SSMTBs

Cracking bike, definitely suits the 27.5 conversion.

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Ha, thanks. I knew I should have looked in Current Projects.

#antiporn

Have you ridden a Pinion?

Nope

Is this allowed? Its defo #ssmtb

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Can't remember but have there been any tasty SS Chameleon builds on here?

Oh I cant remember if theres been any Chameleons here.

In about 2007/2008 the bike shop I worked in was a Santa Cruz dealer. The fourth generation Chameleon came out in 2008.
One of my pals in the shop built up the 4th gen one single speed. Frame colour was a real nice dark blue. But what I really loved was him putting on Dura Ace 7800 cranks. The colour of those cranks looked great on it. I've seen a million nice bikes but that SS Chameleon always sticks in my mind.

The shop I worked in had quite a large fleet of Santa Cruz demo bikes. A perk of the job was that staff got to take the demo bikes out to the trails any time really. The demo bikes weren't really used as often as you'd think. Some of them could sit on the shop floor unused for weeks at a time. I had the demo Blur bike live with me at home literally for weeks before I had to take it back.

This access to all these sweet bikes to ride is really what started my love of the Nomad. On the staff shop rides I'd always take the Blur for an xc ride. But I took the Nomad out once instead and instantly loved it. The mini-dh feel yet you could still just about horse it around a longer xc ride.
At the time I didn't have the cash for the first gen Nomad. Years later I got the second gen Nomad second hand. Then in 2017 I got a good deal second hand on the third gen Nomad.
Earlier this year I sold the third gen when I got the opportunity to get the fourth gen frame new with warranty at a price which made it impossible to ignore! Thats its built up single speed up there!

I really miss those days working in the shop having so many bikes to pick and choose from. Good times.

Yeah, that looks like a fun set up. I've just put a Chameleon ALU frame on back order, so I'm starting to think about build spec and kit. Definitely want to go SS to start with for at least a while, will more than likely put gears on at some point, but I remember how much fun my On One Inbred was for just pissing about.

I've also just noticed all the Adrenaline logos in the background. Do you work for them? I was on the Tenerife Promo vid they made a few years back riding road bikes up Tiede.

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Defo worth experimenting with SS on the Chameleon. The swappable drop outs are pretty cool.

Ah, I think it's a different company. Thats Adrenalin Uplift who run a fleet of vans with trailers taking folk up the hill at the Innerleithen downhill trails in Scotland!

Yep that's them, they do bike (road and mtb) and snowboarding holidays etc. Just different arms of the same company.

Would love to get up to Scotland again so might have to give them a holla.

Yeah 100 percent, partly the reason I was keen on that frame. How do you find the SS on those trails? I guess the uplift is handy eh!

Ah right! I hadn't realised they done other stuff. Gordon, the chap who I think owns and runs it is always really pleasant .
Strongly recommend you get yourself up to Innerleithen! I'm luck in that I'm near Glasgow so its only an hour and a half away in the car.

Haha to be honest the singlespeed on the Nomad isn't really in the same realm as 'proper' ssmtb is it!? Seeing as I don't actually have to pedal it up hill... Infact I barely even pedal going back down the hill to be honest. So I dont feel like I'm as hardcore as the real singlespeed mountain bikers.
I really tried it just as an experiment. Theres also less to break or maintain etc. I'd realised that even with the 7 speed dh groupset on my dh bike I didn't even really need the gears at all. Sometimes the gears could feel like a distraction.
A thought process like "oh this is feeling a bit too spinny... no, wait.. now its not spinny enough... Hmm wonder what gears best to spin through this bit on the next lap?"

Riding SS on the Nomad feels like theres one less thing to think about and it helps me really tune into the run. Well thats the idea anyway. Not sure its made a difference against the clock yet...

The gearing is 34-14 and only occasionally on the odd straight section have I felt I was spinning out a little. I think I'll try a 36t chainring at some point.

this is the kit for anyone interested!
https://www.sbonebikeparts.com/sb-one-parts/sbo-xd-conversation-kit.html
https://www.sbonebikeparts.com/Chaintensioner/sb-one-boner-drive.html

Yeah that's the guy. Will have to investigate a trip.

Interesting point (yet very 'shit fixie skidders say') about being more tuned into the run. I guess it just frees up some brain power.

Trying to figure out what gearing to start on, was thinking 34 / 17?

For "normal" 27.5 wheels? I run 32/17 with 2.5 tyres on a similar but less fashionable SS HT

Oh, will be 29s. Probably 2.5 tyres as well. Was running 36 x 16 on my Inbred which was 26 with rigid forks on 2.2s.

32/18 is the classic 29er SS starter gearing. Depends how hilly it is where you are and how much you mind spinning out / grinding ofc. I was on 32/20 which was great offroad but a real pain getting anywhere.

less fashionable SS HT

SSMTB is always in fashion

you're clearly a monster!

Classic 32x16 with 2.35 for me BITD

I'm starting to think about build spec and kit

I've got some wheels u can borrow if u get boost forks

Oh sweet, what you got mate? Was considering just getting some Hopes.

@umop3pisdn @leggy_blonde It was probably a bit big, but I had to ride like 5k to the trails which only really had one hill on it. Thanks for the tip, I'm in Dulwich so Kent & Surrey will probably be my go to's.

yet very 'shit fixie skidders say'

hahah so much this.
I hadn't even realised how I was sounding. But its true! complete zen, state of pure mind etc etc until I clipped a tree.

did you find 36/16 ok? do you have monster quads?
I ran 32/20 when i dabbled in proper ssmtb and I found even that pretty tough on long climbs

I'm surprised more people don't run dinglespeed for the very reason that it's a pain in the arse to ride your 'off road' gear 'on road' to the trails. If it takes a significant amount of time to get there and then you'll be spending a worthwhile amount of time off road, it's definitely worth the minute it takes to undo the wheel and move the chain across.

Cos you may as well run gears? Have the right gear for all eventualities without having to piss about with undoing wheels.

For me singlespeeding is about always being in the wrong gear and not worrying about it because there is nothing you can do about it with no other options. Spin to win on the road sections.

I've put gears on my bike recently as I've been riding with grade-A hitters and don't want to hold them up even more!

You know, I never really gave dinglespeed a thought, which is odd because one of my uncle's nicknames is Dingle. The stupid low gear is one of the reasons I don't bother heading out to the Chilterns on my SS.

Got any suggestions for setup? You talking about using specific 2x dingle ring(s) or just a flip flop? Not sure I can do it on the Kona but maybe the Inbred?

Ah, idiot, disc brakes. I can't flip-flop. Maybe two cogs on the cassette. Chain tension might be an issue - wonder how much I can change the gear with the same chain length.

I use a dinglespeed in the Chilterns & Swinley because of the (to me) too spinney to get there and too tall on the hills. I run 2 chainrings 36 & 32 on the front and two cogs 20 & 16 on the rear carrier. Gives me 36/16 to ride into the hills and 32/20 in the hills. Same number of teeth overall on both set ups so same chain length & no need to change chain or adjust drop outs. 29er of course...

As long as total number teeth add up to the same on both front and rear combos chain length about the same