Converting my Hardtail Mountain Bike to a Single Speed
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- What's sillier than riding bikes in the forest? Riding a bike with only one gear through the forest! I embark on an experiment to see what this whole single speeding thing is all about. I'm luck to enlist the help of good friend and bike guru, Andrew Major, who has been single speeding for more than two decades. I get into the how and whys of single speeding. If you're feeling nerdy, check out the full length conversion video here:
• Converting my Hardtail...
Our mountain bikes: Knolly Tyaughton Steel
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Our favourite portable jump ramp: Ninja MTB Approach MTB Jump Ramp
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00:00 - Intro
00:34 - How to convert to a single speed
00:49 - First step
02:07 - Chain tensioner
02:45 - Chainring and gear ratio
03:32 - Chain
04:06 - What made you try single speeding?
05:19 - Biggest difference
07:28 - Six month commitment
09:21 - Limitations
10:24 - You will notice…
10:53 - Putting in the time
11:39 - Conclusion and outro
I've been riding a single speed trail bike for the last three years and I love it. It's really funny seeing the looks of horror on some peoples faces when they see the set up.
Haha it’s definitely a conversation starter! 😜
Single speed on a Hardtail... This is the way.... I approve of this.
🫡
Single speed hardtails with flat pedals are like Fender Jazzmasters: absolutely fun, definitely its own vibe, not at all mainstream, usually not the only guitar/bike in your arsenal, but for the people who get it, it's just fantastic.
Fun fact: this is my only bike 😅😜
@@HardtailLife I said "usually" 😜
When I started it was a 32x20 on my Nimble9. I have a DVO Sapphire that I doubt I'll ever trade for a rigid fork
I found there are three actual speeds, seated pedaling, standing pedaling and pushing.
If you can stick it out through the pain it becomes more bearable but you can discover torque you didn't know is possible. Tapping into this beyond redline effort will develop strength such that you drop the groups on long climbs without even realizing it with 12 speeds
That’s awesome, thanks for the inspo!
Well this is an interesting experiment Steve. I’m really looking forward to your honest assessments both along the way and at the end of 6 months. Good luck!
Thanks! If you have questions or aspects you'd want me to touch on, please feel free to let me know! 🙏
@@HardtailLife well, the obvious one for me is “how much does the single gear limit your riding?” For example, there will be times when the single gear on the ups will be too big; and there will be times on the downs where it’s too small to engage. Does the simplicity outweigh these drawbacks? For all but a few with the right mindset, I’d suspect not. But again, really looking forward to learning about your own experience as you progress with the setup.
@@HardtailLife I'm interested to see how singlespeeding is on really long epic rides.
I have been dabbling in single speed for a while now and just finished building up a single speed rigid and boy is it fun.
My full sus and 12sp hardtail are just collecting dust👍
Agreed - and having fun is basically the whole reason why I haven't tried full sus yet - I'm too busy having fun on my hardtail! 😜
Single speed is amazing. You will start to learn so much more about technique, pedal placement, and conservation of momentum. I am currently 10 months in on a singlespeed and it took me 5 months to truly understand what makes singlespeed so great. As a bikepacker I have found singlespeed bikes to be the most reliable bikes ever and can get through any terrain a geared bike can go through. I currently run a dinglespeed currently and its a great compromise for the variable conditions of spring trails in Maine. Snow, ice and mud? run a 30-26. Smooth gravel and pavement 34-22. Also max the tire clearance on your bike. Plus tires and singlespeed go together like pb and j.
Thanks for your insights! I was thinking about switching the 28 oval chainring to a round 30 soon.
Love this! Tried SS this last fall on my Nukeproof Scout with a tensioner, and I am hooked. Currently running 32 oval by 21, here in Louisville, KY area. Seems about perfect for our trails. SS has been a revelation for me and is such a zen experience with the bike.
Nice! I'm still on my first gear ratio, which I admit feels pretty great most of the time. I'm not sure if I can try something a tiny bit taller (like a round 30t chainring), but time will tell!
I switched to single speed on my hardtail last summer. I’ve been chasing gearing as much because I’ve been improving my fitness as I am trying to insure my knees and ankles aren’t abused. It’s a balance between spinning out on the flats and blowing up your knees trying to climb or make a technical section while having a cadence that you can maintain trail speed and flow. My current choice is 30/18 and I spin out at about 18mph which is enough for me. The biggest advantage is weight loss, it’s easier to pump the trail and use all its features to maintain trail speed when you don’t have 2 lbs of unnecessary drivetrain weighing down the rear wheel. I spend very little time actually in the saddle, more like hovering, which means I haven’t worn a chamois in months….my core and my quads,are suddenly more part of my rides. I’ve been running a Surly tensioner because allows me to adjust for a lot of different chain lengths but the MRP Q5 is on my list once I settle on one gear
I’m finding that I’m spending a lot less time in the saddle too! I’ve only just started, but the 28/22 is pretty close (unless I get stronger) to what I need in the trails I climb and ride. It sucks in the city though 😅
@@HardtailLife not sure what your cranks are but I found shifting from 170mm to 165mm cranks required my to drop from 30/19 to 30/18.
Been 90% ss. Love it. No maintenance. I park my vehicle in sketchy area and have my bike locked on back. Airborne hardball with decent rocks hocks and about 150$ in it. Never been stolen, and always ready to party. Every ride is a workout, and for a busy dad with small windows of time..perfect.
Just flying under the radar there! Nice to hear another fellow dad making it work with kid schedules. 🤘
Glad you’re giving SS a try Steve and for 6 months too! I built a SS a couple of years ago and the uptake was slow (rode it once a month). I realized that the bike was a XC frame and didn’t like riding it downhill on our trails (even with gears). I switch to the Honzo and mulleted it with 2.8”, and it has been my 2x week go to! Looking forward to our next HT ride and maybe SS’s will outnumber gears? 11:59 😂 Dare to dream, dare to dream…
Yeah, Warren! You are one of the reasons why I'm single speed curious! I was laughing about the fact that I know 5 single speed hardtail mountain bikers, which is probably a significant portion of them on the BC coast! 😂
Converted my steel Voodoo Bizango to a drop bar single speed. I love it with drop bars for the different hand positions and the Reynolds 853 steel is comfy
Drop bars! That’s something I haven’t ridden in a long while! Do you ride in the trails with that setup?
I’ve been reading Andrew’s stuff for years (my favorite bike scribe!)….. this not what I imagined him sounding like. I’ll have to update my internal voice when reading his articles.
Haha I've been telling him that we need author narrated articles for ages 😂
As soon as i saw the Bianchi SASS, I put one on layaway. So good but I turned it into a rigid mullet eventually. Nowadays I only have 2 Gary Fisher RIGs which need some parts, and a Spec Crave SL, my go to
I had to Google each one of those bikes to get a visual 😜
All my bikes (2) are single speed! For road I use aluminum fixed gear frame (but I ride it single speed,not fixed gear) and for the off road,I use either 34/14 or 36/16 gear ratios! My 29er is a budget built,and the chainstays are 135x10mm with a vertical dropout!
Despite that, I managed to build me a true and true single speed bike, with a NARROW WIDE chainrings 😅
Yep,no chain tensioner 😎
I don't use gears for years now... I also never owned a car,like never even though I'm not exactly young anymore 😅
Greetings from the everyday bicycle abuser from Croatia, called Kris 😎
No chain tensioner? That's awesome! We'd like to ride in Croatia one day!
@@HardtailLife No chain tensioner!
I gut lucky I guess! 😁
You are welcome to come over to Croatia 😎
Hardtail ✅
Steel ✅
Single Speed ✅
STEVE IS A LEGEND
You can be one too! 😜
I just sold my front suspension aluminum single speed so I can build up my new Stooge fully rigid steel single speed. I’ve had a SS in my quiver for 25 years now.
Just curious: where does it go after rigid single speed? 🤔😜
@@HardtailLife fixed gear mountain! I’ve done it, but I don’t recommend it.
Great video! I started riding a single-speed last year, and I love it. I have noticed that I can climb much better and have gotten faster than my buddies. The reason I am faster is that you have to get momentum in order to make the climbs.
You are going to love it. Got a new follower. Keep up the excellent work.
By the way, after watching your video and seeing how you converted your bike without adjustable dropouts or tensioners, I'm going to convert my FS to a single speed.
That's awesome, thank you! I'm looking forward to working at it and potentially getting faster as you've suggested!
I was going to try converting my FS to a single speed but needed factor chain growth along the axle path. I know that the MRP Steve is using is fixed so doesn't allow for compensation for chain growth so beware that you may snap your chain on a hard landing. Depending on your linkage, a tensioner (ie old derailleur) may be a better solution.
Izumi jet black and silver track chains are indestructible.
Thanks for the tip!
Nice work Steve. Looking forward to hear what you think about life on The Path of The One True Gear.
Haha, stay tuned!
Brilliant video with really informative viewpoints, good luck Steve.. and when are you going to be riding a chromag? You know you want to😜😂
If you look at the geometry numbers, I’m basically riding one already 😜
Thinking about what bike to buy to ride in the Lower Mainland after riding hard tail on single track in Mexico. Will probably ride more in the Fraser Valley than the north shore. No plans to do jumps but would like to be able to ride fairly steep rocky trails and drops. So hard tail or full squish? Not thinking single speed yet!
Hardtail. (Do you know which channel you’re on? 😜)
My first single speed that I bought it that way was also a Redline Monocog
I’ve never even heard of them prior to this… they sound like a gateway drug 😂
I have a question, does Andrew use a dropperpost on his rig?
Yes he does, and it sounds like it’s key.
I have Singulators? On all my single speeds. It helps to keep the chain tight on the bikes that are not quite perfect for being a single speed
I just learned something new today! I did know about using an old derailleur as a solution, but I was trying my best to stay away from something I can hit while riding through gnarly, tight areas.
So sick
Thanks 🤙
My first modern mtb was the kona unit rigid single speed. Now it has a 120mm yari fork and its perfect.
I also have a steel enduro fs bike I also run single speed.
I dont know if I want a rigid bike again I enjoy that you can go that much faster with suspension. But it is also of course about skill. I have seen another youtuber ride the shit out if his rigid single speed 29er klunkinbike!
Andrew Major (the one who inspired and helped with my single speed conversion) is also one of those who rides the shit out of his rigid single speed. It's truly inspirational. For now, I'd like to keep my suspension fork. 😜
I don't ride very many hills so most of my bikes except for a fat bike and one regular bike are single speeds. I can't go as fast with them but I mostly just ride to work and back anyways all year even in the winter
I imagine clean up and maintenance just to be that much simpler! 🙌
Eccentric bottom bracket is the best ..
I asked Andrew about it and there’s some opinions on that. Maybe I should dive into that a bit more 🤔
For alot of the trails near me I cant imagine riding a single speed, too much steep climbing where it literally wont work unless you throw a 50 tooth rear cog on there if that even exists. And I'm a pretty strong pedaler, I come from riding skatepark BMX for a couple decades and the commute to the Parksville skatepark from North Qualicum was well over an hour each direction with plenty of very steep hills, and I refused to running a light gearing for my BMX because in the skatepark I prefer the 66.6 gear ratio that a 30 tooth sprocket with a 9 tooth driver gives me, just more top speed in the park, unfortunately where I moved to in Nanaimo has so much steep hills I just drive to the park now as it turned into mostly walking the hills here, which is what somewhat drove me to riding Mountainbikes in general, as I discovered I needed gears to climb around here, but I didnt want to lose having a hard gear for having torque when I need it at higher speeds without spinning the pedals on a downhill, half crank acceleration is important to me when riding faster. Cheers for covering single speed, I do have single speed on my P3 obviously for the dirt jumps, although its bairly getting any love these days as I just never gelled with dirt jumps even on BMX, just always loved ramps and ledges/rails.
One of the things Andrew said to me right off the bat, is that single speeding isn't for everyone or for every situation. I'm only a couple weeks in, but I'm finding that I have to lean into the compromises instead of fighting them. Luckily for me, the trails here on the North Shore are totally climbable (or walkable) with the 28/22 that I have on right now. On the descents, if the speeds exceed what I can pedal, I just focus on trying to maintain as much speed as I can. 😊
@@HardtailLife Heck yeah, I bet single speed is pretty fun at a bike park or if you have buddies to shuttle you and whatnot too. I just find for where I'm at (Westwood Lake, Mt. Benson, Nanaimo) theres far too much brutal climbing to use single speed in the mountains, I mean I could maybe drop the P3 to a 15t rear instead of the 13 I put on it and climb a little, but then i'd be pedaling air on descents which isnt really for me, I like pedal pressure like when riding brakeless with a cassette on BMX. Cheers, hope to ride North Shore at some point if soon, gotta secure some affordable accommodations that let the bike inside too, I'd like to bring the BMX to the indoor park too, looks super fun.
I ride the Doumont Trails with my Honzo on 30x22 gearing and it’s perfect. I even raced SS in the Island Cup there too and it was pretty fun! Benson trails with a SS might be less fun. What a SS ride without a little type 2 fun?
@@warrenhansen2143 Doumont has a pretty nice access road to the top where you can mostly just gravity ride down with the odd mini climb depending which trails you pick. Pretty fun trails up there except it get super busy on summer weekends, I tend to just hide out behind Westwood lake in the unlisted trails where theres far less people. Oh I imagine the Cinnabar trails would be pretty decent on single speed, I really enjoy "Up and Over" which is full of little rolls and drops like a mountain bike skatepark. Although if I remember correctly, "Voodoo" is pretty steep in spots, might have too much of a grade for that gear ratio, luckily there are access roads just beside it that get you out there anyways a little easier then you can enjoy the rest of the things.
SS will make you a better rider, youll see how it will train you to keep the speed in the corners, it trains against overbreaking
So true: conserving momentum is key because I can’t add speed by pedalling anymore! 😜
Difference is that you walk with your bike uphill
There’s been some walking for sure!
I’m left questioning my life choices. Simplify! Go Steve! Can’t wait to hear how it goes
Haha thanks, I think? 😁 I will report back in a few months!
Oh snap, now its just slow bike :(
Outright speed isn’t my only goal 😉
(If it was, I should probably riding a full squish e-bike? 🤷♂️)