SS has been with me a couple of years now and all of my bikes (commuter, roadie, MTB) have ended up getting converted - I can't see myself changing back.
What I also find interesting, and joke about with riding buddies, is that SS naturally makes you faster on the climbs and slower on the descents (generally). Ask any rider if they'd like to spend less time climbing and more time descending, I doubt many would say 'no'...
I have the same color with those handups, I love them!
It's like being a badass 9yr old on a bmx bike again. No shame in walking and taking in the eye candy around you, no shame in ripping the bars right off the stem with all you got. Interested in the oval chain ring, I remember having a Biopace set up but it's application for SS seems legit. Thanks fer the tip, you guys rock like Led Zeppelin.
I do really enjoy your videos and curated bike packing information with your website. I didn’t know about the publication and that’s nice, I’ll look at joining because I value great resources.
As for SS, I’m a very active SS rider. I ride my same local trails and have found it simple and rewarding to do a 1-3 hour ride. Mostly because it’s a workout grind on the ascent with almost no flat sections to pedal on the descent, so like you said, less braking and learning how to flow through the trails. As for oval ring I don’t like it for SS because of a few reasons, I don’t want a loose chain and 2nd is that I completely feel that the extra forward momentum you get when standing on a round ring is lost with oval SS.
I converted an old specialized hardtail into a rigid urban single speed (29 32x13). I agree with everything and am just waiting to pounce on a single speed cog for my mountain hardtail
I love SS because it's hard. Also, the simplicity of it is refreshing. It makes me a better rider, physically and also with skills - picking better lines.
I have singlespeed as my secondary bike for about ten years now and i love it. For those exact reasons you mentioned.
It started out of need when i broke my bike in the middle of season. So i built a singlespeed bike form old parts i had lying around. Now i can´t live without it.
Great Vid!
Single speed is Truth✊
I grew up riding bmx bikes to school and across town as my main source of transportation. Thought a road bike with gears was the next step, but I hated the hassle. This is perfect for me.
I ride a 29 and 29+ rigid single-speeds and really have a difficult time riding anything else on Single-track. I just built up a steel frame 38/18 gravel ride. If you like single-speeding on Single-tracks, I highly recommend ya give this a try……ya won’t go back…….single-speed is really a three speed….stand up, sit down or walk!
I’ve always wanted to convert my Salsa El Mariachi to a single speed. Now I’m even more motivated!
Great video Neil - I am definitely a fan of running SS - I recently tackled a pretty big day in New Mexico all on my SS and everyone thought I was nuts - but there is something about that out-of-the-saddle, methodical, rhythmic mashing that comes from pedaling a SS up big hills. And when it did come time to push - the bike was certainly lighter! 😝 I have definitely become more confident working on my bike as well - swapping out Cogs and chainrings etc... 🤘
I love single speed because even though I’m not actually going as fast, I feel faster. I’m more engaged with the terrain I’m riding over, and with a ridged fork that isn’t necessarily tracking the ground as well, all that trail input makes it feel like I’m going faster than I am.
All of my bikes, tandem, fat tire and fixie are single speed with the exception of one. I replaced all my 18t cogs with 26t cogs on all my single speed bikes. I like the simplicity of a single speed and little to no maintenance of a single speed bike and the light weight of a single speed.
Thank you for the nod to single-speeding; nice to know it's not just a few stray 'crazies' like myself who part or full-time eschew the overcomplicated geared/f.s. rigs. It's Still an aspect of the sport most will never touch because of what it demands and generally, only more experienced riders will have/ride a single-speed.
Have bikepacked once with my s.s. and find the comments when folks note the fact it's a s.s. funny but cool; great icebreaker (!). Found by happy accident that 28x18t gearing for most everything works just fine for my needs; bike is a 'one-bike' that does everything from bar-runs, errands, day-rides locally, all the way to bikepacking trips well. The flats I just pedal more chill and keep a smooth, quiet cadence so I'm not spinning out.
The elliptical chainring is a godsend; no more dead-spot between the 12 and 3 o' clock part of the pedal-stroke. Love the fact also that the shape helps one's sprints via a more powerful 'grab' that once felt, can be played with in a nice, smooth way in one's cadence. Lastly, it's a cool 'secret handshake' amongst us of the s.s. brotherhood and something the geared crowd sees and comments upon due to the spartan nature of the beast. Full-rigid just adds to the interesting comments one might get on the trail...
For bikepacking, the simplicity makes life one-hundred times easier. No rear derailers to trash on the wrong rock for starters..! Also, you ride your pace and only your pace. Additionally, you're forced to pick better lines or pay the price (650b+ tires/rims give you more of a 'fudge-factor' but..!) if flying full rigid.
love it, thanks for the comment Bart!
2:51 please nerd-out more about the oval chainring on a single speed with no tensioner
For me, the simplicity of it i find relaxing but funny enough i enjoy the focus also in maintaining the speed. Plus SS's look lean n mean! Thanks for the great video.
you are so right, the looks is unmatched. especially in a day when we are seeing these gigantic pulley wheels...
Thinking of getting a cruiser. I will add a front caliper brake. It will save me wear and tare on the back brake. Most of your stopping is in the front brake.
As a newbie to the SS world, I've recently upgraded my fork to rigid carbon. HERE GOES NOTHING! Honestly I've been riding my SS bike more than my 150mm squish bike. Great video.
Just started getting in to single speed. Started full suspension, changed to a hardtail, now I find myself ditching all the gears. Guess I am on a quest for ultimate simplicity. One thing not many people mention is using your geared bike to help hone in on the range you will be comfortable single speeding. Put your geared bike in a specific gear and go out for a ride, see if that cog will work for you on a single speed. Just have to resist the urge to drop down 🥵
I’m ordering a 2023 Salsa Stormchaser Single Speed to commute on and for bike packing. Nervous about single sipped but like your video says I will just make myself a stronger rider!!!!!
I have the same bike, with same fork set up in single speed with 32/13 gearing great video👌🏾
A single speed conversion kit is a good thing to carry for if your derailleur setup is unsalvageable on a long trip. With a frame capable of tensioning and the kit you can strip it back and convert to a single speed, shorten the chain, and carry on with your journey.
Awesome video, Neil. That being said...I'm sticking to my gears :). Cheers.
Absolutely prescient timing on this video, thanks Neil and BP crew for sharing it. I spent the last few nights in my garage SS'ing my beloved Surly Troll frameset and now I just need a little more snow to melt and a trail or two to dry out so I can shred!
I love always being in the wrong gear. All my bikes are single speed. 50 and 16 at the back for my 8kg hipster Street fighter track bike. 46 and 20 at the back for my cyclocross bike. Blessings from Berlin.
I really miss my fixie which I donated away when I moved out of Vancouver. It was a Trek 560 crit bike originally. It was great. But I only have room for so many bikes since I moved! Anyway I saw a guy in town with a Mercier Kilo TT and fell in love. Not only was a Mercier my original bike in '71, but the Kilo is a beauty. It is a pure track bike so I might put a brake on it if I get one.... They are less than $500. I'm very tempted.
Excellent points Neil , glad to see you SS’ing
Thanks Dave, It's been really fun. I hope you are well!
Very nice video! Would you mind doing a bit more on Single Speeding in combination wit bikepacking daytrips or weekenders?
Haven't ran a SS in roughly 15years or more. Ordered a Canfield Nimble 9 last week..... arrives tomorrow. I've been more excited about that frame showing up than my most expensive road or full squish builds. Something about cyclists that just love to hurt. 😁
My favourite bike is Single Suzy she is a flat bar 48T 17 cassette steel bike. Of all the bikes I ride I own 2 Road bikes, crit bike, mtb bike. I always enjoy the challenges of a single speed, I feel more connected to the bike. Your cardio machine hits the roof as your cadence is generally higher 110 at 30km/hr average. You have to work hard going uphill and get out of the saddle. Plus I like the look of Roadies as I whizzzz past on single Suzy with my mini TT bars on the front. There like wtf pardon my French. Good on you for hitting the trails on one I might try that in a gravel set up OTSO cycles do a frame for SS
I watched my buddy Justin start single speeding and thought he was high. After he crushed the CO trail on it, I soon realized that it will make you strong. I've been doing it for a few months now on my REEB and not only is it simple, but it gets you strong for backcountry skiing as well. Great info here, thanks!
My drop bar single speed Karate Monkey is by far my favorite bike of all time. It's my only bike.
Awesome video. I’ve been SS for 13 years when I was introduced to MTB at age 45. There’s nothing like it. You should ditch that Boomer fork and go rigid, you’ll drop 5 lbs. And try a Vassago VerHauen with a carbon fork, sublime.
I'm attracted to the simplicity of single speed hence why I have three single speed bikes. One is a disc brake beater/commuter riser bar single speed 39x20. The other is a folding bike with coaster brake flat bar single speed 42x16 and my fixie/track drop bar single speed 46x16.
there are several reason why i choose the SS for racing. 1. it's me against you. no mechanical advantage. my fitness against yours. 2. It's hard! 3. i can't count to 10 let alone 11 or 12.
Nothing better than cleaning a super techy uphill section that your buddies had to walk on their geared fancy bikes!
For all sort of rides you have a specific tool. I ride my single speed Jones when the trail is not that rough and steep. The fun for my is definitely in the climbs, trying to climb stuff that geared guys struggle with and making it. Best feeling.
I still have my old Voodoo Nzumbi I've had since the late 90's. Don't ride it all the time and typically takes me a good chunk of time on my geared bikes before I can ride it more efficiently. To me it's like being a kid again since there is only one gear and you have to "shit or get off the pot" when tackling a hill. Thanks for sharing this video:)
I've had my singlespeed setup for almost 3 years now. I'm treating it as a dirtjumper/enduro/commuter/adventure bike. Every once in a while I'm tempted to put my gears back on only to take it off again the next day because it, already, feels wrong for me to ride with gears...
My bike is a 27.5 slightly aggressive hardtail. I've tailored my drive train to be 55 gear inches (same gear inches as a 25/9 gear ratio bmx bike). That's 27.5 x 32 ÷16... and i love it....
Why do I like single speeding? That is so hard to explain. It's simple, yet complex. There's less to go wrong with the bike, but you have to think ahead. You have to understand how to use your momentum. You have to be able to climb out of the saddle without losing traction. It turns riding into more of a mental exercise. But there's more to it than that. It's zen. I have a stable full of bikes. And the one I find myself on the very most is my single speed. It is the bike that makes me the happiest.
I think you nailed it. I love my single speed❤
I've been riding single speed (and fixed gear) for so long that when I do ride a geared bike I do it all sloppy.
My current build has no option for running gears, I have a Paul WORD 148 through axle rear hub with a thread-on freewheel.I'm considering sawing the derailleur mount off my frame (2020 Surly ECR).
As for why single speed: I like the simplicity of it, the extra challenge and maybe the "holy shit, you're riding single speed!" comments. I was on the GDMBR twice, both times single speed. As I descended the pass en route to Steamboat I stopped to talk to two people who were towing trailers with dogs. We agreed that the other was a little crazy.
The reality is riding single speed isn't that much more difficult that riding a geared bike. I find when I'm walking up a giant hill I'm moving about the same pace as someone grinding up in a low gear, plus I have the chance to use different muscles, look around, have some snacks.
Flat ground or the dreaded slightly downhill but not enough to coast are where single speed goes from fun to "I'm going to die."
As for the stiff shoes point, that's mostly true. Walking up a giant hill in super stiff shoes can be super tiring. I had a giant paved hill (NW McName Rd, north of Portland, OR) near the end of a 125-mile ride, I knew I would walk it and I was comfortable with that; however, I was wearing a pair of Sidi Tiger 2. While those shoes are like magic for pedaling, they're terrible for walking. It was tiring and I ground down the (replaceable) lugs a surprising amount. I did that again (different road, much longer, less steep; mix is walking and pedaling, super killer views) with Specialized Recon 2 and it was way more better. I haven't done a giant hill yet while wearing Chrome Southside Pro shoes.
Keep in mind how well single speed racers do in races like Big Lonely and Tour Divide.
My Spot Rocker is awesome!!! Belt is the way for sure when going single speed.
SSpeeding makes old trails new and more challenging. Biggest upside to no gears is little to no Maintenance!
I started my cycling hobby with riding single speeds and single speeds only. They just made sense to me. So simple that I could maintain my bike myself. In 12 years I have come a long way and now as a parent my bikes need gears. At least those that I use for commuting.
Bravo young dewd! Great vid with great points.
Awesome. Cant agree more. Have a geared bike. Was in single speeds for years. Building another single as second bike again! Oh yeah.
I do have a single speed bike but it's for road. A Fuji Feather to be specific. It's quite an interesting bike because it adds variety and challenges to an otherwise ordinary ride while being simpler than a geared bike. It's the very definition of "Simple and easy are not the same thing". Which is true for many activities I enjoy.
17 ½lbs. WABI Lightning is like owning the Colnago back in the 70's I never could afford. Simplicity of Singlespeeds is the essence of bicycling. The more cables, levers, things that isolate you from the bike isolate you from the sensations.
Plus the satisfaction of getting there on a singlespeed is higher.
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I very much enjoy single speeding. I have done a few bikepacking trips this way, even on my fatbike!
I enjoy the simplicity, less stuff to break, clean look on the bike and well..... One gear more beer right?
Worst bike-sell mistake was selling my 2015 Trek Superfly SS. I miss that bike to this day. I have a Salsa Timberjack and a Fuel EX and this video has inspired me to convert the Salsa to SS. I can do it for $60-70 total (32t ring, 20T cog, freehub spacers). Once I got into singlespeeding, I rode it exclusively for over a year and you get to a fitness point where you have plenty of cardio, but your leg muscles hurt. Early on, it's the other way around in my experience.
I single speed gravel. I think it humbles the geared riders to see a single speeder fly right by them going up a hill while they are seated spinning at less than 5 mph. I always figure if I can get off and push my bike faster than they can pedal with those pie plate size rear cassettes what's the point? That said I do have gears on some bikes but the single speed is the most fun
I love the simplicity and lightness of my rigid SS and feel it allows me to ride without overthinking things. I'm always amazed that I can climb most things with my SS that I can climb with my Karate Monkey and it's low gearing... standing up and cranking it anyhow. I hope I'm still riding it into my 60's and beyond! (56 now)
Absolutely love single speeding, actually just converted my intense recluse to SS.
single speed (especially ridged) is the Zen, purist form of mountain biking...makes you feel life so much better for been uncomplicated. 15 years in and my ridged Niner sir is the bike I always want to ride....welll..at 54 ...unless it's too extreme. Quality steel, super flexi carbon fork, Mr surly cogs...no better place. I have a Bronson and a Tallboy that may see sunlight twice a year!