dinneR ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 1, 2017 I sold both of my single speeds earlier this year. I'm thinking about a new bike. Possibly selling my Salsa Casseroll and getting something for bikepacking. Every SS I see for sale has me thinking. This one caught my eye. Kona Unit. SS, big wheels and tires. Three bottle mounts on the frame and two on the fork. How realistic is it to buy a SS bikepacking rig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 1, 2017 Share #2 Posted September 1, 2017 35 minutes ago, dennis said: How realistic is it to buy a SS bikepacking rig? I supposed one way to get an idea would be load up a geared bike, shift it into a gear ratio that matches the one on the Kona Unit, and leave it there for the entire trip. It wouldn't be an identical experience, but it might give you some insight into whether you'd become frustrated with a single speed for bikepacking and thereby save yourself the money you would have spent on the Unit. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted September 1, 2017 Spoken like an engineer, let science help you answer the question. Whatever happened to the beauty of irrational behavior and the love of fat tires? So maybe this should be my road bike/bikepacking rig? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post maddmaxx ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Popular Post Share #4 Posted September 1, 2017 Young knees become old knees. Don't hasten the experience. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 1, 2017 I rode the MS-150 one time and there was a guy doing it on a fixie. I talked with him several times during the 150 hilly western Pennsylvania hills. He did ok but at the end of the ride he said: "What was I thinking? I have a half dozen bikes at home and every one of them would have been a better choice for this ride." I'll never do this again without gears. I imagine a freewheel would have been a big help as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 1, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 1, 2017 7 hours ago, dennis said: So maybe this should be my road bike/bikepacking rig? That's a good choice, but I suspect you will have to dig out your infamous pedal wrench before you can go anywhere on that... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #7 Posted September 1, 2017 As a fan of geared bikes, I am infinitely unqualified to answer SS questions. Like most people my age, I started on SS and fixed gear bikes so there is no novelty factor in buying one now. Like maxx said, my knees have been through enough. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F_in Ray Of Sunshine Posted September 1, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 1, 2017 Why would you want to shake the SS bug? I have two and probably always will have at least one. Might not be the ticket for bikepacking, but that just means you need to add a bikepacking bike to the stable....in addition to a SS or two. Dont listen to these fuddy-duddies and their knee nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 1, 2017 10 minutes ago, F_in Ray Of Sunshine said: Why would you want to shake the SS bug? I have two and probably always will have at least one. Might not be the ticket for bikepacking, but that just means you need to add a bikepacking bike to the stable....in addition to a SS or two. Dont listen to these fuddy-duddies and their knee nonsense. Remember when geared bikes were considered progress? You retro twits simply didn't have big enough hills to appreciate them. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted September 1, 2017 I love riding a SS, but my knees and these mountains have other thoughts on the topic. I have no space for a lot of bikes, three is probably beyond the max. At the end of the day, I'll either stick with my Casseroll or pick up a Fargo if I can find a good deal on one. But damn that Kona sure would be fun to ride! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #11 Posted September 1, 2017 I wasn't able to get a Fargo, (first choice) so I went with Specialized AWOL comp. It's been in the stable for almost two years. I like it a lot. Not much bike packing yet but it's in my plans. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Share #12 Posted September 1, 2017 11 hours ago, dennis said: Possibly selling my Salsa Casseroll and getting something for bikepacking. I tried riding a casserole one time and got green beans and mushroom soup all over my bike shorts. 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted September 1, 2017 Just now, Longjohn said: I tried riding a casserole one time and got green beans and mushroom soup all over my bike shorts. The most delicious bike you'll ever ride. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F_in Ray Of Sunshine Posted September 1, 2017 Share #14 Posted September 1, 2017 2 hours ago, Wilbur said: retro My 4-yo SS with a carbon fork, hydraulic disc brakes and tubeless tires doesn't understand what you mean by this term. If the hill is too steep for a SS, you resort to one of the four gears: "sit", "stand", "push" or "puke". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted September 1, 2017 2 hours ago, Old#7 said: I wasn't able to get a Fargo, (first choice) so I went with Specialized AWOL comp. It's been in the stable for almost two years. I like it a lot. Not much bike packing yet but it's in my plans. That Awol looks pretty nice. The new Fargos can run 29, 29+, and 27.5+ tires, so I'd like one of those if I can swing it. The 2018 has a purple one in their lineup. I've also heard they will be releasing a boost fork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_photog ★ Posted September 3, 2017 Share #16 Posted September 3, 2017 On 8/31/2017 at 11:49 PM, dennis said: Spoken like an engineer, let science help you answer the question. Whatever happened to the beauty of irrational behavior and the love of fat tires? So maybe this should be my road bike/bikepacking rig? I think you should get one of these. The other light touring bike is a Casseroll. Winter/mud bike is a Mukluk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted September 4, 2017 Share #17 Posted September 4, 2017 5 hours ago, Digital_photog said: I think you should get one of these. The other light touring bike is a Casseroll. Winter/mud bike is a Mukluk Seen it in person. Great bike! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted September 4, 2017 Share #18 Posted September 4, 2017 27 minutes ago, Zealot said: Seen it in person. Great bike! You've got better eyes than I do, Z! All I can see is a bunch of packs and panniers attached to some sort of frame that has an oversized organic wooden kickstand. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted September 4, 2017 Share #19 Posted September 4, 2017 1 minute ago, Thaddeus Kosciuszko said: You've got better eyes than I do, Z! All I can see is a bunch of packs and panniers attached to some sort of frame that has an oversized organic wooden kickstand. You should see DP cruise with that wooden kickstand over his shoulder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted September 4, 2017 Share #20 Posted September 4, 2017 2 minutes ago, Thaddeus Kosciuszko said: You've got better eyes than I do, Z! All I can see is a bunch of packs and panniers attached to some sort of frame that has an oversized organic wooden kickstand. We all had them! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share #21 Posted September 14, 2017 On 9/3/2017 at 1:20 PM, Digital_photog said: I think you should get one of these. The other light touring bike is a Casseroll. Winter/mud bike is a Mukluk It should arrive Friday. I'm debating whether I should keep my Casseroll. I love that bike. This will be my second Fargo. I sold the first one and my Mukluk a while ago. I have a 9zero7 now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital_photog ★ Posted September 14, 2017 Share #22 Posted September 14, 2017 1 hour ago, dennis said: It should arrive Friday. I'm debating whether I should keep my Casseroll. I love that bike. This will be my second Fargo. I sold the first one and my Mukluk a while ago. I have a 9zero7 now. Casseroll is a great bike. Mine doesn't get a lot of use but I still can't get rid of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted September 14, 2017 13 minutes ago, Digital_photog said: Casseroll is a great bike. Mine doesn't get a lot of use but I still can't get rid of it. I've ridden mine quite a bit this year. I've learned to appreciate riding pavement and it's a great bike for it. I joined a group ride. I'm always the only person on a steel bike with a rack and 40C tires. I'm really looking forward to having a Fargo again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted September 14, 2017 Share #24 Posted September 14, 2017 My single speed is my favorite bike to ride. Though some trails it isn't really suitable for, so I pick my ride based on where I'm riding, for a lot of trails though, that is the SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share #25 Posted September 14, 2017 30 minutes ago, Indy said: My single speed is my favorite bike to ride. Though some trails it isn't really suitable for, so I pick my ride based on where I'm riding, for a lot of trails though, that is the SS. I loved my SS, both of them. In the midwest on flow trails, things were great. In the rocky mountains, we have climbs that are 5-10 miles long and super steep. My knees could not take it any longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted September 14, 2017 Share #26 Posted September 14, 2017 As someone tempted to use my granny gear on occasion, single speed isn't appealing even though the 3-speed of my youth seemed fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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