SS Road bikes

[Maloney]

Does anyone ride SS (non-fixed) on the road? I've seen a few track bikes here lately that i like.

[pops]

The main problem with SS's as road bikes is they are slow. Without gears, you are slow uphill and spun out downhill. My road bike (triple chainrings) has 30T/23T low gear and 50T/12T high gear. I'm spun out at 50MPH in high gear! I have ridden around town with a friend on his SS fixie, and he was spun out at 16MPH on Johnson Ave (downhill). I had to brake to keep from running over him. YMMV

[Maloney]

so basically the ss road bike would be nothing more than a training bike to work on spinning?

[brettk]

a singlespeed road bike is basically for fun, cruising, commuting, or all of the above. in the winter when the folks on the road slow down a hair and ride less, a singlespeed isn't really a bad thing, but in general - for 'road riding' - a singlespeed probably won't cut it.

[Maloney]

I was looking around and found a Schwinn Cutter. Its a SS, steel framed, 36 spoke, flat bar in color. Can be found for less than $300. I guess the next question is how well are Schwinn products made these days?

[ScottR]

I'd see what Mark can get you an Origin 8 SS for at Truly Spokin. You should think about a flip flop hub also.

[Maloney]

Fixed wheel is out of the question. Pretty much my only requirement is 36h rims and a steel frame. I know the Origin 8 Del pasado comes frame only but can be built up for around $500+/- Its definately not out of the question.

[brettk]

if i remember correctly the schwinn cutter has one piece cranks, which are.. um... what's the word?

they also weigh about as much as a 1964 lincoln continental.

[out-of-place]

slow is in the rider
Keith Moore rides his single speed road bike on the Saturday's in Blackwater. It's currently set up with a 44 x 16 (I think) which lets him cruise at 21 mph and around 90 rpms.

As it was alluded to singlespeed road bikes were/are off season training tools.
The premise is that it forces you to pedal circles and if you want to work on staying anaerobic.
OR...
Go talk to Joe and Truly Spokin and play bike polo. He's looking for converts.

[Maloney]

This is the 2010 Origin 8 Cutler. It should be at Truly Spokin within the next week or two. It's about 30lbs but its inexpensive. So if I feel the desire to upgrade it won't be that big of a deal.


www.origin-8.com/product_detail.php?short_code=Cutler&cl1=BICYCLES

[donalson]

if you can find a clean older frame I have a pair of freewheel 36h (i'm pretty sure) matrix wheels (came on the '92 trek) you can have... add a SS freewheel and you're good to go... it is the old 126mm hub spacing though... would work OK with a steel frame though (i spread with out issue on the 130mm

biggest issue would prob be getting the old suntour freewheel off (7spd) also have a drop bar and stem you could have if they work for ya... could cut the bars and do the bull horn thing with em...

just LMK

[pops]

As posted several times. A SS road bike is a good training aid. It is also nice if the ground is mostly flat. Sorta like P'cola. lol

[Maloney]

I/We saved a Trek 720 from my parents barn. I took it to visit Dr. Mark today and put a new set of 36 spoke wheels and ran some new cables on it. Several others helped clean it up. Thanks guys! I'm definately looking forward to doing some urban riding on it. I'm still going to get a SS road bike when Mark gets the Origin 8 Cutler in stock. 2 road bikes, 2 mountain bikes... Thats all i need for the moment.

[Maloney]

test!