My SS experience so far.

It is now officially my 2nd ride on my new SS and I can say that I noticed a difference from the first time and the second time. I think a lot of it is attributed to the fact that on your first maiden run on a bike/trail/or just about anything you do for the first time there's that element of the unexpected so you cant anticipate things.

Well, on my 2nd ride I guess I knew what to expect (dread) and approached it w/ a goal in mind. The first time I climbed cholla i fumbled on that first left/right/steep climb...well that didnt change :lol: i got hung up and stalled out just before the dam climb. But after that I went a little further than i did on my first ride so the bar keeps getting moved up. I'm glad for that as this time I stopped 4 times (same as last) but the 4th was that bonehead maneuver towards the top where you swing wide right and go over the rocks I dabbed there.

I cleaned that short steep climb on the ridge to top of Mathis where that Kiosk is this time I wasnt as winded; another good sign.

This time i went down mathis and rode back along the fireroad nursing my tightening lower back muscle but I managed to get back to MILF park and climbed up canyon vista street only having to detour into the last side street to catch a breather whereas last time i had to duck into all 3 streets to catch a breathe

For everyone that said 21T is too big, I'm going to agree with you as I can see myself quickly outgrowing this cog. Again another good sign.
I'm diggin this SS thing and I appreciate the word of confidence from Carl (Pho'd Up) as he was hiking with his lady friend up Cholla thanks Carl! :beer:

In the spirit of giving...i wanted to reward you for reading this with bike pron...here's the pic of my SS built and tuned by the guys over at adrenaline bikes





This one's for Allison LOL

 

Hi grasshopper Foo,

I just got back from a 2 hour ride at the SC Single Tracks on the SS. That place really works you. Legs were still a little tired from Rwanda... but felt very good to push up the hills.

Glad you are hanging in there. You'll appreciate gearing now.... and, as you've already guessed, the SS will make you stronger, faster. Looking forward to doing the SS Ride with you.

How a bout this weather!!!!

Happy New Year...

 

weather was absolutely nothing short of what we expect to see for Cali! that's why everyone comes to this lovely state.

Thanks OMR for the encouragement

 

so this means we wont be seeing you riding gears anytime soon? How about ride the whole year of 2008 with just your SS, a good idea! and ride geared only if you have to.

Way to go Foo!!:clap:

 

umm lol i still like my squish but dont be surprised if i convert mine to 1x9 LOL

 

"Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you.”

 

Good looking setup you got there Duan. I had a similar experience the first time I climbed up Mill Creek here in BB. The first time, I thought my lungs were going to explode out of my chest. Now, I just rip right up and smile almost the whole way. I'd love to try out the climb on Cholla just to see what it's like. Have you been able to hit the steep climb to Top of the World yet? I'm running a 32/18 right now so I might need to change out the rear cog.

I think we need to setup a SS only Aliso ride soon. Justin would make us all look silly, but at least we could say we did it.

 

I havent done that final climb to TOTW yet...but it's on my list of to-do's well you cant compare the likes of Justin OMR Gene Pho'd Up et al to us mortals :lol: they are not of this world man!

I think you wouldnt have a problem cleaning cholla...just that first technical part would give you problems the first time

 

Awesome. I hope I can get the SSufferfest going soon too.
:bang:

 

im setting it up :bang:

 

Foo, are you bringing the SS to SCST tomorrow? congrats on SSing, i just can't bring myself to try it. maybe it'll be my new years' resolution.

 

Nice job on the build and the ride. 2008 is off to a good start already!

What's this about the bike being "tuned" by the guys at Adrenaline? I thought that was the point of SS simplicity - no tuning needed!

 

I am amazed at how many posts this one SS project has generated.:lol:

Foo--I see you are running 317's. I have 1 word for you: Mavic Crossmax SLR's!!



I am running tubeless 819's on my SS now and am getting ready to pull the trigger on these. I'll drop almost 1 1/2 lbs. You can too!!

 

Foo--what's the weight on that SS?

 

Those straight, bladed spokes with the red hubs -- so purty.

 

i havent weighed it yet, but i can tell you the boat anchor that's called my front fork is HEAVY...because i built this bike on the cheap light weight stuff isnt being used. I do agree that Crossmax is the biggest gain to be had...i really want to go tubeless on this bike as well, my Epiphany runs tubeless and i am really happy bout that. Maybe i can just have the wheel rebuilt to run tubeless. But dam those Crossmax w/ the red hubs would go well w/ my motif!!!

But back to what you asked, i bet this thing is porky

 

Ya, I have a red King headset and red Dangerboy levers on my mostly black SS to set it off a little. Those red hubs would look schweet on it.

I'll have to let you take me on a SS tour of one of your local trails soon.

 

Here's the prob with the ss, as I see it. You ride into it, what I mean is you adjust to that bike, the gearing, the feel, the other nuances. Riding the ss is quite a bit different then riding a geared bike. That being said, you gain as you go along and after a while ( a few months usually) you find yourself substancially stronger and faster......but, then you go back to riding the geary for a few months and the next time you get back on the ss, it seems you've lost almost all of what you had gained from before???

Well, at least this has happened to me and a few of my friends. It seems like it's ss or nothing. But I do love riding my ss as I'm still a lot faster on it then my squishy, but the more I ride the squish the slower I get on the ss too.

 

UNLESS you convert your squishy to SS as well!!!! I was thinking that if i continue with this and all indications lean towards that, I can convert my squish to 1x9

 

Speaking of SS's and squish, I'm putting the Reba back on my SS tomorrow. That rigid fork is just killing me. I'll hang onto it though. Maybe I'll give it another try in the future.