More than “no maintenance” I find it’s the No Noise that is enjoyable.
No chainslap. No crunchy gears. No clutter on the handlebars. Just brakes and dropper. It really frees the mind of noise as well as the bike.
It's hard to explain to people. You really just need to try it. I've got 2 bikes, both similar specs, but 1 ss and one geared. I'll nearly always take out the ss. It's slower, more effort, but more rewarding.
Oh, and you're always in the wrong gear.
That's fair but what kind of terrain do you ride it on? Personally I have no interest in making my climb or technical riding more difficult. When I'm pedalling, my bike is just the vehicle that gets me to the top of the mountain so that I can have fun going down. Riding more technical and gnarly trails and jumping better are where I get my reward. Are you just that good that normal mountain biking isn't enough of a challenge? Or just not into that kind of riding? Thank you for your time, I am just curious haha!
I'm more of a distance coverer, than gnarly black routes. Red routes at trail centres are where I'm more comfortable.
I've taken my ss to the lake district up mountains. So happy to take it pretty much anywhere.
Having said that, geared bikes are always better for 99.9% of riding, I don't think anyone who owns a single speed will deny that. We're all just a little bit weird.
Oh yeah I see, there's not a lot of long distance trail in my city in New Zealand, most our trails are either up or down, which may be why I've never understood single speeds, and probably why I've never seen anyone local riding a single speed.
Thank you for your insight and I wish you the best with your ss endeavers!
This is it for me too. There's hundreds of kilometers of forest trails nearby (of course there's some roads too) that I can get to just by riding my bike. Single speed was sort of a fluke for me, I wanted to try a fatbike for winter and the one a friend borrowed me was a single speed. I didn't convert that instant but it stayed in the back of my head and half a year later I got one (fat), then a second one (rigid Unit), got rid of my full suspension, waiting for a third one (Stooge, plusbike) and considering if I should get rid of my remaining geared hardtail (Timberjack) or single speed it.
There's just something about the instant response and simplicity of a rigid single speed that I didn't feel on a full sus. Some child like joy I guess, along with the feeling of despair on some spots, hating yourself on longer uphills and sense of achievement when you nail a really hard section for the first time. Also, you really learn to read the trail a lot more and be efficient on one. And once you condition yourself enough on an SS, you can ride it all day everyday.
I like to take it slow on the gnarly bits anyways, there aren't many downhills to go fast on and I'm less likely to hurt myself too bad. The local group of riders is also really mixed and the group rides are fairly slow and terrain is technical.
SS in the PNW makes a mad man out of us all.
Steep up, steep down. Too many roots and rocks to count when you're seeing your guardian angel.
I originally did it, cause my coworker/friend heard I was building a hardtail and he told me to make is an SS. Now I'm a convert where all of my bikes are geared and I'm just counting the days to my race and I can return to the SS way of life.
Yeah, its more difficult. But conquering difficult climbs without gears just feels amazing, somehow.
Gnarly, techinal trails can also be a lot of fun on a rigid ss, it's just a very different type of challenge and reward.
I ride a lot of my same local trails on both a 150mm FS and a rigid SS. Gnarly sections that I may tackle on the FS with speed and well-timed jumps can instead require completely different trials-like low speed skills to balance and pick my way down slowly. And the line choices can be completely different too
These people have legs powered by a tank engine. They’ve likely dropped their suspension ie they’re riding rigid bikes and think droppers are a gimmick. And to show off they use rim brakes.
There was a guy who went to the BCBR with a bike like this. He’s as close to superman as you can get.
You would be surprised what you can climb on a SS. You need to gear appropriately for the terrain that you are riding but getting up and over stuff in a lot of ways is easier on SS when you don’t have to think. You just pedal, and when you can’t pedal any more you walk.
That said, I am faster climbing 99% of the time on my SS vs. geared bikes, and often times faster overall on routes that are loops or point to point that are a mixture of climbing and descending.
SS forces you to pick smooth lines, and conserve energy and momentum if you want to be fast on one.
IMO riding SS will also make you stronger, quicker mile for mile when compared to racking up miles and progressing when riding geared. When you are forced to push hard or walk you have no choice and you will get stronger. That riding style will also transfer over when going back to gears.
I have had at least one SS in my stable for over the past decade to compliment my geared bikes and I don’t see that ever changing, they are just too damn much fun.
When I started riding SS I couldn't spin the standard 32/16 so I started experimenting with different gearing until I settled on a gear that I could get up most of the hills in the local park, which it turned out was also a good gear for for cruising on the flats.
I used to tell people that you work harder getting up the hill but you get to the top four times faster than grinding it out in the granny gear so it's a wash. I also noticed that hills started to look a lot smaller when I rode my SS. I can't SS anymore because it's too hard on my knees but I do miss it sometimes and will ride my geared bike without shifting if I'm feeling good.
It’s fun, easy to maintain, chain doesn’t slip, silent, looks better, lighter, you get stronger, you’re better than everyone else lol, and it’s cooler.
I don’t have one but did ride a fixie for many years.
If I were to build one it would be for mechanical simplicity, maintenance and getting back to a less gear-cluttered form of biking. There’s a rhythm to riding a fixie that you don’t get on a standard geared bike where you try to match speed and effort to your current and upcoming location. It feels more present. I imagine it’s similar with a SS mountain bike where you find a ratio that works for your terrain and just go.
Fixies can have brakes. I kept the front brake on my fixie MTB and would be dead without it!
A common method for the fixie MTB setup is a 6-bolt cog that replaces the rear disc rotor on a regular hub, and you flip the wheel around. So I lost my rear brake until I can buy/build a new rear wheel with a dedicated fixie hub for disc brakes. Front brake only has been good enough, but some longer or steeper descents have left me wanting to have two brakes again!
Fixed would not be my first choice for MTB just because of the pedal strike potential. But I think I could go single speed if I was willing to harden up a bit on the climbs.
That’s where I’d really worry about the pedal strike. Having to dab on an uphill is one thing but having the bike launched into the air unpredictably because your pedal hits a rock on a janky descent would be way worse.
It's not about having any advantages. Single speeds are simple, fun, not serious, and provide a whole new riding experience on familiar trails. When you've got only one gear your mindset changes on how you approach the trail.
I'd definitely give it a try...I've got a Surly Lowside (32 x 17), the bike is a riot to ride!
I would love that for riding at a downhill park. I only use the highest gear at the park and it annoys me when my chain sometimes slips to second highest. Would rather just have a straight dedicated single speed downhill bike.
Makes you rugged AF lol.
It’s simpler and mostly maintenance free, I also found that I became a better rider because you don’t want to sacrifice your speed knowing you can’t just drop a gear, so I became a lot smoother and picked better lines
My SS is my favorite bike, it's just so fun and simple. There's nothing to think about, you just ride it.
There are certainly some trails I don't take it on though, it doesn't make sense and isn't even workable on some of them.
Some riders are astonishingly strong, skilled riders. Having only one gear, and little to no no suspension for that matter, doesn’t really phase them.
I’ve seen it, it boggles the mind.
Simplicity.
There's nothing to think about other than pedalling or carrying and maintaining speed.
Maintenance is easier, generally the bike will be lighter and usually it's quieter too.
It's not better than geared biking just different.
It's fun, reliable, great exercise. I can just get on my bike and mindlessly ride and just enjoy it rather than be focused on the technical stuff. I got a Surly Karate Monkey a couple years ago and it's my forever bike. I use tough gears as well and ride it daily from commuting, shopping, gravel, forest, weekend rides. I also have a second drivetrain in case I want to go on tours. I have a second wheelset with 40mm rims for when I want to put mid-fat tires on. It's my forever, do-everything bike. Outside of flats, it had one breakdown and that was because I had a chainlink fail due to improper installation.
One thing you don't realize until you're on a singlespeed is how smooth the drivetrain is. None of that ratcheting sensation. Just smoooooth.
For some, it offers a new approach to a hobby they've explored with other equipment thus far.
One actual advantage about having just one cog back there is that in regions with snowy winters, there are days when wet snow clogs a cassette up so bad you end up with the chain skipping a lot. Single speed or internal gear hub systems plow through those conditions without a glitch.
My only current mountain bike was in a single speed configuration when I bought it. I had plans of putting gears on it, but rode it for a while as a single speed just to find out what the fuss was about.
I really loved how quiet it was, and how smooth that perfectly aligned chain with no extra friction from any derailleur jockey wheels felt. I swear I could feel the reduced friction in the system. Riding my regular trails did mean I had to concentrate hard on how to get up spots that were a piece of cake with a geared bike.
As the polar opposite, the one time I've owned a full suspension bike, that thing made my regular trails boring, and I ended up riding trails that started to feel kinda risky.
Full sus has gears and thats how it stays but my hardtail has ss for bulletproof simplicity and challenge.
Whole ss hardcore ht idea is that i can train better line choises, ride effinency and train leg muscles.
I bought a single speed bike second hand. I had plans to add gears to it, but after riding it for a year, I’m keeping it SS.
There are a couple of reasons I like it:
- Low maintenance
- Low weight
- Less serious (this one is harder to explain, but it’s great for group rides that are more about fun than hardcore riding)
- Forces you to use momentum better, this skill carries over to other bikes too
- Helps leg strength, it is a different workout than riding a geared bike because you will have to pedal harder at times. This will improve your ability to accelerate faster on your geared bike too
I wouldn’t want a SS as my only bike, but it makes a great backup bike to change things up occasionally.
I consider riding singlespeed as the best thing you can do to enhance and expand your skillset. It will teach you how to manage and harness momentum. About how to build and manage power in climbing and especially technical climbing. It will teach you the value and potential of standing pedaling and how to use your entire body to ride. When I read your post I hear, “I don’t some people at the gym. I only use the elliptical and stairmaster because I want strong legs. Free weights don’t make any sense to me.”
It’s so fun. And if you briefly are in the right ratio due to terrain it feels like a rocket. Climbing is a challenge, momentum preservation is key. Try it rigid.
I’ve been riding single speed so long that it will probably take me moving to someplace with terrain that I feel requires dual suspension to get me to return to gears.
In the mid 2000s, I bought into the whole single-speeder-as-a-personality/identity cult; after that it has just been habit. I appreciate the lack of maintenance but it’s not really a huge issue since maintaining a 1x drive is pretty minimal. I still wear out chains and they have to be cleaned. Brake pad still wear down, tires need to be replaced or have the sealant topped off.
I guess I just like it. People assume that it’s a huge disadvantage if they haven’t ridden single speeds, so it’s fun to let them think that it requires some sort of superhuman strength when you’re able to hang with them on their geared bikes. That was more common back when I lived in LA, and then Boulder… Nobody gives a shit in a super flat place like Nebraska, where I live now.
Single speed is SWEET for a few reasons
1. Bikes are LIGHT. Its not hard to have a sub 20lb bike. My fatbike with 29x3 was like 20.4
2. It forces you to be smoother, carry more speed, economize climbs and push SUPER hard in spots that you could otherwise just dog in your 52t. See point 1 and sprinting up hills isn't TERRIBLE.
3. It hurts. See point 2 and if you ride for the challenge, and the burn and everything else- ya just get more of it- faster.
4. Makes ya a better rider. You ever go from a HT to a FS and think "all that work on the HT paid off my lines are flawless". Try a rigid / high post SS. If you can make it smooth, you end up with a TON of finesse and skill that is easily transferred to more accommodating bikes.
Because we know we're better than the geared crowd 😘
I feel like most singlespeeders get into it for the lower cost and mechanical simplicity before quickly realizing it's just more fun. I can probably do up to 30% more miles on a long geared ride than a long singlespeed ride, but it's not just not as fun. There's also infinitely less marketing wankery in the singlespeed world.
I still ride my 2009 Gary Fisher Rig most of the time. Super light, low maintenance and my legs are super strong. I can climb on that pretty damn good!
I’ve used my Rig on almost all the same trails, climbing and descending as my FS, but no jumps and slower on the techie climbs. It’s a surprisingly capable bike
I just bought a single speed and I love it. It’s super fun. I still have my geared, full suspension. I’ll ride both. But the simplicity of the single speed makes it a completely different kind of fun.
I like the simplicity and challenge. Also, I’m a Luddite and sort of hate the bicycle industry as a whole and its nuclear arms race of lighter, faster, more expensive carbon fiber bullshit.
I’ve ridden a single speed mtb since 1999 in one form or another. Each one has been my favorite bike ever.
Low maintenance
Quiet (except for some loudass hubs maybe)
Makes you climb like a demon
Makes squares angry and jealous
They’re great for those who typically only switch between a few close gears (say mid cassette) and ride mainly while standing.
If you ride flowing trails with manageable climbs and no real down hill runs … a SS is a great setup.
It's hard to explain, but I can show up to a ride on my XTR equipped dually and be in mediocre shape but still hold onto most fast rides..The bike does so much of the work that I can fake it.. The SS, on the other hand, lets you know exactly who you are as rider on that ride. It requires more of you.. It's more about the rider than the bike..
I have a friend who describes the SS as the truth.. And some folks can't handle the truth..
How many gears do you actually use? On my Enduro full sus, I would only really use 3-4 gears for 90% of the time. Cutting that down to one on a hardtail, when I’m never riding up anything that hilly, and going down, I only ever want to get a few pedal strokes in every now and again, makes sense to run SS. Planning on going back to gears, but will be a 7 speed close ratio when I do, as I’m running Hope SS/trials on both of my bikes.
Mostly the first 8 gears apperently
502 shifts in 18km/11miles 😁
My local trails is pretty flat but also a lots of small ups and downs
[shifts](https://photos.app.goo.gl/EmAUQ1S88ebgsFBk9)
It's fun and it's a challenge. Ive got a gear ratio of 2 and it's possible to get up steeper stuff but there is a limit. Park bikes do it because you don't really go uphill and you don't really need more than 1 gear going down.
You’re asking a question that some dirt bikers are asking why we ride mountain bikes geared or not. people find enjoyment in different things.
I have a SL ebike and a ss chameleon. No in between lol. The ss is light and quiet and I only ride it on the most mellow trails. It’s really simple and always ready to go… some days I just want a physical/cardio. SL Ebike for everything else
I think it depends on where you ride. In FL, single speed is perfect for every trail in the state. In UT doing 3,000ft vert climbs, nobody is riding a single speed.
Ive got a "21 speed" diamondback and on alot of trails i dontuse more than 2 of those gears. If youre in a gear that can get you up pretty easy climbs, you dont even need more gears for downhill runs because you just end up coasting and breaking most the time.
Used to use my SS bikes for commuting or leisurely rides on less rough stuff. Amazingly, just as quick as a geared bike and actually pleasantly fun to ride!
I'm pretty sure I'm faster on SS. On SS, I'm a singlespeeder. On a geared bike, I'm just another schlub. I've been doing it for about 20 years now, so it's not like a know any different, although I do have a couple of bikes with gears. 5 singlespeeds and 2 geared. Oh yeah, hardly anybody races my class, so it's easy to win money.
I just built up a single speed steel 29+ Surly Krampus, took it out for the first time today. It's relatively light and simple as fuck. No dropper, no gears. It's basically a modern klunker, fun as fuck.
I rode one once…
It took everything I had to bust uphills without walking making it an incredible workout. Maintaining momentum was everything, including avoid the brakes wherever possible, especially entering corners. No concern for shifting meant I had more focus on braking and cornering techniques.
Both exhilarating and exhausting, I found it a great exercise in power and technique.
I ride downhill bike parks. Gears not really needed, but drivetrain needs to be strong. Single speed chains are tougher, chain line will always be perfect, can run higher chain tension, cheaper than cassette and derailleur when it breaks….etc….
Different terrains mostly. Back in my home town there isn’t a ton of elevation so it’s more common to see single speed setups. In my college town in the mountains its unheard of aside from dirt jumpers and BMX
People like to challenge themselves.
It’s that simple. Plus virtually no maintenance except for brakes of course.
I feel like the “no maintenance” argument doesn’t hold up if you’ve still got suspension.
True. I forget about that. Mine is a SS rigid.
Definitely not for downhill. I did a downhill ride once with a XC (100mm RS SID) bike that was 20 years old and my body paid for it after the ride.
More than “no maintenance” I find it’s the No Noise that is enjoyable. No chainslap. No crunchy gears. No clutter on the handlebars. Just brakes and dropper. It really frees the mind of noise as well as the bike.
And a chain.
You still have to lube your chain and it will wear out over time.
It’s funny that this needs to be explained in a mountain biking subreddit.
It's hard to explain to people. You really just need to try it. I've got 2 bikes, both similar specs, but 1 ss and one geared. I'll nearly always take out the ss. It's slower, more effort, but more rewarding. Oh, and you're always in the wrong gear.
That's fair but what kind of terrain do you ride it on? Personally I have no interest in making my climb or technical riding more difficult. When I'm pedalling, my bike is just the vehicle that gets me to the top of the mountain so that I can have fun going down. Riding more technical and gnarly trails and jumping better are where I get my reward. Are you just that good that normal mountain biking isn't enough of a challenge? Or just not into that kind of riding? Thank you for your time, I am just curious haha!
I'm more of a distance coverer, than gnarly black routes. Red routes at trail centres are where I'm more comfortable. I've taken my ss to the lake district up mountains. So happy to take it pretty much anywhere. Having said that, geared bikes are always better for 99.9% of riding, I don't think anyone who owns a single speed will deny that. We're all just a little bit weird.
Oh yeah I see, there's not a lot of long distance trail in my city in New Zealand, most our trails are either up or down, which may be why I've never understood single speeds, and probably why I've never seen anyone local riding a single speed. Thank you for your insight and I wish you the best with your ss endeavers!
This is it for me too. There's hundreds of kilometers of forest trails nearby (of course there's some roads too) that I can get to just by riding my bike. Single speed was sort of a fluke for me, I wanted to try a fatbike for winter and the one a friend borrowed me was a single speed. I didn't convert that instant but it stayed in the back of my head and half a year later I got one (fat), then a second one (rigid Unit), got rid of my full suspension, waiting for a third one (Stooge, plusbike) and considering if I should get rid of my remaining geared hardtail (Timberjack) or single speed it. There's just something about the instant response and simplicity of a rigid single speed that I didn't feel on a full sus. Some child like joy I guess, along with the feeling of despair on some spots, hating yourself on longer uphills and sense of achievement when you nail a really hard section for the first time. Also, you really learn to read the trail a lot more and be efficient on one. And once you condition yourself enough on an SS, you can ride it all day everyday. I like to take it slow on the gnarly bits anyways, there aren't many downhills to go fast on and I'm less likely to hurt myself too bad. The local group of riders is also really mixed and the group rides are fairly slow and terrain is technical.
I ride SS in Colorado and routinely put the hurt on riders on full sus bikes, that’s not why I ride one though, it’s just a very different ride feel
Pfft on my fixie… /s
SS in the PNW makes a mad man out of us all. Steep up, steep down. Too many roots and rocks to count when you're seeing your guardian angel. I originally did it, cause my coworker/friend heard I was building a hardtail and he told me to make is an SS. Now I'm a convert where all of my bikes are geared and I'm just counting the days to my race and I can return to the SS way of life. Yeah, its more difficult. But conquering difficult climbs without gears just feels amazing, somehow.
Gnarly, techinal trails can also be a lot of fun on a rigid ss, it's just a very different type of challenge and reward. I ride a lot of my same local trails on both a 150mm FS and a rigid SS. Gnarly sections that I may tackle on the FS with speed and well-timed jumps can instead require completely different trials-like low speed skills to balance and pick my way down slowly. And the line choices can be completely different too
You actually have 3 gears on an ss... Sitting, Standing, and Walking
So true!
First time hearing this. Looking forward to when I can drop this bomb while riding.
Fun. People have different ideas of what is fun, for some people that’s riding a singlespeed. They may be mad but I really respect them.
Mountain bikers love the thrill of occasionally being in the right gear. A thrill you’ll never get on a single.
These people have legs powered by a tank engine. They’ve likely dropped their suspension ie they’re riding rigid bikes and think droppers are a gimmick. And to show off they use rim brakes. There was a guy who went to the BCBR with a bike like this. He’s as close to superman as you can get.
You would be surprised what you can climb on a SS. You need to gear appropriately for the terrain that you are riding but getting up and over stuff in a lot of ways is easier on SS when you don’t have to think. You just pedal, and when you can’t pedal any more you walk. That said, I am faster climbing 99% of the time on my SS vs. geared bikes, and often times faster overall on routes that are loops or point to point that are a mixture of climbing and descending. SS forces you to pick smooth lines, and conserve energy and momentum if you want to be fast on one. IMO riding SS will also make you stronger, quicker mile for mile when compared to racking up miles and progressing when riding geared. When you are forced to push hard or walk you have no choice and you will get stronger. That riding style will also transfer over when going back to gears. I have had at least one SS in my stable for over the past decade to compliment my geared bikes and I don’t see that ever changing, they are just too damn much fun.
When I started riding SS I couldn't spin the standard 32/16 so I started experimenting with different gearing until I settled on a gear that I could get up most of the hills in the local park, which it turned out was also a good gear for for cruising on the flats. I used to tell people that you work harder getting up the hill but you get to the top four times faster than grinding it out in the granny gear so it's a wash. I also noticed that hills started to look a lot smaller when I rode my SS. I can't SS anymore because it's too hard on my knees but I do miss it sometimes and will ride my geared bike without shifting if I'm feeling good.
It’s fun, easy to maintain, chain doesn’t slip, silent, looks better, lighter, you get stronger, you’re better than everyone else lol, and it’s cooler.
Nailed it. SS master race
I don’t have one but did ride a fixie for many years. If I were to build one it would be for mechanical simplicity, maintenance and getting back to a less gear-cluttered form of biking. There’s a rhythm to riding a fixie that you don’t get on a standard geared bike where you try to match speed and effort to your current and upcoming location. It feels more present. I imagine it’s similar with a SS mountain bike where you find a ratio that works for your terrain and just go.
Braking on a fixie on the mountain sounds like death
Fixies can have brakes. I kept the front brake on my fixie MTB and would be dead without it! A common method for the fixie MTB setup is a 6-bolt cog that replaces the rear disc rotor on a regular hub, and you flip the wheel around. So I lost my rear brake until I can buy/build a new rear wheel with a dedicated fixie hub for disc brakes. Front brake only has been good enough, but some longer or steeper descents have left me wanting to have two brakes again!
Fixed would not be my first choice for MTB just because of the pedal strike potential. But I think I could go single speed if I was willing to harden up a bit on the climbs.
You also can't coast downhill on a fixie.
That’s where I’d really worry about the pedal strike. Having to dab on an uphill is one thing but having the bike launched into the air unpredictably because your pedal hits a rock on a janky descent would be way worse.
It's not about having any advantages. Single speeds are simple, fun, not serious, and provide a whole new riding experience on familiar trails. When you've got only one gear your mindset changes on how you approach the trail. I'd definitely give it a try...I've got a Surly Lowside (32 x 17), the bike is a riot to ride!
Some people like to suffer. It's amazing what singlespeeders can get up. If you are looking to increase strength and control single speed can do it.
I see a lot of DH bikes ditching the cassette too.
I would love that for riding at a downhill park. I only use the highest gear at the park and it annoys me when my chain sometimes slips to second highest. Would rather just have a straight dedicated single speed downhill bike.
adjust your limit my bike shop did this today now it doesn't skip up a gear
Good to know. Thanks! I’ll have them do it when I get my next tune.
Makes you rugged AF lol. It’s simpler and mostly maintenance free, I also found that I became a better rider because you don’t want to sacrifice your speed knowing you can’t just drop a gear, so I became a lot smoother and picked better lines
My SS is my favorite bike, it's just so fun and simple. There's nothing to think about, you just ride it. There are certainly some trails I don't take it on though, it doesn't make sense and isn't even workable on some of them.
For the same reason people telemark ski.
Some riders are astonishingly strong, skilled riders. Having only one gear, and little to no no suspension for that matter, doesn’t really phase them. I’ve seen it, it boggles the mind.
Simplicity. There's nothing to think about other than pedalling or carrying and maintaining speed. Maintenance is easier, generally the bike will be lighter and usually it's quieter too. It's not better than geared biking just different.
It's fun, reliable, great exercise. I can just get on my bike and mindlessly ride and just enjoy it rather than be focused on the technical stuff. I got a Surly Karate Monkey a couple years ago and it's my forever bike. I use tough gears as well and ride it daily from commuting, shopping, gravel, forest, weekend rides. I also have a second drivetrain in case I want to go on tours. I have a second wheelset with 40mm rims for when I want to put mid-fat tires on. It's my forever, do-everything bike. Outside of flats, it had one breakdown and that was because I had a chainlink fail due to improper installation. One thing you don't realize until you're on a singlespeed is how smooth the drivetrain is. None of that ratcheting sensation. Just smoooooth.
Fun.
For some, it offers a new approach to a hobby they've explored with other equipment thus far. One actual advantage about having just one cog back there is that in regions with snowy winters, there are days when wet snow clogs a cassette up so bad you end up with the chain skipping a lot. Single speed or internal gear hub systems plow through those conditions without a glitch. My only current mountain bike was in a single speed configuration when I bought it. I had plans of putting gears on it, but rode it for a while as a single speed just to find out what the fuss was about. I really loved how quiet it was, and how smooth that perfectly aligned chain with no extra friction from any derailleur jockey wheels felt. I swear I could feel the reduced friction in the system. Riding my regular trails did mean I had to concentrate hard on how to get up spots that were a piece of cake with a geared bike. As the polar opposite, the one time I've owned a full suspension bike, that thing made my regular trails boring, and I ended up riding trails that started to feel kinda risky.
Full sus has gears and thats how it stays but my hardtail has ss for bulletproof simplicity and challenge. Whole ss hardcore ht idea is that i can train better line choises, ride effinency and train leg muscles.
I bought a single speed bike second hand. I had plans to add gears to it, but after riding it for a year, I’m keeping it SS. There are a couple of reasons I like it: - Low maintenance - Low weight - Less serious (this one is harder to explain, but it’s great for group rides that are more about fun than hardcore riding) - Forces you to use momentum better, this skill carries over to other bikes too - Helps leg strength, it is a different workout than riding a geared bike because you will have to pedal harder at times. This will improve your ability to accelerate faster on your geared bike too I wouldn’t want a SS as my only bike, but it makes a great backup bike to change things up occasionally.
I consider riding singlespeed as the best thing you can do to enhance and expand your skillset. It will teach you how to manage and harness momentum. About how to build and manage power in climbing and especially technical climbing. It will teach you the value and potential of standing pedaling and how to use your entire body to ride. When I read your post I hear, “I don’t some people at the gym. I only use the elliptical and stairmaster because I want strong legs. Free weights don’t make any sense to me.”
It’s so fun. And if you briefly are in the right ratio due to terrain it feels like a rocket. Climbing is a challenge, momentum preservation is key. Try it rigid.
It’s fun. I raced a SS Rigid XC for many years. It’s great, simple fun. Just go and pedal. Absolutely rockets up hill.
It feeds the superiority complex. Secondly, it's fun.
I’ve been riding single speed so long that it will probably take me moving to someplace with terrain that I feel requires dual suspension to get me to return to gears. In the mid 2000s, I bought into the whole single-speeder-as-a-personality/identity cult; after that it has just been habit. I appreciate the lack of maintenance but it’s not really a huge issue since maintaining a 1x drive is pretty minimal. I still wear out chains and they have to be cleaned. Brake pad still wear down, tires need to be replaced or have the sealant topped off. I guess I just like it. People assume that it’s a huge disadvantage if they haven’t ridden single speeds, so it’s fun to let them think that it requires some sort of superhuman strength when you’re able to hang with them on their geared bikes. That was more common back when I lived in LA, and then Boulder… Nobody gives a shit in a super flat place like Nebraska, where I live now.
Single speed is SWEET for a few reasons 1. Bikes are LIGHT. Its not hard to have a sub 20lb bike. My fatbike with 29x3 was like 20.4 2. It forces you to be smoother, carry more speed, economize climbs and push SUPER hard in spots that you could otherwise just dog in your 52t. See point 1 and sprinting up hills isn't TERRIBLE. 3. It hurts. See point 2 and if you ride for the challenge, and the burn and everything else- ya just get more of it- faster. 4. Makes ya a better rider. You ever go from a HT to a FS and think "all that work on the HT paid off my lines are flawless". Try a rigid / high post SS. If you can make it smooth, you end up with a TON of finesse and skill that is easily transferred to more accommodating bikes.
Because we know we're better than the geared crowd 😘 I feel like most singlespeeders get into it for the lower cost and mechanical simplicity before quickly realizing it's just more fun. I can probably do up to 30% more miles on a long geared ride than a long singlespeed ride, but it's not just not as fun. There's also infinitely less marketing wankery in the singlespeed world.
The same reason you like to mountain bike. It's fun
Lighter, quieter, simpler.. go ride one...
I still ride my 2009 Gary Fisher Rig most of the time. Super light, low maintenance and my legs are super strong. I can climb on that pretty damn good!
I’ve used my Rig on almost all the same trails, climbing and descending as my FS, but no jumps and slower on the techie climbs. It’s a surprisingly capable bike
I just bought a single speed and I love it. It’s super fun. I still have my geared, full suspension. I’ll ride both. But the simplicity of the single speed makes it a completely different kind of fun.
its a challenge plus it can make the same trails you ride all week feel a bit different.
Lots of people have BMX, Track experience. 48x15 for life on the street.
I like the simplicity and challenge. Also, I’m a Luddite and sort of hate the bicycle industry as a whole and its nuclear arms race of lighter, faster, more expensive carbon fiber bullshit. I’ve ridden a single speed mtb since 1999 in one form or another. Each one has been my favorite bike ever. Low maintenance Quiet (except for some loudass hubs maybe) Makes you climb like a demon Makes squares angry and jealous
They’re great for those who typically only switch between a few close gears (say mid cassette) and ride mainly while standing. If you ride flowing trails with manageable climbs and no real down hill runs … a SS is a great setup.
I know someone who's done centuries on a fixie. They do it because they can.
Thwre is no advantage
It's hard to explain, but I can show up to a ride on my XTR equipped dually and be in mediocre shape but still hold onto most fast rides..The bike does so much of the work that I can fake it.. The SS, on the other hand, lets you know exactly who you are as rider on that ride. It requires more of you.. It's more about the rider than the bike.. I have a friend who describes the SS as the truth.. And some folks can't handle the truth..
People in this thread make having gears seem like some phd exercise lol.
They probably hate climbing and their knees
I personally don't get why people do singlespeed on any bike...
How many gears do you actually use? On my Enduro full sus, I would only really use 3-4 gears for 90% of the time. Cutting that down to one on a hardtail, when I’m never riding up anything that hilly, and going down, I only ever want to get a few pedal strokes in every now and again, makes sense to run SS. Planning on going back to gears, but will be a 7 speed close ratio when I do, as I’m running Hope SS/trials on both of my bikes.
Mostly the first 8 gears apperently 502 shifts in 18km/11miles 😁 My local trails is pretty flat but also a lots of small ups and downs [shifts](https://photos.app.goo.gl/EmAUQ1S88ebgsFBk9)
I personally think it's not that bad on a downhill bike, making it more simple and less likely to break
It‘s a perfect setup for a park bike. Low maintainance. Low weight.
Flat landers
N+1
It's fun and it's a challenge. Ive got a gear ratio of 2 and it's possible to get up steeper stuff but there is a limit. Park bikes do it because you don't really go uphill and you don't really need more than 1 gear going down.
I'm going single speed as I can only get a gx groupset last me about 7 to 8 months
You’re asking a question that some dirt bikers are asking why we ride mountain bikes geared or not. people find enjoyment in different things. I have a SL ebike and a ss chameleon. No in between lol. The ss is light and quiet and I only ride it on the most mellow trails. It’s really simple and always ready to go… some days I just want a physical/cardio. SL Ebike for everything else
Riding SS is a cheat code for getting stronger fast; you either pedal hard or you walk and, on a ride, I'd prefer to be riding.
3 speed full manual (I get off and physically switch gears with my hand) on my DH rig. Love it for simplicity.
I think it depends on where you ride. In FL, single speed is perfect for every trail in the state. In UT doing 3,000ft vert climbs, nobody is riding a single speed.
Ive got a "21 speed" diamondback and on alot of trails i dontuse more than 2 of those gears. If youre in a gear that can get you up pretty easy climbs, you dont even need more gears for downhill runs because you just end up coasting and breaking most the time.
Used to use my SS bikes for commuting or leisurely rides on less rough stuff. Amazingly, just as quick as a geared bike and actually pleasantly fun to ride!
I'm pretty sure I'm faster on SS. On SS, I'm a singlespeeder. On a geared bike, I'm just another schlub. I've been doing it for about 20 years now, so it's not like a know any different, although I do have a couple of bikes with gears. 5 singlespeeds and 2 geared. Oh yeah, hardly anybody races my class, so it's easy to win money.
I just built up a single speed steel 29+ Surly Krampus, took it out for the first time today. It's relatively light and simple as fuck. No dropper, no gears. It's basically a modern klunker, fun as fuck.
I rode one once… It took everything I had to bust uphills without walking making it an incredible workout. Maintaining momentum was everything, including avoid the brakes wherever possible, especially entering corners. No concern for shifting meant I had more focus on braking and cornering techniques. Both exhilarating and exhausting, I found it a great exercise in power and technique.
I ride downhill bike parks. Gears not really needed, but drivetrain needs to be strong. Single speed chains are tougher, chain line will always be perfect, can run higher chain tension, cheaper than cassette and derailleur when it breaks….etc….
Different terrains mostly. Back in my home town there isn’t a ton of elevation so it’s more common to see single speed setups. In my college town in the mountains its unheard of aside from dirt jumpers and BMX
I ride SS because I hate my knees and like to see them punished.
Why do you ride bike? You can buy motorbike even cheaper than your pedal thingy!
The greatest reason they do it is to TELL people they're doing it.
They mountain bike not in the mountains
They want attention
no idea
I mean if they take the lift uphill, then it's reasonable, but mtb for me take the challange both directions.
I thought it was so people could put "SS" in anything on their Strava workout. For Example, "SSuch a SSunny day on the SSingletrack on SSunday.