Starting with one gear, the evolution of a single speed Arkose

A few months ago I was feeling without much purpose, so I was on the lookout for a project to occupy myself with and hopefully fall back into some more regular cycling. In 2019 I had cycled over 28,000Km but just fell out completely of love with it over lockdowns and with the races being cancelled and ended up cycling a very measly 346km in 2021.

I ended up with this which was only a couple of miles away and a little bit different to what I'd had before. Since then it sat unused for 4 months while I psyched myself out of getting back on the bike. I've signed myself up to ride around the North Cost 500 this summer with two of the guys I work with, along with one of their Dads and by December they had asked one too many times when I was going to start training!

Started training on the 2nd of January with a FTP test, 323W was the result, not as bad as I expected. My aim for the cycling is to out as much as I can, explore new roads and try and enjoy the cycling again.

My aim for the bike is to watch the classifieds and keep it feeling new. Upgrades so far have been

1. 40mm WTB Raddlers, which feel great even with tubes
   
2. King cages, from the box of bike stuff
   
3. Thompson stem and seat post, from the box of bike stuff
   
4. Brooks Cambium
   
   

I thought from a bit of research that the rims were Alex XD Lite which I thought could be set up tubeless? I had a go at it but had no luck getting enough air in the tyres to pop out.

I also won a Rohloff on eBay, I haven't seen any Arkoses online with one so I might be the first... I need to spend some time working out how to get that working. I think from a first pass I'll be able to use the "support bolt" to anchor torque through a mudguard eyelet by filing about 1.5mm into the axel plate. Right now it's a 26" wheel so there is still plenty to think about.

Some photos to get the thread going

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And how it looks after the change of tyre

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I was absolutely blown away by an untrained 323W FTP... until I saw that seatpost, and it just all makes sense now.

Yes, 81kg and about a 15 years of reasonably high level sport to fall back on.

How are you getting on with the ebb? I always toyed with a SS off-road bike like this (ie vertical dropouts) but I heard they need a lot of adjustment

I actually need to give the chain a tighten this week so will report back. So far I've had zero squeaks or slippage.

I had a Thorn with one too and it basically never needed adjusted

Looks „untamed“ now. I like that! I have no idea how a Rohloff hub has to be installed so I am really interested to see that.
Are you planning on getting that done before the NC500 or would you also ride it ss?

Undecided on riding single speed, I like the idea of it though! I'm not sure on gearing to balance riding up quite steep hills and being able to sit in a group without spinning out.

Right now I'm on 19/38 which is a little low on the road but great out in the hills. I have a 40t I'm going to try this weekend.

I'm so confused. How long are your legs compared to your torso? I can barely lean forward to touch my handlebars even with them higher than my saddle. My head will topple straight off my neck if I go into the drops too quickly. I just don't understand how me and you are the same species.

I don't think particularly unusual proportions but do start off at 2m tall.

Best photo I could find https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gvxCPJrTe/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Wow look at you go. Absolute hats off to you. I remember reading a feature on you for the TCR. What an absolute chief!