| Single Speed Mountain Biking has grown in popularity | | | | But enough of the spiritual journey that is single |
| but with all of the cool technology available, why would | | | | speeding. You have lots of practical reasons to |
| someone take to the trails with only one gear and | | | | recommend going the way of one gear. |
| often no suspension? | | | | - Lighter weight - take off derailleurs, cassette, |
| This is something that has to be answered by each | | | | chainrings and shorten your chain. That's a lot of |
| individual, but there are certain themes that prevail. At | | | | weight. |
| it's heart, single speeding is about the ride, not the bike. | | | | - Cheap to maintain - Chains, cogs and chainrings all |
| When you strip the bike down to the bare minimum | | | | last longer as their is no side bending of the chain. |
| you need to ride the trails, you get down to the | | | | When you do have to replace parts they are cheaper. |
| experience of just riding. If you want to make it up that | | | | - More reliable - With no chain slack and no side |
| hill, you better push harder on the pedals. To go faster, | | | | movement to the chain, you are less likely to bust a |
| you have to pedal faster, end of story. | | | | chain. You don't have derailleurs to screw up. With a |
| Most mountain bikers look at single speeders like they | | | | single speed, things just keep working. |
| have a screw loose, which we probably do. To | | | | - Better workout - You spin the flats and attack hills |
| choose the harder way seems some how wrong to | | | | out of the saddle, making for a full body workout |
| the modern aesthetic of using technology to make | | | | every time you ride. The core and upper body get as |
| things easier. But that is the key point. Who ever said | | | | much work as the legs leading to better over all |
| mountain biking was supposed to be easy? | | | | fitness. And as an added bonus, you will get lots of |
| We ride for both recreation and to test ourselves. This | | | | notice from other riders. People who haven't ridden a |
| goes for single speeders and geared riders alike. What | | | | single speed think it's a lot harder than it actually is, so |
| tests you more than choosing the harder path? | | | | they see single speeders as mountain bike tough guys |
| If you are into recycling, take an old frame and convert | | | | (or girls). I ride a single speed because it's fun and |
| it to single speed. There are specific single speed | | | | challenging. All the other stuff is great for justifying why |
| frames but you can get a taste by doing a conversion. | | | | I do it. If you want a new thrill, give single speeding a |
| It's a fun project and as far as bike builds go, very | | | | shot. |
| cheap. | | | | |