Questions for all of you single-speeders out there! - Cyclocross Magazine2024-03-28T21:24:44Zhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/questions-for-all-of-you-single-speeders-out-there?commentId=1198434%3AComment%3A132602&feed=yes&xn_auth=no1. Why singlespeed? Because I…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-09-17:1198434:Comment:1326112012-09-17T04:05:55.793ZFrank Shoemakerhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/FrankShoemaker
<p><strong>1. Why singlespeed?</strong> Because I have the baddest SSCX bike in the world: <a href="http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2009/03/sucka-to-side-i-know-you-hate-my-ninety.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2009/03/sucka-to-side-i-know-yo...</a></p>
<p><strong>2. How did you decide on gearing? </strong> Educated trial and error, with plenty of misguesses</p>
<p><strong>3. Toughest maintenance issue? </strong> Not being able to pour enough beer…</p>
<p><strong>1. Why singlespeed?</strong> Because I have the baddest SSCX bike in the world: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2009/03/sucka-to-side-i-know-you-hate-my-ninety.html" target="_blank">http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2009/03/sucka-to-side-i-know-yo...</a></p>
<p><strong>2. How did you decide on gearing? </strong> Educated trial and error, with plenty of misguesses</p>
<p><strong>3. Toughest maintenance issue? </strong> Not being able to pour enough beer through the engine.</p>
<p><strong>4. Do you still race in regular races, or only in SS categories? </strong>I've been doubling up most race days, but this year I'm Race Director of the local series so I'll only have time for one race per day - and it will be SS.</p>
<p><strong>5. Best part about racing SS? </strong>The purity of just racing the bike - focusing on pushing one's self as hard as possible, not worrying about being in the right gear or potential drivetrain mechanicals.... and SSCXWC, of course!</p>
<p></p> 1- ss is cheap! I could affor…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-09-16:1198434:Comment:1326022012-09-16T19:22:57.631ZAdam Cohenhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/AdamCohen
<p>1- ss is cheap! I could afford to build a nice bike and not be afraid to lock it up as a commuter</p>
<p>2- i chose my gearing buy going to a local park on a muddy day and riding... and ask the forums, duh.</p>
<p>3- my rear brake cable is the ONLY thing wrong with my bike- its super gunked up. </p>
<p>4- East Coast races dont have ss (yet), so I rode with the geared guys. I do ss when its there though. </p>
<p>5- when you pass guys with carbon bikes and carbon tubulars who look fast while…</p>
<p>1- ss is cheap! I could afford to build a nice bike and not be afraid to lock it up as a commuter</p>
<p>2- i chose my gearing buy going to a local park on a muddy day and riding... and ask the forums, duh.</p>
<p>3- my rear brake cable is the ONLY thing wrong with my bike- its super gunked up. </p>
<p>4- East Coast races dont have ss (yet), so I rode with the geared guys. I do ss when its there though. </p>
<p>5- when you pass guys with carbon bikes and carbon tubulars who look fast while youre on your heavy steel commuter!</p> 1) I first started, as some o…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-09-11:1198434:Comment:1323132012-09-11T18:25:03.743ZCarlos Matuteshttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/CarlosMatutes
<p>1) I first started, as some others on here, for financial reasons. I had a Bianchi Reparto Corsa as my race bike, and a Surly Cross-Check as my training/pit bike. This was in 1999, and Travis Brown was showing us up at some of the Boulder 'Cross Series races on his SS. It made sense to switch my "pit" bike over to SS to save money instead of replacing work drivetrain components. Soon after trying it, the Bianchi started sitting more and more. Eventually I sold it for much needed rent money…</p>
<p>1) I first started, as some others on here, for financial reasons. I had a Bianchi Reparto Corsa as my race bike, and a Surly Cross-Check as my training/pit bike. This was in 1999, and Travis Brown was showing us up at some of the Boulder 'Cross Series races on his SS. It made sense to switch my "pit" bike over to SS to save money instead of replacing work drivetrain components. Soon after trying it, the Bianchi started sitting more and more. Eventually I sold it for much needed rent money (which I kinda regret to this day...) because I loved SS so much. </p>
<p>It became a gateway drug, and I haven't owned a geared CX/MTB in 11 years, and still love it!</p>
<p></p>
<p>2)Based, originally, on Travis' recommendations and then slightly modified by experience.</p>
<p></p>
<p>3)I've worked as a bike mechanic for about 20 years. Maintenance issues are negligible.</p>
<p></p>
<p>4)I've always raced in "regular" races, but will be open to racing SS category as the opportunity presents.</p>
<p></p>
<p>5)Best part? Passing guys with iced-up drivetrains!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Los</p> Molly,
Good thread here from…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-18:1198434:Comment:1271112012-04-18T17:16:50.209ZJoe Bhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JoeBrennan324
<p>Molly,</p>
<p>Good thread here from a couple years ago: <a href="http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/cx-singlespeed-pro?xg_source=activity">http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/cx-singlespeed-pro?xg_source=activity</a></p>
<p>Molly,</p>
<p>Good thread here from a couple years ago: <a href="http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/cx-singlespeed-pro?xg_source=activity">http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/cx-singlespeed-pro?xg_source=activity</a></p> 1. I couldn't get my road…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-17:1198434:Comment:1271592012-04-17T20:20:16.203Zcycles goffhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/cyclesgoff
<p>1. I couldn't get my road bike gears to index properly and in frustration vowed never to bother with gears ever again.</p>
<p>2. Guess. Largely 39 x 18 is pretty good, develop a memory of all local courses to tweak that up or down. Only once have I been hopelessly caught out on a hilly course that the organiser had previously told me was flat.</p>
<p>3. Swapping up a gear, say to 41 x 18 - which i do maybe once a season and takes 10 minutes</p>
<p>4. SS. </p>
<p>5. I am kind of…</p>
<p>1. I couldn't get my road bike gears to index properly and in frustration vowed never to bother with gears ever again.</p>
<p>2. Guess. Largely 39 x 18 is pretty good, develop a memory of all local courses to tweak that up or down. Only once have I been hopelessly caught out on a hilly course that the organiser had previously told me was flat.</p>
<p>3. Swapping up a gear, say to 41 x 18 - which i do maybe once a season and takes 10 minutes</p>
<p>4. SS. </p>
<p>5. I am kind of unique, in the UK there are almost no (there is one guy i met last season) other SS racers. Its a bit of a talking point, wow no gears what the hell are you thinking kind of thing...my bike also cost GBP 200 and its cool whipping people sometimes on GBP 2k bikes. It has a low-fi thing going on, the bike doesn't really matter, kit and carbon doesn't matter..its just playing in the mud when all said and done my friends. </p>
<p> </p> You guys are all awesome!
ht…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-17:1198434:Comment:1269822012-04-17T11:32:47.166ZMolly Hurfordhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/MollyHurford
<p>You guys are all awesome!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cxmagazine.com/singlespeeders-speak-pedal-survey" target="_blank">http://www.cxmagazine.com/singlespeeders-speak-pedal-survey</a></p>
<p>You guys are all awesome!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cxmagazine.com/singlespeeders-speak-pedal-survey" target="_blank">http://www.cxmagazine.com/singlespeeders-speak-pedal-survey</a></p> 1-I wanted to get two races i…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-14:1198434:Comment:1269162012-04-14T10:14:55.282ZBill Baileyhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/1905billi
1-I wanted to get two races in each day since I have to drive 5-6 hrs for most of the races. Cx4 is early, SS was the last race. Otherwise I would have raced 35+ geared.<br />
2- I had a 42 ring, and the SS cassette kit came with a 16,17, 18 cog. I picked the 17. Fortunately that first race was dead flat, and the gearing worked out. After that I started asking around, and preriding before choosing. Now I run a 39-18 mostly.<br />
3-none.<br />
4-I race cx4 and SS<br />
5-I may actually win a race this season on SS.
1-I wanted to get two races in each day since I have to drive 5-6 hrs for most of the races. Cx4 is early, SS was the last race. Otherwise I would have raced 35+ geared.<br />
2- I had a 42 ring, and the SS cassette kit came with a 16,17, 18 cog. I picked the 17. Fortunately that first race was dead flat, and the gearing worked out. After that I started asking around, and preriding before choosing. Now I run a 39-18 mostly.<br />
3-none.<br />
4-I race cx4 and SS<br />
5-I may actually win a race this season on SS. 1. Why singlespeed?
It's a bl…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-14:1198434:Comment:1269132012-04-14T01:02:36.913Zbrianhancockhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/brianhancock
<p>1. Why singlespeed?</p>
<p><em>It's a blast...</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>2. How did you decide on gearing?</p>
<p><em>I have two gears, my race gear and my dirt road gear. I don't think much about it on race-day. It is what it is.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>3. Toughest maintenance issue?</p>
<p><em>Freewheels are a pain.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>4. Do you still race in regular races, or only in SS categories?</p>
<p><em>SS categories</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>5. Best part about racing SS?</p>
<p><i>Don't think,…</i></p>
<p>1. Why singlespeed?</p>
<p><em>It's a blast...</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>2. How did you decide on gearing?</p>
<p><em>I have two gears, my race gear and my dirt road gear. I don't think much about it on race-day. It is what it is.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>3. Toughest maintenance issue?</p>
<p><em>Freewheels are a pain.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>4. Do you still race in regular races, or only in SS categories?</p>
<p><em>SS categories</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>5. Best part about racing SS?</p>
<p><i>Don't think, just pedal.</i></p> 1. I neededwanted a pit bike…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-13:1198434:Comment:1269702012-04-13T19:38:02.764Zsashahttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/sasha14
<p>1. I <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">needed</span>wanted a pit bike and I got a great deal on a singlespeed bike. Riding it I started to really like the simplicity and low maintenance.</p>
<p>2. Trial and error, mostly.</p>
<p>3. Brakes (hey, it's a cross bike with cantis).</p>
<p>4. Both. Often on the same day. I use my SS bike as a pit bike for geared races, and sometimes when I can only bring one bike I race open classes with the SS. </p>
<p>5. Dependability. Also the…</p>
<p>1. I <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">needed</span>wanted a pit bike and I got a great deal on a singlespeed bike. Riding it I started to really like the simplicity and low maintenance.</p>
<p>2. Trial and error, mostly.</p>
<p>3. Brakes (hey, it's a cross bike with cantis).</p>
<p>4. Both. Often on the same day. I use my SS bike as a pit bike for geared races, and sometimes when I can only bring one bike I race open classes with the SS. </p>
<p>5. Dependability. Also the no-nonsense connection to the bike. It makes for more elemental racing.</p> 1. I kept breaking/destroying…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2012-04-13:1198434:Comment:1269102012-04-13T17:02:52.726ZAdamhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Adam
<p>1. I kept breaking/destroying parts on my geared bike, and it got too expensive. I also had a beard at the time and felt obligated...</p>
<p>2. Doesn't matter what you pick, you're always in the wrong gear.</p>
<p>3. Maintenance? What's that?</p>
<p>4. Usually SS. We have a pretty big group 'round here. If not, regular group is fine. It's not like I'm winning.</p>
<p>5. More money left over for beer.</p>
<p>1. I kept breaking/destroying parts on my geared bike, and it got too expensive. I also had a beard at the time and felt obligated...</p>
<p>2. Doesn't matter what you pick, you're always in the wrong gear.</p>
<p>3. Maintenance? What's that?</p>
<p>4. Usually SS. We have a pretty big group 'round here. If not, regular group is fine. It's not like I'm winning.</p>
<p>5. More money left over for beer.</p>