Well, here she is! A Raleigh single speed 29er! Fully ridged too. After riding Scott's a little bit at our January trip to Wilder, I just could not stop thinking about the way it felt and how different it was. I also could not forget the incredible price! So after a few upgrades I took mine home for about 1K. My upgrades included a shorter stem and a smaller cog--brought it up from 20 to 23 teeth so I would not ever have to walk it up a hill. Also upgraded the BB5 mechanical disc brakes to Avid Juicy 5's and the basic headset to a Cane Creek Solos with a 10 year warranty. Scott gave me some old ergonomically formed bar ends and I was ready to roll!
Some great things that came with the bike are: 1) the steel frame, its angles are comfortable and it is reasonably light for what you pay for, 2) various parts by Easton, a trusted name in cycling, 3) parts by WTB, also a trusted name. Wheels and tires are both WTB. The WTB seat is one of the most comfortable that my rear has ever had the pleasure of sitting on. WAY more comfy than my 150 (yes, I am that dumb!) Bontrager carbon shell seat!
The bike weighs in at about 27 pounds. Seems like a lot. But I would have bought this bike if it weighed 30 pounds. I am not so concerned with weight any more. That is a money trap. I am more concerned with strength (my own) and with riding what I like.
Over the last week that I have had the bike I have already put about 100 miles on it, and I loved every single one! Simply put, the bike is really fun to ride. The single gear is a challenge for sure--slower on the flats and faster on the climbs--but I can already see myself getting stronger.
Main points:
Flat sections: slow going, but not too slow. You probably go about 10 mph but that gets you where you need to go in reasonable time. The thing to get used to is the constant fast spinning. When you are not used to it it tends to bob your rear up and down endlessly, which is annoying. The solution is a balance between coasting and pedaling. Pedal to keep the speed up, that is all. Yes, even old ladies will be passing you, but that is nothing. You will soon be on the dirt tearing it up.
Off road: The big tires roll over obstacles with ease compared to the 26ers. Even though fully ridged, the bike seems almost as if it has suspension. Not quite, but almost. It is bumpy, for sure, but doable. You do end up sorer than you would on your full suspension rig, but less that you might think. Jumps are another issue. I avoid them all, mostly. Just not pleasant. One thing I learned already was about rolling over tall rocks and such. Instead of flying off, sometimes if I push down the big wheels tend to smooth out the drop.
Climbing: Speed, momentum, conservation! I don't know what else to say. At the beginning of a ride climbing is harder. But I found that the longer I ride the easier climbing becomes. I guess I just get loosened up and warmed up to the point where it does not hurt any more. Climbing is clearly the toughest of the single speed challenges.
Downhill: Wow! This is where the combo of ridged and 29er really shines. Now I know what the phrase "takes corners like it is on rails" means. Smooth fire roads with lots of corners, that is where you see where this bike REALLY has it. I find I do not really miss the big gears. The challenge is different. Brake less in order to keep your speed. This means taking corners faster if you don't want to lose it.
My only question now is how far could I take this bike? Could I use a bigger cog? Could I climb to Bald Mountain? Could I get up Kennedy? Could I go all the way through the big loop--through Sierra Azul and Quicksilver? Without pushing, that is. Who knows?
Two improvements I think that would make this bike even better:
1) A faster engaging rear hub. I am looking at the Chris King, but the problem there is the price. It costs about 400! I believe it costs more than the regular hub! This price of course does not even include the price of the build. Maybe I'll wait on that. I don't have a spare 500 laying around these days.
2) A carbon handlebar. This is a component I have come to appreciate. I can't explain it (though I am sure someone can) but the feel of the carbon bar is different and pleasant. If I had $150 to burn I would buy an Easton monkeylite downhill bar. It is light but, as would be expected, very tough.
These upgrades are for the future. As it is now, I love the bike and I recommend it to anyone who wants to try something different but does not want to spend an arm and a leg to get it. The upgrades I made are probably not even necessary to really enjoy the bike. Without them one could get it for about 650 plus tax. I think that is a "steel".
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