Single Speed MTB

[jh504]

I grew up riding freestyle and BMX bikes. I have been riding mountain bikes since my teenage years though and have always owned multi speed bikes. I am looking for something different now, and I think I would like to build a single speed to take things back to my younger years. I'm on a tight budget and was thinking of getting an older steel specialized frame as a platform and go from there. I was wondering if anyone who has experience with SS bikes had any suggestions or ideas. All thoughts are welcome!

 

[Funrover]

I am currently in the same boat. Money is tight and I am building a SS MTB. I was lucky enough to come across a free Trek 6500 frame. I have had gret luck geting parts from craigslist. Just keep your eyes open!

If you go with an 80's MTB you can simply remove all derailers and shorten the chain so it sits on what gears you chose. There is a lot of SS info on www.bikeforums.net

 

[DaveInDenver]

My SS is a modified geared steel hardtail. Works fine. The only place you don't want to skimp is the tensioner (if your gear choice requires one). The one that places like Nashbar and Performance sell are not even borderline safe. Under hard acceleration there is a good chance you will skip the chain, not good. I use a Rennen Rollenlager and it works well. For a wheel, mine is an old 7 speed XT/Mavic 231. I have an Endless Bikes cog, so it spreads the load out better and I used Endless's Fibonacci spacers. Otherwise, just junk from the spares parts box, old XT cranks, etc.

 

[adrenaline503]

I used to be a professional bike mechanic when the whole SS craze hit. My advice would be to pick up a SS specific frame. In you go to www.jensonusa.com and do a search for Zion youll get some great deals. The use of a tensioner, in my opinion, defeats the idea of a SS. A well aligned SS will be silent, while a tensioner will add noise. Also the lack of a tensioning device or derailer increases the clearance at the rear end, another great benefit offroad. The last is simplicity. A SS should be a bike that all you have to do is hop on and ride, no worries. I tend to see a well built bike as a piece of art, something that should be done correctly the first time. Now if you already have a frame you love, and you want to give SS a try, by all means, get a tensioner and spacers for the rear hub. I have a VanDessel SS that is my favorite bike in my stable. It has 700c wheels, a wicked fast commuter that can handle dirt tracks quite well. Surly also has some great offerings, their 1x1 is a bombproof frame that should last you forever. I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker built for touring that has been great.

What is your budget? If you have questions let me know, I can honestly say that is something that I know a lot about.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The use of a tensioner, in my opinion, defeats the idea of a SS. A well aligned SS will be silent, while a tensioner will add noise. Also the lack of a tensioning device or derailer increases the clearance at the rear end, another great benefit offroad.

That's a nice thing about the Rollenslager, urethane wheel with sealed bearings, quiet as can be. Plus it's easier to switch between different sized cogs. I personally run a 18 and a 21, depending on which trails we're doing. If it's a trail with lots of climbing, my knees really like the 34/21 and if it's a more friendly trail the 34/18 is a lot less spinning. A typical trail near town starts with a 3~5 mile, couple of 1,000' climb and I am definitely not stud enough to push a 2:1 geared single speed up that for 45 minutes and on goes the 21 cog!

 

[jh504]

Lots of great info coming in here, thanks alot everyone. I looked at some of the SS frames that were suggested, and that is definitley an option. I did the Zion search on JensonUSA and those frames are right in my price range. I also found a complete Cannondale Killer V in great shape on craigslist in my area for cheap. What are the thoughts on this bike? I have heard good things about it with a fork upgrade. The main reason I am going SS is for simplicity. I ride pretty hard and I hate being out in the woods and having problems with my bike.

 

[RHINO]

i am doing the same,, a budget SS. i have a Q while on the subject, i am using an older (late 90's) alu stumpjumper frame and i need a replacement replaceable derailer hanger, anybody have any ideas where to look for it?

 

[adrenaline503]

That Rollenslager is pretty nice, it helps that you have it set up correctly.

 

[Christophe Noel]

You might shop around for something like a Redline Monocog or something similar. Some of the SS bikes off the rack are actually very reasonably priced.

 

[adrenaline503]

You might shop around for something like a Redline Monocog or something similar. Some of the SS bikes off the rack are actually very reasonably priced.

My brother has a Monocog 29er and loves it. He actually just got his spine fused yesterday to repair a L2 burst fracture from a wreck on that bike. Be careful out there!

 

[jh504]

My brother has a Monocog 29er and loves it. He actually just got his spine fused yesterday to repair a L2 burst fracture from a wreck on that bike. Be careful out there!

I flipped my Taco 3 months ago and fractured 4 thorasic and one lumber vertebrae, so I feel for him.
I actually ended up getting the Killer V today becuase it was in such great shape. Even if I dont turn that bike into a SS it is a good bike to have around.

 

[adrenaline503]

I flipped my Taco 3 months ago and fractured 4 thorasic and one lumber vertebrae, so I feel for him.
I actually ended up getting the Killer V today becuase it was in such great shape. Even if I dont turn that bike into a SS it is a good bike to have around.

The Killer is a nice bike, I remember lusting after it when it first came out. Cannondales just don't fit me quite right

 

[7wt]

I am looking into this SS thing. Actually, I have been wantint to do this for years but my bike doesn't lend it's self to a conversion very well. As it stands now, I'd be happy to find an old 1" threaded fork and a decent short stem but they both seem to be in short supply. I looked into the Surly 1X1 and I like that idea but the bike is a touch heavy compared to my Klein. Now I have been kicking around the idea of getting a trials bkie just for fun. Too many directions, not enough money.

 

[Super Doody]

That's a nice thing about the Rollenslager, urethane wheel with sealed bearings, quiet as can be. Plus it's easier to switch between different sized cogs. I personally run a 18 and a 21, depending on which trails we're doing. If it's a trail with lots of climbing, my knees really like the 34/21 and if it's a more friendly trail the 34/18 is a lot less spinning. A typical trail near town starts with a 3~5 mile, couple of 1,000' climb and I am definitely not stud enough to push a 2:1 geared single speed up that for 45 minutes and on goes the 21 cog!

Those things are cool. When I was in college I used an old, road bike rear derailleurs as a chain tensioner (strectched the hell out of it) for a junker I used for transportation. It worked out most of the time. The chain sliped off this one time when I was sprinting down hill out of a turn. I lost a lot skin and ripped a hole in my jean pocket where my keys were.

 

[Pokey]

You want to find frames that have notoriously longish toptubes relative to its frame size. I have an old Alpinestars that i machined the dropouts to accomodate a SS hub without use of a chain tensioner running 32/16 or 34/17

It would be an ideal frame for someone about 5'10-6'1 as it has a longish- 24" toptube. pm me if interested--

I had it built up very beefy and strong enough to accomodate my 225lbs.......and it weighed in at 18lbs soaking wet. Alpinestars used Easton Elite ultralight tubing on this frame which 21" weighs under 3lbs.