Sorry, on behalf of all us singlespeeders!

[bikejunkie]

I had a conversation last night with one of the owners of a "Kingston" area bike shop. In that conversation, It came up that I am riding a single speed more than than often than not these days. From that point on the conversation got ugly! It turns out (so I'm told) that you can't climb hills on a single speed. Is this true? I will have to remember that the next time we ride bear backwards. Next, I was asked if I'm riding alone and I said "nope, I usually ride with a group". "Wow, those guys must be slow" was the next informative statement that came out of his mouth. Next, I leaned that hardtails are not faster than a duelly. Just in case you were wondering!
With all this new and enlightening information, I just wanted to appologize to all of you on behalf of all us singlespeeders (we must hold the group up too much). And I'm also sorry to hear that you are all slow as well.

[g60dude]

Man............would have loved to been at that conversation.........Now we just need to find this guy out riding sometime and watch you pass him going up a hill on your singlespeed

The only place I feel more comfortable and will go faster on a duelly (that may change as I ride my hard tail more and more) is rocky, rooty downhills. But climbing and technical single track I feel the hardtail is more responsive
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greg

[bikejunkie]

Yeah, Too bad Kevin jumped ship. He could have shown him a thing or two.

[g60dude]

By the way..........this is the BikeJunkies single speed in question.....notice how extreme he is sportn' no brakes either


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greg

[Big Baby Jesus]

I hope this is not the same shop owner who was walking his geared Colnago C40 up a hill on one of the Thursday Woodstock rides. Pretty funny to see somone walking a bike with all them gears. Fortunately we waited for him to walk his ass up to the top of the hill.
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You aint ringing a bell

[bikejunkie]

Don't know, Could be him but, from what I understand, He doesn't like to ride in a group. You know, then he'd have to wait.

[burtondogs]

Sounds like plain old ignorance too me.
Bike shop owners must feel threatened when so many people are not interested in buying the stuff they are selling.

I was checking out the latest Specialized top end duallies the other day.
All the tech features look cool as hell, but its just more stuff that's gonna break.
Then I looked around and noticed there was not one Steel hardtail mountain bike in the store.



later
Jim

[bikejunkie]

Just one owner in particular. Many of them ride singles themselves. I don't want to bash all the shop owners, that was never my intent.

[Kevin]

[bikejunkie]

I knew that would get a rise out of you Kevin. Not to worry, your nuts will heal.

[raybag]

Apology accepted. Next time you're waiting for me at a regroup you make sure to show me the respect that a fully geared full suspension rider deserves, no matter how far off the back I am! And poor Kevin, not only is his ego bruised, but his nuts as well! Tsk tsk.

Not to worry though, my SS is alive and well and recently cleaned up in preperation for the Famous Fats in the Cats Christmas Ride, aka Santa Rampage. All I have to do is string my x-mas lights around her smooth sleek body and she'll be ready to go.
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C'mon!!

[shizzle]

HMMMM that same shop owner 'brother' told me that there is no way that someone on a hardtail could keep up with a rider on a FS on jockey hill. I went to purchase an item after not having been there for years....All I got was a negative attitude, I wont be going back.
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Dont ever look at my name in vain- ODB

[bikejunkie]

Yes Sir Mr Shizz McNizz, That sounds like the very one! You know, the one that always has an opinion but that you never see on the trail. Don't worry, they don't need your buisiness, there are plenty of Huffy's to fix!

[Riceball]

I have cut the cables to my derailleurs and zip-tied them to a fixed position. Works fine on my flat driveway. What gear would you select for hilly ol' Kingston for this year's Santa Enigma?

[bikejunkie]

Hi Steve! Just one question, why would you do that? Do you really want to run a single for the Christmas Ride? If so, might I suggest you skip the cable cutting business and simply not shift? All kidding asside, if you truly want gear ratio suggestions, for that night, you could probably get by fairly easily with a 2 to 1 ratio. Last year I ran a rediculously tall 39 front and 13 rear. It's ok on the flats but, if you want to take off at the bottom of a hill it can be a challenge.

Doug

[ATOMICPUNK]

Bike shops hate ss . there is less parts to break and it easier to maintain
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Big Pig Racing
Commit to the Ride

[Riceball]

Hey Doug.
Handlebar change drives re-cabling or no cabling choice, looking at the setups you can buy as single speed, I am going with something like 34T driving 18 or 20.....won't be in the lead, but won't be too much slower...

I am looking at restoring the frame shortly and do not want to waste a new cable install for one ride....


hope that damned reindeer of mine doesn't get too drunk too early!

santa steve

[bikejunkie]

Hey Steve, There are several kits available. Nashbar had one faily cheap. You will need a chain tensioner of some sort. You can use an old deraileur and simply adjust the stops at the proper chain alignment or just buy one. Remember that chain alignment is key. If it's not right, it will give you trouble and you will not have much fun! I think you will be fine with your gearing choice.

Doug