Rigid SS a fully sick option for stonefly or fully thick? now with result!

[danncam]

A question posted for my friend and his fully rigid singlespeeded Niner; is it doable for the 35km stonefly loop during the Bike Buller festival? He is bringing the superfly for the other days, but likes the idea of his favbike for the 35ker.
He is happy on the Niner most places including red hill, lystie, youies, forest, the wombat 100 vic and nsw.
I figure why not, its up and down but not rough really, and it might give me half a chance of keeping up with him.

 

[Geoff Gump]

Definitely doable.

 

[Yeti575]

A question posted for my friend and his fully rigid singlespeeded Niner; is it doable for the 35km stonefly loop during the Bike Buller festival? He is bringing the superfly for the other days, but likes the idea of his favbike for the 35ker.
He is happy on the Niner most places including red hill, lystie, youies, forest, the wombat 100 vic and nsw.
I figure why not, its up and down but not rough really, and it might give me half a chance of keeping up with him.

I have a single rigid Niner and was just talking about Buller with my mates and wether it was doable. Based on your advise we might just give it a crack then. I always thought Buller would need some suspension and a couple of gears thrown in for good luck. Cheers

 

[danncam]

My mate will singly rigid niner the xc buller, I wouldn't; but I don't get the single speed thang let alone the rigid thing. I love my dual suspension. But the I get it's a great way to add challenge to any ride.

 

[mtb101]

you can ride anything anywhere if you're prepared to compromise on speed or flow or whatever.

bit more exposure to pinch flats or side wall rips - mate has had elbow tendonitis for nearly 12 months now since riding the otway 100k on rigid.

 

[danncam]

bit more exposure to pinch flats or side wall rips - mate has had elbow tendonitis for nearly 12 months now since riding the otway 100k on rigid.

I haven't heard that before. Are you saying the lack of suspension adds to the load into the tire sidewall increasing the chance of pinch flats and tears? He rides his rigid tubeless and at a very low psi, I think around 26psi

 

[mtb101]

I haven't heard that before. Are you saying the lack of suspension adds to the load into the tire sidewall increasing the chance of pinch flats and tears? He rides his rigid tubeless and at a very low psi, I think around 26psi

if I was riding my rigid in a race or through rough terrain, I know I'd have to back off a bit to limit the chance of pinch flat or rip, we're only talking about pushing limits here, normal riding ridgid is fine but not as forgiving as my suspension bike.

 

[hoppy2]

For what it's worth, I think stonefly on a single speed would not be fun.

Fully rigid, no problems, it's all pretty smooth, but you'd need some big legs or a small gear to get up that climb.

 

[danncam]

...big legs or a small gear to get up that climb.

I think my friend, Q, loves the whole "HTFU and wrench your way up that climb" thing. Anyone silly enough to contemplate the Otway 100 on a SS must enjoy the pain. From my memory of stonefly the down will be fine, its a fairly smooth track.

I think he's a masochist as heart.

 

[The Duckmeister]

The Silk Lane descent from Corn Hill to Howqua Gap is pretty rugged (my g*d that's an inappropriately named track if ever I heard one!), as is the bit around the back of Stirling summit (I think the 35 still does that), which while doable would not be fun without suspension. Most of Stonefly climb is relatively gentle grade, it's just long, so as long as the gear ratio is right wouldn't be too unthinkable. The section from the top of Stonefly up to Stirling summit is steep & loose, so prepare to walk - it's hard enough with a geared bike with wall-climbers!

 

[Haakon]

Did Stonefly as part of the Epic last month on my 2x10 converted 26er Anthem - I will be putting the triple back on it before I ride that again...

 

[Ackland]

Rigid SS everywhere!

 

[Nath8]

Rigid SS everywhere!

I'm with you Ackers.
That's all I've got to ride and I'm happy riding it anywhere :thumb:

 

[danncam]

I voted in my own poll, not sure if that's kosher but after reading all the posts I'm happy sticking with my dually. Q, my friend the R.SS'er mentioned to me he has had tendonitis after long rides on the R.SS Niner, but nothing voltaron can't hide.

 

[Yeti575]

I'm with you Ackers.
That's all I've got to ride and I'm happy riding it anywhere :thumb:

I'll be riding SS until my knees pack it in, until then gears just suck, so If I can't single speed it, I'll walk it.

 

[rowdyflat]

Riding rigid SS at Buller .
You must be young + mad.
I reckon its the hardest climbing anywhere I have been.

 

[danncam]

He's not young (if 43 not young) but he's mad for his rss'er. Weather looks cold tomorrow so at least he'll warm up quickly.

 

[danncam]

so what was the go with the Australian Rigid Single Speeder Exponent (ARSSE)

Bike buller was fantastic, the trails really are amazing and the weather gods shone upon us.
I was very happy with a 3rd :third:in the 35 km stonefly race (vets) but my ARSSE mate rode to a 2nd in vets, damnnagit!
He did say his 34/19 gearing was way to high and the whole ride was a sufferfest; but thats why he gets so much respect from me, he lives the HTFU mantra. We also stopped at different places waiting for each other by mistake for about 6 minutes, so who knows he could have whipped the other vets sans gears and squish. We then rode back to sawmill down klingsporn, which is its own sort of intense.
Moral of the story, if it's your thang, ARSSE your way round stonefly. Me, I'll stick to cushy 125 travel and gobfulls of gears to chose from.

 

[Stevob]

I'll take 32/20 or 21 next time up to Buller. Rigid is always faster on the climbs, but slower on the descents. It's not the climbing that hurts up there, it's the altitude.

edit: Well done Danncam!