Now this is going to be interesting.

I converted my Singular hard tail 29er to a fully rigid single speed. (See the earlier set-up here). While I was totally happy with the bike e.g. in the Tahko MTB endurance race a few weeks ago I thought it is time to test something totally new.

I practically learned to ride a mountain bike on a full suspension. I had an old rigid GT Tequesta steel frame back in the 90’s but I used the bike more as a commuter and only rode on some very easy trails occasionally. So, this is going to be a totally new experience for me. I believe that the 29″ wheels and big, meaty tires (Panaracer Rampage 2,35″) are going to help some though.

I only rode the bike to work couple of times. It felt what I imagine a huge BMX would do - pretty stoked about the feeling; sharp, fast handling, accurate, and light, so easy to loft the front on top of things. “Trialsy” riding on this set-up would be fun! Also, rolling down on some steep sections was very nice, while the geometry stays the same the whole way. (Yes, I played with some urban features and such when commuting, and felt totally like a little kid again!). Riding a single speed again was a total blast (see some more history here). I am only a bit concerned on how the set-up will work on the worst technical roots/rock gardens we have here. I will report later more as I get the first real trail miles under my belt.

I used a normal Shimano rear hub, a single speed kit and a few spacers from an old rear cog. A bit “ghetto” but works with no problem. The frame has a Phil Wood eccentric bottom bracket shell - the converting was an easy task. The gearing is the standard 32-18 (While 32-19 would maybe be even better for our trails, this coming from an experince of riding a Gary Fisher Rig for a season here in the local trails.)

Isn’t it a beauty? I totally dig the simple aesthetics of a fully rigid single speed

Ride report coming soon…

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to our RSS Feed or Email Newsletter. This article was written by Janne Niini and it’s original location is in HomeboySki.Com skiing blog. For more great skiing articles, please visit HomeboySki.Com!