NSMB - 2023 - Hardtails Leaning Against Stuff Thread

Posted by: fartymarty

I'm thinking this is why i'm struggling with the idea of single speeding.  I used to run the Krampus SS and it was great on solo rides or group rides where you weren't pushing it on the downs and could just go at your own pace.  It sucked on the flat in group rides when you had to spin like crazy to keep up.  Steep ups and downs were fine as you were either first to the top or last and pushing.  Weirdly SS on the shore makes sense as it's either up or down.  Our local riding has a bit of everything.

Maybe once winter kicks in I will give it a go as speeds are slower.  Plus i'm quite enjoying the HT geared at the moment.

I appreciate having an "extra" HT is a luxury, but that makes the choice to SS or not a lot easier when you can just grab gears or SS as desired. With external routing and an HG driver it wouldn't be too cumbersome to swap between those options on one HT if space/$ made the second rig unpractical.

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: fartymarty

I'm thinking this is why i'm struggling with the idea of single speeding.  I used to run the Krampus SS and it was great on solo rides or group rides where you weren't pushing it on the downs and could just go at your own pace.  It sucked on the flat in group rides when you had to spin like crazy to keep up.  Steep ups and downs were fine as you were either first to the top or last and pushing.  Weirdly SS on the shore makes sense as it's either up or down.  Our local riding has a bit of everything.

Maybe once winter kicks in I will give it a go as speeds are slower.  Plus i'm quite enjoying the HT geared at the moment.

I appreciate having an "extra" HT is a luxury, but that makes the choice to SS or not a lot easier when you can just grab gears or SS as desired. With external routing and an HG driver it wouldn't be too cumbersome to swap between those options on one HT if space/$ made the second rig unpractical.

I thought the single bike and swapping would be ideal this year too and just kept a pair of freehubs ready to quick swap (HG freehub set up SS and XD set up with Eagle). Swapping freehubs + derailleur + shifter + chain was about a 15 minute deal with the convenience of full external routing... but I've ended up continuing to ride SS for everything, despite a couple of swaps back, and am probably going to sell off the GX Eagle kit the bike came with.

Posted by: yardrec

Posted by: Vikb

Posted by: yardrec

SS bikepacking is fun!....

Right on. Sounds like the perfect trip for that rig. Did your kid enjoy it? Is he wanting to head out again?

Yeah! It was a great rig for that........ A total success for a midweek s24o dad-win! :)

Along that same vein, I finally gave a whirl to SS bikepacking this summer while racing the Bones to Blue around Lake Tahoe and couldn't have been happier with it! Turns out that less can be more and my low back seems to prefer SS riding (and hiking) much more than grinding away in granny gears. It's remarkable how the bikepacking load didn't change my overwhelming stoke for SS this summer nor my comfort pushing big days.

... and here is a photo of my race setup (30x22 for loaded singletrack focused riding):

Posted by: snowsnake

My new Esker Japhy! Aiming for a playful little singlespeed build with 10mm of overforking and high-rise bars. Obviously till in progress, but so stoked to get a ride in if the rain will ever let up.

SWEET bike snowsnake! I've really enjoyed mine so far this summer (although I wish I was able to get that classy red you nabbed) and am interested to hear your thoughts on over-forking... did you go 140mm? I'm running 130mm and it feels ideal, but am always curious about more...

Posted by: zachary_miller

...but I've ended up continuing to ride SS for everything, despite a couple of swaps back, and am probably going to sell off the GX Eagle kit the bike came with.

...It's remarkable how the bikepacking load didn't change my overwhelming stoke for SS this summer nor my comfort pushing big days.

Nice on both counts! There definitely is a storyline through most of the SS trials/reports that you encounter where people are pleasantly surprised how well they perform or how their concerns for giving up gears don't fully materialize. 

I'm happy to have a geared option, but if I could only keep the SS MTB bike I would be fine.

The Lake Tahoe area looks really scenic from the riding and trail running videos I've seen.

I've spent some time using an ISCG tensioner for SS. Definitely more drag than sliders etc, still more than a hanger mounted tensioner pushing down. I think it's partly the change of direction for the chain.

What do people think about slider dropouts vs. rockers? I'm thinking about getting a custom frame built, and I like the looks of the rockers, but the sliders seem like they would be more consistent/easier to align.

Posted by: velocipedestrian

I've spent some time using an ISCG tensioner for SS. Definitely more drag than sliders etc, still more than a hanger mounted tensioner pushing down. I think it's partly the change of direction for the chain.

I've tried a few over the years and agree, there is more drag and more noise from the roller with an ISCG mount. The best I've tried is still the DMR Tension Seeker 2 (I think there was a trick with reversing the spring to give stiffer tension). But it was sprung and rolled on a bearing so was the quietest.

Yess also made a derailleur mounted one which was good too if I recall. I bet there are other fancier ones on the market somewhere.

Posted by: TristanC

What do people think about slider dropouts vs. rockers? I'm thinking about getting a custom frame built, and I like the looks of the rockers, but the sliders seem like they would be more consistent/easier to align.

I have sliders, rockers and horizontal open dropouts. The sliders with those small adjustment screws are easier to setup, but really the other two are not hard. It's the difference between say 30 seconds and 60 seconds of setup time. On one hand that's double. On the other hand a day later the difference is so minor it isn't something you'd ever remember. Depending on the specific dropouts you might get more adjustment range out of sliders since they are inline with the CS. 

My custom frame has rockers. They do look nicer than sliders. I wouldn't hesitate to get them again.

Thanks for the ISCG SS tensioner feedback Velo and Trem. I'm starting to re-think my plans and rather than fighting "gravity" perhaps I'll just keep the SS on a frame with sliders and use the vertical dropout frame with gears like the Bike Gods intended!

I am almost finished with my single speed from Marino if I could just get this damn front tire to set up tubeless.

Have any of you guys tried Blackspire pedals? I am considering the Brutes or Robustos cause they are some what affordable made in North America pedals that are similar size to my Vaults.

Posted by: 93EXCivic

I am almost finished with my single speed from Marino if I could just get this damn front tire to set up tubeless.

Have any of you guys tried Blackspire pedals? I am considering the Brutes or Robustos cause they are some what affordable made in North America pedals that are similar size to my Vaults.

There's a good MiNA pedal shootout on Radavist.

Double tubeless tape wrap usually does it for me.

Posted by: fartymarty

Posted by: 93EXCivic

I am almost finished with my single speed from Marino if I could just get this damn front tire to set up tubeless.

Have any of you guys tried Blackspire pedals? I am considering the Brutes or Robustos cause they are some what affordable made in North America pedals that are similar size to my Vaults.

There's a good MiNA pedal shootout on Radavist.

Double tubeless tape wrap usually does it for me.

Yeah that is what inspired me to look at Blackspire. Cause I ain't paying $200+ for a set of pedals.

I have had Blackspire pedals and cranks, good price, made locally, sometimes on sale etc etc the only thing that was mildly annoying was the rebuilding for the pedals but other than that, all solid.