Singlespeeding The Fells with Sousa - The Rockward Files E3
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Recently I've been trying to re-adapt to riding the singlespeed. I decided it was a good time to test myself by going out with Matt Sousa, a currently fast singlespeed XC racer. I huffed, I puffed, I blew my legs out ... and I swore a lot.
My car hat: endurancethrea...
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I ride a SS because it gives me extra bragging rights when I win. And an excuse when I lose. That’s a win.
I ride SS because the beer
We ride single speeds because... they're fun. That's pretty much it, really.
["Fun" is a relative term, as it turns out]
I've always enjoyed suffering a little so maybe that's why I find them fun. That, and I'm too lazy to go fast on any other kind of bike.
Love it! Surly Karate Monkey single speed! In the shop right now getting it set up fully rigid with the Surly Fork! Ran it last year with a suspension fork on front. Also rode with my middle school daughters team all last year on the single speed. Ton of fun!
I ran my KM single speed for a bit, but got the gears back on it now. Picked up a Superfly SS.
This corner @ 6:14 ALWAYS confounds me. Thanks for the lesson!
Maybe next time I'll actually clean it going up!
Just got into SS by converting my '97 26er to single. I'm running 32-18 (similar to 32-20 on 29er) as a sweet spot. You're right, you climb faster than on geared. my PR on a nasty gravel climb at the end of my typical ride is on this bike vs my awesome Eagle GX FS carbon bike! Crazy! Fun, simple, easy, quiet and hard. Makes me a better rider overall. Thanks for this
I got into mountain biking 10 years ago. The last 8 year's been exclusive single speed. Can't go back to gears lol
Singlespeed lover here from Pittsburgh! Nothing like being on a single speed and sitting down to climb hills you used to have to stand up for! I have a fully rigid Specialized Crave SL.(they're bottom bracket tube design is simple & effective) I cushcores. Adding Cushcore to my set up was the best upgrade to a bike I have done that I resulted significant improvement to how the bike felt. More comfort and traction with lower tire pressure guaranteed. It is true you still have to pedal the thing but man can you throw those tires into some rocks!
Yeah guy! Yup, I forgot to mention that I'm running a Vittoria Air-liner in the rear. It's made a huge difference in my riding. I was basically getting flats every time I rode the SS after transitioning back from my long-travel trail bike. The liner allows me to ride the stuff I want to ride the way I want to ride it ... on a hardtail. Pretty cool.
Everything should be SingleSpeed! I've been ridin mine for 10 years, I dont even look at gears anymore!
It's always a compromise. I ride SS fully rigid and use 28/21 on tech trails at Blue mtn. Peeksill NY. I use 780 wide bars for more power. There aren't many fast flat sections so that gear ratio works great to get up and over and also to track stand some. My bike is a RSD Seargent V1 w. Carbon rigid fork. 2.8 tires front and rear. For SS that extra width I find is great. Crank is 170mm. I've used 155mm cranks on another bike and super easy to turn over. The added benefit of no pedal strikes. Bike is still fairly lightweight w. big tires. I've run 3.0 but prefer 2.8. I'm also almost 60 so I need all the help I can get. :)
Love your comment about thinking your hub was seized but it was the gearing. I had exactly the same thing when I bought a singlespeed from a racer friend who was a bit of a monster rider compared to me. 😂
Tom, I've been dedicated SSer for 12 years, it's so addicting in so many ways! Every time I think I'm done with it due to age, over 60 now, it lures me back and wont let me leave. Its like an old familiar hooker with a rebootable va,jay jay...LMAO!
SS is big kid grin inducing. For an extra power upgrade try pedalling innovations catalyst pedals. I am able to mash up steep inclines that were previously not possible when I was on my XT clipless. Loved your vid, cheers.
I feel single speed bikes should be fully rigid for maximum pain.
Salsa el mariachi ss. Did ad a 20 tooth on the rear to make it a bit easier for up hill.
Like @jon doyle the corner at 6:14 has always given me problems. The section at 7:28, same story. I’ve ridden gnarlier stuff, but for whatever reason going down that section was always in my head. Your video gave me the confidence to give it a shot. I couldn’t get up, but I cleared it down more than a few times for the first time today. Might be boring for you, but riding more popular trails where people can practice sections after watching you is pretty great content.
Awesome, man, glad we could help. I'm actually planning on doing a series with JRA Cycles where we break down the tougher sections at The Fells, HP, and maybe Russell Mill. None of those sections are 10 out of 10 for me. I always have to be focused to clean them, particularly on the SS. And I don't even count any of the attempts we took at the uphill left hand corner as cleans. You gotta go inside the tree or no points!
DirtWireTV that would be an awesome series. And yes, definitely no cheater lines!!
@@mrweiler I want to invite people out when we shoot them. Get on the JRA Cycles social meteors and stay tuned. Hoping to have good enough weather to shoot in the next few weeks.
Love the channel. Not a single speeder, not a hater either, just not that strong and nowhere near as strong of a rider as you. With that said, I like riding the junk you ride. Rollers, rocks, roots, small jumps, etc. I'm 58 years old, and decent enough to enjoy that type of riding. Currently riding a Santa Cruz Chameleon and want to upgrade to full sus. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, man, appreciate it! Speaking from my own personal experience I can say that I needed some stepping stone bikes as I moved away from all singlespeed/hardtail all the time. I started with shorter travel trail bikes like the Ibis Ripley, Devinci Django, and Rocky Thunderbolt before graduating to bigger bikes like the Rocky Altitude and now the Devinci Troy 29. DW-Link bikes are great for people who want to feel like the bike is super-efficient while pedaling and climbing. Hope that helps.
@@DirtWireTV was actually looking at the Ripley and the mojo3. Thanks for the suggestions and good luck with the single speed.
Love the Rockward Files!
32:20 is a pretty great gear, I ran it here in WNC for about 4-5 months and didn't find it too tricky- but then I tried 30:20 and started crushing uphill times both up well graded/smooth climbs and techy slogs. if you can run it, give it a try, although the 30t feels a little odd. I wouldn't want any lower than 30 for fear that the chain wrap would feel so sucky.
It's funny to me because I used to run such big gears back when I was racing-33 X 18, 34 X 18, 34 X 17, and even 34 X 15 (argh). 32 X 20 seems insanely low to me but actually works better for the stuff I ride these days. Did run a 30 X 18 for a while too. Seemed to work fine.
@@DirtWireTV no I totally agree- the reason might be in the chain wrap you get with a 20 cog! I've also found that the balance for general trail riding is just getting a gear that'll keep you spinning long enough for you to give 'er a one, two punch up a feature.
I love riding single speed dude. Are you still getting the Honzo out? Sick build btw. More single speed content please dude.
Yay single speed.
I have one speed -> GO.
Brutal Muscle Memory
I'm down with DirtwireTV. Definitely subbed!
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simple bikes for simple people!