Single speed , drop bars and long distance riding/climbing?

[accordvsick]

Anyone here have a single speed drop bar (non hipster ha!) Setup? I am looking for my next project and I think it's going to be a single speed drop bar road/track bike that will be for long distance (20 to 60 milers that can handle about 3 to 4 k of climbing). Seems like th fixie/track crowd has died down, and those frames can be had for a reasonable price. Can someone recommend a couple frames? Specifically I am looking for something with horizontal drop outs (looking at dolan and aventor matador) that won't break the bank(hoping to stay under 3 to 400 bucks used for the frame)

I'd like it to be really light (sub 15lb), so will be looking for carbon options initially. I already have a wheelset, crankset, drops, stems, carbon fork, brakes, hoping to reusese mosy of those. I am also thinking I want a freewheel setup in the back (not sure how I feel about fixed gear decending, although I might give it a shot). Why do you ask? Part of the hobby for me is keep to the projects going ha(as long as my wife allows)

I currently have a full rigid 29er SS I take regularly on the trails and I just love the simplicity of it. Also the ass kicking feeling when I ride past other dual sus bikes with a 52t in the back. Looking for that same feeling on the road lol.


I have Ti geared road I ride very regularly. I'll probably be using the SS for some commuting also.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Terminology is somewhat important. Note the difference between horizontal dropouts and track ends (not the same thing).
I bought a 2004 Gunnar Street Dog (road geo, track ends, mid-reach brakes) this summer and built it up with a steel fork, nice components and handbuilt wheels and I really, really dig it.

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

[Bici-Sonora]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

Terminology is somewhat important. Note the difference between horizontal dropouts and track ends (not the same thing).
I bought a 2004 Gunnar Street Dog (road geo, track ends, mid-reach brakes) this summer and built it up with a steel fork, nice components and handbuilt wheels and I really, really dig it.

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

Terminology is somewhat important. Note the difference between horizontal dropouts and track ends (not the same thing).
I bought a 2004 Gunnar Street Dog (road geo, track ends, mid-reach brakes) this summer and built it up with a steel fork, nice components and handbuilt wheels and I really, really dig it.

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Your Gunnar looks great. I picked up a used Riv Quickbeam and I’ve used it a lot including climbing. It’s a little under geared which helps.



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[jkbrwn]

Forgive the photo but here's one I used to have. I used it for hill repeats and audaxes. I once did a 500k on it to complete the Festive 500 in one ride and it was great. I think single speed for that kind of ride makes a lot of sense - where you don't want to have to think about anything.

I think it's less about the weight of the bike and more about the gearing.

A bike with one gear is always gonna be relatively light, but it's meaningless if you're overgeared. I don't remember what the ratio was but it was 66 gear inches IIRC.

I'd want horizontal dropouts rather than track ends for single speed road use. I would want track ends for fixed gear track use.

[markie]

What kind of surface are you going to be riding. Are you going to be riding steep hills? Do you like walking?

I have ridden SS a bit. I find it much easier to hang with a group on the SS MTB. With gears it is pretty easy to drop a fixie or SS on the descents and even flats. Still I like riding fixed and often ride fixed off road...

Pics are from 2011. I am pretty sure I could not ride D2R2 fixed right now

[markie]

I don’t get the distinction between horizontal dropouts and track ends. I have bikes with those and others with sliding dropouts and eccentric bottom brackets. They all do the same thing for me... I’m a Luddite.

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by markie

I don’t get the distinction between horizontal dropouts and track ends. I have bikes with those and others with sliding dropouts and eccentric bottom brackets. They all do the same thing for me... I’m a Luddite.

Have you ever tried to remove a rear wheel from a fender equipped bike with track ends? This is why I'd always prefer horizontal drops on a road going single speed/fixed bike. Track ends are horrible in that exact situation.

[markie]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

Have you ever tried to remove a rear wheel from a fender equipped bike with track ends? This is why I'd always prefer horizontal drops on a road going single speed/fixed bike. Track ends are horrible in that exact situation.

Ha. Yeah. I have a Rivendell Quickbeam with fenders and track ends. I try not to take the rear wheel off too often. The IF in the picture has track ends but no fenders or provision for them. I like them and the simplicity.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by markie

I don’t get the distinction between horizontal dropouts and track ends.

I think I understand the distinction, but I'm posting here so that someone can confirm:

- Horizontal dropouts have the open end of the dropout facing the front of the bike;
- Track ends are also horizontal (moreso, actually), but they have the open end of the dropout facing the rear of the bike.

Did I get that right?

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

I think I understand the distinction, but I'm posting here so that someone can confirm:

- Horizontal dropouts have the open end of the dropout facing the front of the bike;
- Track ends are also horizontal (moreso, actually), but they have the open end of the dropout facing the rear of the bike.

Did I get that right?

Yes, you did.

Insofar as the distinction has merit you've phrased it very well.

[deep breath] Of course, not all track bikes have sliding horizontal dropouts, but some road bikes do, but then again some road going single speeds have rear facing sloped dropouts, and some are forward facing. Some road bikes have rear facing micro dropouts and most road bike dropouts face down, but then there are through axles.

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

I think I understand the distinction, but I'm posting here so that someone can confirm:

- Horizontal dropouts have the open end of the dropout facing the front of the bike;
- Track ends are also horizontal (moreso, actually), but they have the open end of the dropout facing the rear of the bike.

Did I get that right?

Correct.

[farmerjosh]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

Terminology is somewhat important. Note the difference between horizontal dropouts and track ends (not the same thing).
I bought a 2004 Gunnar Street Dog (road geo, track ends, mid-reach brakes) this summer and built it up with a steel fork, nice components and handbuilt wheels and I really, really dig it.

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

Speaking of street dogs:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gunnar-Stre...sAAOSw7dZgCOFB

I don't know if OP ever posted their preferred bike size but this one looks well loved. Which means it's fun.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Regarding the eBay Street Dog, the auction doesn't say but that particular one may be from the period where these used short reach brakes. I thought it was only the early Waterfords that used a 27.4mm seatpost (I assume the auction description is a typo and 27.4 was intended) but this is not an early Street Dog.

[Bici-Sonora]

Obviously my Riv is not super light with the semi-hipster wald basket and such, but I have ~1400g wheels on it and it rides like a light bike. I’d like to try a 15lbs SS.


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[accordvsick]

Ah yes, track ends are probably what I intended to ask about.

What gear ratio are you all running?