Single Speed MTB

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Hi folks,

I'm getting older, growing beard and thinking of building up a single speed mountain bike. I am not that young any more but I decided to give it a shot before my legs evaporate completely...

Any advice where could I find a frame, or even better an off-the shelf single speed rig?

So far, I've discovered, that the shops don't really stock this sort of thing down under. Some manufacturers make them or at least used to make them (eg: Jamis Exile SS) but not much of a choise here :confused: ??

Some shops could get me Surly 1x1 but that's about it... If anyone knows of any other frames (or complete SS bikes) can you please post it here.

Edit: I live in NSW, Sydney area

I have one for sale :)

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/preview/100008002

You don't need horizontal dropouts if you use either an eccentric BB or a chain tensioner (such as an old rear derailleur).
You can even use an ordinary freehub wheel with one or two sprockets and one or two large spacers (or a lot of small ones!)
So any MTB of your choice can be converted to single speed. Rigid 26" forks are readily available if you want them as well, although they will change the geometry of a suspension frame.
The latest issue of "Australian Cyclist" has a big article on single-speed bikes, including some stock SS MTBs.

You don't need horizontal dropouts if you use either an eccentric BB or a chain tensioner (such as an old rear derailleur).
You can even use an ordinary freehub wheel with one or two sprockets and one or two large spacers (or a lot of small ones!)
So any MTB of your choice can be converted to single speed. Rigid 26" forks are readily available if you want them as well, although they will change the geometry of a suspension frame.
The latest issue of "Australian Cyclist" has a big article on single-speed bikes, including some stock SS MTBs.
I'd really like a purpose-built singlespeed. I don't want tensioners. I could live with the excentric BB though...
However, the must is a STEEL frame. I simply want that naked-slim-lookin bike. It must take 80 mm travel fork too, so old clunkers are out of question...

Funny, I spoke to a guy in a shop today and he said that even Surly will be a problem as Dirtworks (distributor) have no 2008 stock of "1x1"... Another funny thing: apparently the "next big thing" is 29" singlespeeds so many manufacturers are replacing their single speed 26" MTBs with 29ers. I guess I'm too old, but I don't want the next big thing, I just want a simple singlespeed 26" mtb frame/bike that is made of steel...:(

These guys will ship to Australia, although not necessarily cheaply. (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=1645&category=128)

What's your budget for frame/bike?

What's your budget for frame/bike?around $1500 for the whole bike. I've got some bits like handlebars, seatpost, pedals etc in my parts bin...

Last week I bought a big 22" steel Norco frame to build up as a Single Speed. It has snake rear stays and long fwd facing drop outs as it had a axle mounted RD. Still to decide on forks/stem, ahead or quill, you can have it cheap if you want. :)

around $1500 for the whole bike. I've got some bits like handlebars, seatpost, pedals etc in my parts bin...Try to find a Raleigh dealer who carries-or-can-get a RALEIGH XXIX for you ... it is available as a single speed OR with gears. I think the rims are 622-17 (it comes with 700x58 tyres, AFAIK); so, you can mount 700x25 road tyres on the rims (or, anything in-between ... e.g., 700x42) if you want take the bike on paved-or-gravel roads.

The US price is under $700, retail, for the single speed ... it is probably manufactured in Taiwan, so it just depends what the import duty is going to be with regard to the retail price.

Last week I bought a big 22" steel Norco frame to build up as a Single Speed. It has snake rear stays and long fwd facing drop outs as it had a axle mounted RD. Still to decide on forks/stem, ahead or quill, you can have it cheap if you want. :)
Hello Gclark,

22" souds a bit too big for me. I usually fit in that 19"-21" size range of a typical hard-tail MTB (my rant: I've got long legs so I'm always in between sizes). But thank you for the offer.
Anyway, you mentioned that you're yet to decide on forks/stem -- I thought that this was given by the frame's head-tube+headset design?? From what I know: it is either made with the threaded headset in mind or the threadless one…isn't it? I am not a mechanic though, so I may have misunderstood it.

I actually really like the (now) old-fashioned threaded on road bikes. It just looks so much more elegant (as opposed to the "bolts everywhere" look of the typcal a-head stem) and one can adjust the height of the bars easily.
On a mtb however, I'd rather have the a-head stem -- it is next to impossible to get a good suspension fork that would fit a threaded head tube.

Just had a closer look at the Norco:
Seat Tube C-T 56cm (22")
Top Tube C-C 60cm :eek:

Head tube takes the older Cup type bearings so it will be 1 1/8 threaded forks. I'll probably go for 700c hybrid forks with V-brake mounts and use 700c wheels on the frame.

Its a late winter project with at least 5 bikes ahead of it at the moment, 3 mens (one a 64/60cm) at the powder coaters and 2 ladies to strip and prep for sand blasting next week.