Today: Ruminations on rigid steel single-speeds, full-suspension bikes, and 29" wheels

Well, I did it. I finally got back on the steel stallion. And two very good things happened. Not only was it absolutely therapeutic to ride again, for the first time since the lung collapse three weeks earlier, but I was reminded how much I love the single speed. On occasion, when the opportunity presents itself, I pull my Redline Monocog 29er off the garage wall and kick around some of the local trails. My dad offered me the bike last November, which is a different story. At the time, I was skeptical and thought if I didn’t like the bike—and I assumed I wouldn’t—that I would just trade it in for credit at Recycled Cycles.

During last year’s gray November and early December days, I trail tested the Monocog. After that maiden voyage, I struggled to understand why anyone would ride single speed or rigid. The gearing felt tall especially on the climbs. The trail feedback left me achy and sore. But I kept with it. Actually, because I was lending my other bikes (the Giant Anthem and the Specialized Stumpjumper) to the objects of my cycle evangelism at the time, I spent a lot of time riding the single speed. This worked well because it allowed me to better equip the newbies for success by lending them the forgiving full-suspension bikes. And I loved it because the challenge of riding a fully-rigid single speed allowed me to stretch myself physically even though we were riding at a slower pace than would have otherwise represented exercise.

I learned or relearned a very interesting lesson over those first few months. Arms and legs will suspend a rider just as effectively as full suspension provided the rider rides in a standing mode. Riding in standing mode, also addresses the gearing element. The extra torque coming from a standing compensates for the lack of gears. What is interesting to me is that I can ride just as fast—if not faster—on the tight windy, Western Washington trails, as I can on any of my bikes. It’s just a different style of riding. Riding full-suspension works best in the saddle. Riding rigid and single speed is best in the stirrups. I will say this about the single speed, I do notice that my arms are far more fatigued at the end of a jaunt on the single speed then even on my hard tail. One time last year, near the end of a ride, my hands just let go, launching me over the bars and into a berm on the downhill side of a small rise.

 
I recently gifted my Stumpjumper to a good friend. And the longer I go without a full-suspension bike, the more I wonder about the legitimate application of any full suspension ride outside gnarly downhill or long-distance cross-country setting. And even that may not be entirely accurate when you consider that I have ridden Tiger Mountain and my longest cross-country rides more often on a hard tail than astride a full-suspension bike. When you roll the 29” wheels into the mix, it may just be that for my style of riding a full-suspension bike may no longer be necessary. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still lust after some fully-suspended goodness!