Comments on: Is single speed the way to start out? http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/ Mountain Bike Reviews, News, Deals and How Tos Fri, 25 May 2012 21:24:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Blue Collar Mountain Biking » Blog Archive » Bombproof Project: Geared vs. Singlespeed | Mountain Bike Reviews, Deals and How Tos http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-82358 Blue Collar Mountain Biking » Blog Archive » Bombproof Project: Geared vs. Singlespeed | Mountain Bike Reviews, Deals and How Tos Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:22:08 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-82358 [...] The goal of the bombproof bike is to address concerns we have with the bikes currently offered to beginners, weekend warriors and other non-racer folks. This sect of riders, in general, are wanting an easier way to participate in the sport. We had a discussion a couple months ago on the topic of singlespeeds vs. gears for beginners and I feel gears are still the right choice for the majority of hobbiest mountain bikers. [...] [...] The goal of the bombproof bike is to address concerns we have with the bikes currently offered to beginners, weekend warriors and other non-racer folks. This sect of riders, in general, are wanting an easier way to participate in the sport. We had a discussion a couple months ago on the topic of singlespeeds vs. gears for beginners and I feel gears are still the right choice for the majority of hobbiest mountain bikers. [...]

]]> By: gwadzilla http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-62997 gwadzilla Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:28:26 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-62997 most people as beginners will walk the hills gears are an extra variable that they may not need Joe Whitehair aka SINGLESPEED OUTLAW lead a Single Speed Conversion class a few weeks ago I personally believe that lots of old beaters would do well to be converted into single speeds not just for the absolute beginner but for the urban cyclist most people seldom switch gears people are so often in the wrong gear why not dumb it down for them oh me... I have been riding and racing single speeds for years... my first single speed in a race.... I raced my geared bike as a Clydesdale then had just enough time to change my number to my home made single and went out and rocked the course I admit I only paid an entry fee for one event for that I am sorry I flip flop from geared bike to single speed I do nearly half my mountain bike races on a Single but... I only race on courses where I am not disadvantaged by not having the gear options never would I consider doing the Shenandoah Mountain 100 on a Single most people as beginners will walk the hills

gears are an extra variable that they may not need

Joe Whitehair aka SINGLESPEED OUTLAW lead a Single Speed Conversion class a few weeks ago

I personally believe that lots of old beaters would do well to be converted into single speeds
not just for the absolute beginner
but for the urban cyclist
most people seldom switch gears
people are so often in the wrong gear

why not dumb it down for them

oh
me…

I have been riding and racing single speeds for years…

my first single speed in a race….

I raced my geared bike as a Clydesdale
then had just enough time to change my number to my home made single
and went out and rocked the course
I admit
I only paid an entry fee for one event
for that
I am sorry

I flip flop from geared bike to single speed
I do nearly half my mountain bike races on a Single
but…
I only race on courses where I am not disadvantaged by not having the gear options

never would I consider doing the Shenandoah Mountain 100 on a Single

]]> By: Aaron http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-60228 Aaron Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:54:24 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-60228 It's true, I'm horribly self-centered. Not even joking there. Allow me to rephrase myself: In order to start out riding SS, a person has to be more expectant of failure. There, that sounds better. It’s true, I’m horribly self-centered. Not even joking there.

Allow me to rephrase myself: In order to start out riding SS, a person has to be more expectant of failure. There, that sounds better.

]]> By: Jeff http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-59672 Jeff Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:24:14 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-59672 LOL,if anyone has a fragile ego its you Aaron! Only someone with an "ego" would make a comment like that. LOL,if anyone has a fragile ego its you Aaron! Only someone with an “ego” would make a comment like that.

]]> By: Aaron http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-59621 Aaron Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:40:55 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-59621 I think a lot of it comes down to the rider's background, their self-esteem. If you are fit, and can handle failure, a SS would work great. But if a lot of failures get you down, it might not. Gears are a great safety net for the fragile ego (no offense to geared riders). I think a lot of it comes down to the rider’s background, their self-esteem.

If you are fit, and can handle failure, a SS would work great. But if a lot of failures get you down, it might not. Gears are a great safety net for the fragile ego (no offense to geared riders).

]]> By: Moose http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-57060 Moose Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:41:00 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-57060 I'm of the opinion that it's truly dependent on the terrain that the newbie will pop their cherry on. Rolling, twisty singletrack with few, if any climbs and/or fire roads are very singly-oriented. However, if the trails in question are more mountainous one would need 22x34 gearing available. Maybe a 1x9 might not be a bad option? Would save front der. and shifter/cable cost. I’m of the opinion that it’s truly dependent on the terrain that the newbie will pop their cherry on. Rolling, twisty singletrack with few, if any climbs and/or fire roads are very singly-oriented.

However, if the trails in question are more mountainous one would need 22×34 gearing available. Maybe a 1×9 might not be a bad option? Would save front der. and shifter/cable cost.

]]> By: Twenty Nine Inches | A 29er Bike site » Blog Archive » Are Twenty Nine Inches Safer? http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-55199 Twenty Nine Inches | A 29er Bike site » Blog Archive » Are Twenty Nine Inches Safer? Fri, 08 Dec 2006 17:26:25 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-55199 [...] I posted a couple days ago on our sister site, Blue Collar Mountain Biking, posing a question about making singlespeeds (over gears) the entry bike for newbies. There’s some good thoughts on both sides, however I’d like to pose a similar question here… [...] [...] I posted a couple days ago on our sister site, Blue Collar Mountain Biking, posing a question about making singlespeeds (over gears) the entry bike for newbies. There’s some good thoughts on both sides, however I’d like to pose a similar question here… [...]

]]> By: teknohed http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-54854 teknohed Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:50:48 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-54854 This is the perfect subject for me. I've doing some low key XC riding on my Moongoose for about two years. I wanted to upgrade and and get a bike for my girlfriend. She's really interested in getting into serious crazy downhill mountain biking. So she went out and bought a Specialized Big Hit. The guy she bought it from took the granny ring off so it is only single speed (or I guess single ringed). We haven't really hit any big climbs yet as I still haven't gotten a new bike and I don't want to kill myself on my Mongoose. But I have been a little worried that once I get a new bike the single ring will be a problem when it comes to climbing for her. I am planning on getting a bike with a granny ring, cause I plain and simple don't want to carry my damn bike up every hill...but that's just me. I suppose that if we get really into it we'll be like the guys at the bike shop who live by the "walk it up...ride it down" credo. This is the perfect subject for me. I’ve doing some low key XC riding on my Moongoose for about two years. I wanted to upgrade and and get a bike for my girlfriend. She’s really interested in getting into serious crazy downhill mountain biking. So she went out and bought a Specialized Big Hit. The guy she bought it from took the granny ring off so it is only single speed (or I guess single ringed). We haven’t really hit any big climbs yet as I still haven’t gotten a new bike and I don’t want to kill myself on my Mongoose. But I have been a little worried that once I get a new bike the single ring will be a problem when it comes to climbing for her. I am planning on getting a bike with a granny ring, cause I plain and simple don’t want to carry my damn bike up every hill…but that’s just me. I suppose that if we get really into it we’ll be like the guys at the bike shop who live by the “walk it up…ride it down” credo.

]]> By: Tim Grahl http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-54847 Tim Grahl Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:33:43 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-54847 I agree with the thoughts on having people feel like the sport is to hard. I know a lot of the people I take for the first time are doing it to get into shape and by putting them on a singlespeed it could incredibly discouraging. The initial draw to the sport for me was the amount of ground I could easily cover and the places I could see from the bike, but I spent a whole lot of time in the granny gear. Maybe a 1x9 is a good way to go, but there aren't currently a lot of stock bikes coming with that setup. Is this a niche that some companies could be tapping to give lower priced entry bikes to new riders? I agree with the thoughts on having people feel like the sport is to hard. I know a lot of the people I take for the first time are doing it to get into shape and by putting them on a singlespeed it could incredibly discouraging. The initial draw to the sport for me was the amount of ground I could easily cover and the places I could see from the bike, but I spent a whole lot of time in the granny gear.

Maybe a 1×9 is a good way to go, but there aren’t currently a lot of stock bikes coming with that setup. Is this a niche that some companies could be tapping to give lower priced entry bikes to new riders?

]]> By: Jeff http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/comment-page-1/#comment-54824 Jeff Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:39:34 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/12/04/is-single-speed-the-way-to-start-out/#comment-54824 Shawn, "suffering", personaly I never got into this sport to "suffer",but then again there are those that are into that sort of thing. LOL Shawn, “suffering”, personaly I never got into this sport to “suffer”,but then again there are those that are into that sort of thing. LOL

]]>