Is the 26er Singlespeed Mountain Bike dead?

[CTMBRer]

With the exception of some Fat wheeled bikes and perhaps the Surly 1x1, is anyone still building up 26" wheeled Singlespeeds?

I sold me my 26" SSer last summer and completely 29" for my SSer bikes.

[agabriel]

I'm turning an old Kona into a SS - so there not dead to me.

[fog86]

I converted my 1x1 to a 69er over the summer. If I were going to build from scratch today, I'd either go 29er or 69er. I like the big hoop in the front and have ridden a couple of 29er's, but not enough sell me on it.

-Will

[CTMBRer]

I guess I mean to say/ask is whether anyone is going out and purchasing a 26er SSer frame these days and building it up as such. Converting to SS from gears means you can always go back. How many people do you hear about starting out the gate with a 26er SSer?

[SteveC]

It's been a while....

[leebo]

Still rocking my Surly 1x1 these days. The frame is very adaptable for any kind of build. Right now it has a 26x2.6 big earl on the rear, kicks butt on the snow.

[bdee]

I hope it's not dead.. I'm planning on building myself another 1x1 at some point this year. I still wish I hadn't sold my old one.

[adrnalin69]

Soma makes a cool one. Called 4one5. Its a sweet steel SS bike. Trail/XC geometry. I just got the geared version...I love it so far. Very nimble bike. Plus there are a lot of smaller frame builders coming up with some cool designs. Plus they are Local.

[bdee]

Soma makes a cool one. Called 4one5. Its a sweet steel SS bike. Trail/XC geometry. I just got the geared version...I love it so far. Very nimble bike. Plus there are a lot of smaller frame builders coming up with some cool designs. Plus they are Local.

I've been checking that one out, also their Double Cross DC disc 'cross bike. They make some nice bikes!

[GP-TJ]

I'm still riding my Bianchi. I have thought about experimenting with some different wheels though. Is 29 really all that?

GP

[adrnalin69]

Try one GP-TJ. I am a small guy and I have found some 29ers to be useful in some spots. The taller you are the more useful they become....even on the tight stuff. Smaller riders tend to need to worry about the bikes tracking and response time. We have to work the bike more. Taller/bigger riders will feel more at home. It's an interesting side of MTB.

[hogboy]

still on the 1x1 26'er. I see no reason for a 29'er SS (but I have a geared 29'er so maybe that's why)

[liv2ryd]

I'm sold on 29er single speeds. I'm in the process of building my 3rd one (1st gen GF Rig, 2nd gen GF Rig and now a GF Superfly SS). I even went back to a 26er for a while and it held back my riding when compared to my 29er SS.

I think they are dead from a Mfg's point of view. Custom builders will still make them but the mainstream mfg's are done with them.

[eminer42]

I'm sold on the 29'er SS, but I've really never ridden a reasonable 26'er SS. The one I rode weighs 42 pounds and had 6" of suspension. It's not dead, just not popular.

[Raymo853b]

I still get the feeling that 29er SS are only the dominate choice in the USA. And even in the Western USA, there is still a higher percentage of 26er SS still.

Plus I see a "alternative" move a-foot feeling like 26ers are a statement of how unwilling you are to accept the corporate line. What goes around comes around.

[Evil Chocula]

And even in the Western USA, there is still a higher percentage of 26er SS still.


Not in the Western USA I lived in (Southern California, Arizona).

[PutAwayWet]

Lucky for me, my 26er SS isn't dead. Although I did kill two the previous year (R.I.P. Gunnar Rockhound and On-One Inbred :( ) I really hope my Blizzard doesn't die this year, I'm not sure I can afford to replace it with another 26er.

[agabriel]

how did you kill a gunnar? They seem pretty bullet proof as frames go.

[pinch_flat]

I hope it's not dead... I just built up a 26" Kona Explosif SS (2006 frame, bought as new-old stock) this winter.

[PutAwayWet]

how did you kill a gunnar? They seem pretty bullet proof as frames go.

I put a dent in the down tube, where it then cracked 2 years later. Dent got there from the knobs on top of a sus fork, before I smartened up and went rigid

[agabriel]

Did you buy it from them? They have a lifetime warranty - Gunnar makes a hell of a bike.

[PutAwayWet]

I did buy it from them. Because the dent in the downtube was caused by me (although it must have been happening often because they changed the geometry so the fork knobs don't hit anymore), it's not covered under warranty. They do have a generous crash replacement policy of 50% off a new frame for the original owner, which they've offered me. When I broke it originally, I didn't have a pot to piss in and couldn't even afford the new discounted frame so I just went back to riding the On-One. When I broke the On-One about two months later (that one cracked on a weld but was 3 months out of warranty) I still had no money. I ended up trading two suspension forks for a used RM Blizzard frame that I'm still riding. I did love that Gunnar - I'm not really sure why I haven't replaced it now that I'm financially able again. The Blizzard treats me very well, and I'm kind of a one bike kind of guy. Another reason is that if I got a new Gunnar, I'd want a Ruffian with sliding drops instead of a Rockhound since I prefer SS. I haven't really gotten up the nerve to ask if the crash replacement policy can be used for a different style frame. Plus, if I had two SS frames, I'd probably feel the need to buy another rigid fork so both would be rideable at the same time and that would add another $275 to the cost of the frame :p

[PutAwayWet]

agabriel - thanks for the nudge. I got to thinking about how much I loved the Gunnar and got back in touch with them tonight about getting a replacement. Hopefully I'll be back on one this year :)

[agabriel]

right - thats a great frame!

[ride in maine]

I am still riding my 1x1 and in the winter ride it with studded tires and in the summer I swap it over to a 29er. I am on the road enough the SS is a good set up because I can break it down wheels and everything in a small area and the put my tools in around it and not have to worry about something crashing it. And I still ride it with 26 inch tires as well in the summer time.
Calvin

[sspeeder]

Lefthanded 1x1, Gunnar, or Carver. Too many Single speeds.. or not enough.
(used to be Onespd-now sspeeder)

[RockPharmer]

just finally got the hang of riding a SS 26'er. better not be going anyway soon...

[bdee]

It's not dead yet, a customer of ours just ordered a 1x1 today. :)

[fazzster]

I was too short for a 29r SS so the 26 is the only way to go to maintain good geometry...