Does anyone make a SS full-susp MTB for petite rider? [Archive]

emily_in_nc

03-05-2012, 11:53 AM

I am now realizing how stupid I was for not having my beloved XS Titus Racer X converted to a single-speed and bringing it to our new home in Belize. The riding here is all beach, dirt trails, unpaved roads with potholes and rocks, or cobblestones. Everyone rides beach cruisers, including me, but I sure would LOVE a full-suspension, as a lot of the riding here is downright uncomfy on the tush and hands/wrists/arms/shoulders.

So, is such a beast (SINGLE SPEED full-susp MTB) available ready made? I am 5'2" and rode an XS size Titus.

Just curious at this point since I don't even know what is available out there. I probably can't afford one anyway, but a girl can dream, right? An aluminum frame would be a must in this harsh environment.

Any advice/pointers to models I might at least look at online?

Thanks!

Becky

03-05-2012, 12:00 PM

Emily, what's your approximate standover height?

ETA: What about a Santa Cruz Juliana (http://www.hucknroll.com/santa-cruz-bicycles-juliana-d-xc-build-2012)??

Jo-n-NY

03-05-2012, 12:11 PM

emily_in_nc

03-05-2012, 01:31 PM

Emily, what's your approximate standover height?

ETA: What about a Santa Cruz Juliana (http://www.hucknroll.com/santa-cruz-bicycles-juliana-d-xc-build-2012)??

My cycling inseam is approx. 28.5". Juliana's are geared bikes, though; I am looking for single-speed. Is that an option?

Thanks!

emily_in_nc

03-05-2012, 01:33 PM

Hi Emily,

I know specialized makes full suspension of women.

2 that I know off hand is one of the Jett's & one of the Myka's. It certainly will fit you fine since we are about the same size. Full suspension is more $$ than a hardtail.

Here is the link from the Specialized Mtn bike site.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCMain.jsp?scid=1100

Thanks, but these are also all geared bikes, as far as I can tell. I am looking for single-speed, if such a beast is made. Dealing with derailleurs and shifters in a marine climate is just asking for trouble, and since it's perfectly flat here, completely unnecessary.

Thanks!

spokewench

03-05-2012, 01:47 PM

This is only a guess, there might be a full suspension single speed out there; but it would sort of be an oxymoron and I doubt there is a production FS single speed. It would probably be an off brand (custom) or such.

Mountain bikes FS are usually designed for off road riding which usually includes lots of hill climbing. Hence the name Mountain! Anyway, most people that I know that ride single speed mountain bikes in the mountains are what I call "Mutants". They are really tough, they ride the hills in big, big gears and they pedal and coast like madmen downhill! They are also usually kind of retro so most single speeds that I have seen are hard tails not FS. It is kind of a cult type of bike!

Like I said, there may be a FS single speed production bike, but I bet it would be hard to find! Anyway, anyone know of one????

I would also think that the way a FS bike works with pivots and movement in the rear might even make a single speed impossible since there is no deraileur and no give in the chain area, so I would think that the chain would just bounce right off all the time. There are ways to use a tensioner on a regular hard tail conversion to single speed to keep this from happening, but I'm not quite sure how that would work with a FS bike???

You could get a cheap suspension seat post to get a little cush for your seat. Maybe, a suspension fork for your front?

Becky

03-05-2012, 02:39 PM

Oops! Sorry Emily- I missed the part about single speed.

I would also think that the way a FS bike works with pivots and movement in the rear might even make a single speed impossible since there is no deraileur and no give in the chain area, so I would think that the chain would just bounce right off all the time. There are ways to use a tensioner on a regular hard tail conversion to single speed to keep this from happening, but I'm not quite sure how that would work with a FS bike???

You could get a cheap suspension seat post to get a little cush for your seat. Maybe, a suspension fork for your front?

I think Spokewench is onto something here. I don't see how the rear triangle could move and still maintain the chain tension, unless the rear wheel moved in a fixed arc around the bottom bracket. That said, I sort of recall a discussion about single speed FS bikes over at the MTBR forums. It might be worth a check over there...

emily_in_nc

03-05-2012, 02:55 PM

I think Spokewench is onto something here. I don't see how the rear triangle could move and still maintain the chain tension, unless the rear wheel moved in a fixed arc around the bottom bracket. That said, I sort of recall a discussion about single speed FS bikes over at the MTBR forums. It might be worth a check over there...

Great, thanks. Obviously I am not up on the technical details of this. I kind of like the idea of a hardtail with suspension seatpost, though -- hadn't thought of that one. I will go over to the MTBR forums and have a look as well, thanks.

So, back to the original question but with a change -- does anyone know of any hardtail single-speeds for petite women (long femurs, short torso/arms)?

Thanks!

emily_in_nc

03-05-2012, 03:13 PM

Actually, I wonder if an urban/city bike with front susp. fork might be a better (and less expensive) choice for me. Then I could add on a suspension seatpost. I don't want to spend a ton since the climate down here is harsh and eats bike components, and theft is an issue too. We're super careful with our beach cruisers b/c they are nicer than most of the bikes down here (we shipped them down from the US), but bikes do have a tendency to go missing, so anything too pricey or showy is a huge target here.

Off to look at urban/city bikes online... :p

goldfinch

03-05-2012, 05:16 PM

SheFly

03-06-2012, 05:01 AM

Emily - as an avid MTBer, and an avid SSer, I can safely say that a FS SS MTB is nearly impossible. Having broken derailleurs while in the woods, and needing to quickly do a SS conversion just to get home, the issue with pivots and suspension changing the chain line causes significant issues (as in, you can't keep the chain on) - just as Spokewench said.

I have a HT SS 29er with a suspension fork that I love. I don't find the lack of rear suspension (and I only ride FS MTBs) to be an issue for me, even on the boniest singletrack. I would suggest this as an option to begin with, and then think about the suspension seatpost as others have suggested.

Can't help with a specific brand as I'm significantly taller than you. DH picked up a Motobecane frame to build my SS MTB bike for relatively short $. I have a shorter friend who rides a Surly as her SS on the roads, while I ride a Kona SS-specific CX frame on the roads.

Good luck!

SheFly

emily_in_nc

03-06-2012, 07:29 AM

I am always interested in small bikes so your question interested me. I did find one single speed full suspension "mountain" bike: http://www.lenzsport.com/detail.php?prodID=4
But, I don't know if the smallest size is small enough. After all, it is a 29'er.

I think your idea of an urban/city bike with a suspended fork makes sense, and then either add a sprung seat or seatpost.

That Lenz Sport is a lovely bike, but way above my price range, and being a 29er, even the Small is way too tall for me with a 29" standover. Actually, that's a good thing, so I won't be lusting over it! :D

Since the bike I'm thinking of would essentially be a beach bike much of the time (I live on a sandy island), I would not want to spend over $1000. I now understand that full-suspension is probably not going to work, and it increases the price a lot.

I did look at urban/city bikes, but I would need to be able to run wide, MTB or beach cruiser tires (2"+), so that option probably won't work either.

So I am back to SS hardtail MTBs and will keep looking. It's a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Unfortunately, being in Belize, building it myself would be far too difficult (parts availability is just about nil, and import duties high), so I will keep looking for something ready-made.

emily_in_nc

03-06-2012, 07:35 AM

I have a HT SS 29er with a suspension fork that I love. I don't find the lack of rear suspension (and I only ride FS MTBs) to be an issue for me, even on the boniest singletrack. I would suggest this as an option to begin with, and then think about the suspension seatpost as others have suggested.

Thanks for all the good info, SheFly! Wish I *were* tall enough for a 29er as those seem more common than 26" MTBs nowadays.

I can see where hardtail would work fine on gnarly single-track, because you're out of the saddle a LOT, right? Here, it's dead flat, but the unpaved roads are riddled with rocks and potholes, and the paved roads are mostly cobblestone, so I wouldn't want to be out of the saddle all that much -- with conditions here, I'd have to ride out of the saddle nearly *all* the time to avoid all the bumps, so that is why I was thinking full-suspension. I am not looking to ride aggressively here, just upright and comfortably. My current beach cruiser is a peach on flat, packed sand and flat pavement, but we don't have much of that.

Since a SS fullie is an impossible dream, a suspension seatpost would be my best option, I think, so I could stay seated and have more comfort than on my current beach cruiser.

I may just end up adding a suspension seatpost to my beach cruiser and call it done, as a cheap fix. But it's fun to look at new bikes and dream a little, even if I never do anything about it. :D

Catrin

03-06-2012, 07:46 AM

hmmm, don't they make some beach cruisers with front suspensions, or am I confusing those with something else? I know I've seen something like that at the local bike stores. Probably not a beach cruiser but they had wider tires. Perhaps something like that with a suspension seatpost?

indysteel

03-06-2012, 07:50 AM

Emily, I'm no MTB expert, but I do have a a Cane Creek Thudbuster LT SS on my hardtail. It's one of the better reviewed suspension seatposts on the market and it's set up so that you use different elastomer combinations based on the rider's weight. If you go this route and if memory serves, you'll have to seperately order an extra "white" elastomer because of your low weight. You'll also want to check the specs on it, or any SS that you order, to make sure you have enough clearance for it. Your seat has to be high enough so that's there's room to accommodate it.

Jo-n-NY

03-06-2012, 08:22 AM

Thanks, but these are also all geared bikes, as far as I can tell. I am looking for single-speed, if such a beast is made. Dealing with derailleurs and shifters in a marine climate is just asking for trouble, and since it's perfectly flat here, completely unnecessary.

Thanks!

Ahh yes, I thought wouldn't gears make riding a little easier on that terrain not taking into consideration the climate. The simpler the better in your case. I hope you find something that works for you.

Off topic...still love reading you blog. It is like my morning paper :) with coffee of course

SheFly

03-06-2012, 11:03 AM

Thanks for all the good info, SheFly! Wish I *were* tall enough for a 29er as those seem more common than 26" MTBs nowadays.

I can see where hardtail would work fine on gnarly single-track, because you're out of the saddle a LOT, right? Here, it's dead flat, but the unpaved roads are riddled with rocks and potholes, and the paved roads are mostly cobblestone, so I wouldn't want to be out of the saddle all that much -- with conditions here, I'd have to ride out of the saddle nearly *all* the time to avoid all the bumps, so that is why I was thinking full-suspension. I am not looking to ride aggressively here, just upright and comfortably. My current beach cruiser is a peach on flat, packed sand and flat pavement, but we don't have much of that.

Since a SS fullie is an impossible dream, a suspension seatpost would be my best option, I think, so I could stay seated and have more comfort than on my current beach cruiser.

I may just end up adding a suspension seatpost to my beach cruiser and call it done, as a cheap fix. But it's fun to look at new bikes and dream a little, even if I never do anything about it. :D

Yup - I think the idea of a Thudbuster is a good one. I've used one on our tandem (many moons ago), and it worked really well. Pairing that with a front suspension fork should smooth out even the cobblestones/pot holes where you are.

My 26er SS was from Soul Cycles, and I LOVED it. Try some of the lesser brands for a SS - Motobecane makes a SS-specific frame, kona makes one, etc.).

I'm sure whatever you decide will work well. SS'ing is addictive though :)

SheFly

emily_in_nc

03-06-2012, 12:19 PM

Yup - I think the idea of a Thudbuster is a good one. I've used one on our tandem (many moons ago), and it worked really well. Pairing that with a front suspension fork should smooth out even the cobblestones/pot holes where you are.

My 26er SS was from Soul Cycles, and I LOVED it. Try some of the lesser brands for a SS - Motobecane makes a SS-specific frame, kona makes one, etc.).

I'm sure whatever you decide will work well. SS'ing is addictive though :)

SheFly

Great advice, SheFly, thanks. And indy, thanks for the Thudbuster thought. I'll go have a look at Motobecane and Kona -- I honestly had no idea even where to begin to look for SS bikes.

emily_in_nc

03-06-2012, 12:21 PM

Ahh yes, I thought wouldn't gears make riding a little easier on that terrain not taking into consideration the climate. The simpler the better in your case. I hope you find something that works for you.

Off topic...still love reading you blog. It is like my morning paper :) with coffee of course

Thanks JoAnn! I appreciate that. :) The only place gears would be helpful here is on our one bridge, which is a bit of a hill, but it's great exercise just to get out of the saddle and crank over it. I am already used to my single-speed beach cruiser, and the sand and salty air here eats parts, so like you say, gotta keep things as simple as possible.

goldfinch

03-06-2012, 07:11 PM

That Lenz Sport is a lovely bike, but way above my price range, and being a 29er, even the Small is way too tall for me with a 29" standover. Actually, that's a good thing, so I won't be lusting over it! :D

Since the bike I'm thinking of would essentially be a beach bike much of the time (I live on a sandy island), I would not want to spend over $1000. I now understand that full-suspension is probably not going to work, and it increases the price a lot.

I did look at urban/city bikes, but I would need to be able to run wide, MTB or beach cruiser tires (2"+), so that option probably won't work either.

So I am back to SS hardtail MTBs and will keep looking. It's a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Unfortunately, being in Belize, building it myself would be far too difficult (parts availability is just about nil, and import duties high), so I will keep looking for something ready-made.

What I might get if I rode on sand and rutted roads a lot is a Salsa Mukluk. I am smaller than you and the smallest size fit me. I loved trying out that bike. The price may be just out of your budget though. But maybe you could get the frame and have it built up as a single speed for a reasonable price.

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk_3/

emily_in_nc

03-07-2012, 09:31 AM

What I might get if I rode on sand and rutted roads a lot is a Salsa Mukluk. I am smaller than you and the smallest size fit me. I loved trying out that bike. The price may be just out of your budget though. But maybe you could get the frame and have it built up as a single speed for a reasonable price.

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk_3/

What a cool bike! Thanks for the pointer. It has a rigid front fork, but maybe with the humongous tires, having front suspension wouldn't be as much of an issue?

For the short term, I am probably just going to consider a Thudbuster seatpost as it's a much less expensive "fix" than a brand-new bike (especially since I'd have to pay even more to have said bike shipped here, plus customs duty, which would be significant on a new bike -- used would be a lot less since they charge based on current/resale value). But it's cool to know that these fatbikes exist -- I'd seen photos of the Pugsley in Adventure Cycling magazine, but was otherwise ignorant of such a thing.

It's always fun to look at bikes even if just "window shopping"! :p

SadieKate

03-07-2012, 11:06 AM

emily_in_nc

03-07-2012, 11:39 AM

Emily - a suspension post is a good idea but, for me, the position on beach cruisers is excruciating. You are so bolt upright that your butt and spine take all the impact. You can't support any weight with your legs the way you do with the Racer X or any bike with a forward leaning position. It's the same reason I hate the majority of "city" bikes. Plopping your butt on a bike and sitting bolt upright is just miserable. Not to mention, it's inefficient mechanically and your quads do all the work.

For me, a fully rigid mtb with fat tires would be tres good for what you're describing.

Just my 2 cents.

Interesting take, SK! I actually find my bike quite comfy to ride so long as I'm riding on flat roads or packed sand. Then again, the length of rides I do here is not much compared to in the US. The rides I do here are primarily utilitarian and are of the 5-10 mile variety, but since parts of them are on very bumpy roads with cobbles or unpaved with rocks, that's when my butt gets very bothered.

I'm afraid that moving to a more leaning forward position with a rigid fork would then transfer the road chatter (from cobbles, gravel, and rocks) to my wrists and arms. That's why I think that ultimately a hardtail MTB is my best option, budget permitting. Sure aren't many single-speed hardtails in my size range that I've found, though. :(

Reesha

03-07-2012, 11:44 AM

I would definitely look at Surly frames. They all fit fat tires. I might look into the Long Haul Trucker frame as they make them really tiny and you can set it up for beach cruising.

SadieKate

03-07-2012, 11:49 AM

Look for a used softtail like a Litespeed Unicoi and convert to SS.

I think 2.3 tires would soak up a lot of chatter.

emily_in_nc

03-07-2012, 04:52 PM

Look for a used softtail like a Litespeed Unicoi and convert to SS.

I think 2.3 tires would soak up a lot of chatter.

Would be great if I were in the US, but converting is not an option here in Belize -- parts are not available and everything costs a mint to ship in. If I am going to spend the money on a bike, I need to just do it in one fell swoop and only pay for shipping from the US once, customs once, etc, not deal with multiple components. Not even sure anyone here would have a clue how to do the work as all that anyone rides here is beach cruisers!

emily_in_nc

03-07-2012, 04:53 PM

I would definitely look at Surly frames. They all fit fat tires. I might look into the Long Haul Trucker frame as they make them really tiny and you can set it up for beach cruising.

Thanks Reesha -- will look at Surly!

goldfinch

03-07-2012, 05:10 PM

What a cool bike! Thanks for the pointer. It has a rigid front fork, but maybe with the humongous tires, having front suspension wouldn't be as much of an issue?

For the short term, I am probably just going to consider a Thudbuster seatpost as it's a much less expensive "fix" than a brand-new bike (especially since I'd have to pay even more to have said bike shipped here, plus customs duty, which would be significant on a new bike -- used would be a lot less since they charge based on current/resale value). But it's cool to know that these fatbikes exist -- I'd seen photos of the Pugsley in Adventure Cycling magazine, but was otherwise ignorant of such a thing.

It's always fun to look at bikes even if just "window shopping"! :p

I road the Mukluk over curbs with ease. No need for a suspension with those tires.

Reesha

03-07-2012, 06:23 PM

Thanks Reesha -- will look at Surly!

DOH! Apparently I am a piss poor reader. These are not full suspension frames at all! They are no suspension frames :( I am fool.

emily_in_nc

03-08-2012, 02:00 PM

DOH! Apparently I am a piss poor reader. These are not full suspension frames at all! They are no suspension frames :( I am fool.

No problem Reesha -- I gave up on the full-susp. idea since people told me it would not work as a single-speed. I believe I saw that the Surley 1x1 frame can be built as a single-speed and with a front shock, but building a bike is not something I can do from Belize for various reasons I stated above.

The logistics of getting a new bike down here are difficult, though it can be done. When we moved, we'd already packed up our beach cruisers for shipping, and they were part of the pallet we shipped down. If I were to order a bike now, I'd have to have it shipped directly to our shipper's warehouse in Texas, then have him bring it down. It gets expensive, so I am probably just dreaming right now.

The suspension seatpost will probably be the best I can do for awhile. If we decide to stay here long-term, then perhaps a new bike will be in order. We're still in our first year here and are taking things day by day to make sure this move is going to "stick". We love many things about it here, but we also miss many things about the US -- like road cycling!

Irulan

03-09-2012, 12:25 PM

emily_in_nc

03-09-2012, 12:53 PM

Here's this to think about. When you ride a SS, you are out of the saddle a lot. I have a SS with an old rockshock fork on it, and I can attest to that. So you get to work on your "body english" suspension. :D

Yes, this is definitely true in the actual mountain biking world. I have a friend I used to ride trails with occasionally -- me on my fullie, him on his SS, and he was out of the saddle a LOT turning that big gear! But my needs are much simpler since it's flat here on Ambergris Caye. As I've mentioned, though, the roads leave a lot to be desired in places. I just want to be more comfortable on the gravely, rocky parts, going over the potholes, and on the cobblestone "paved" roads. Not to say that I'll never be out of the saddle, I will; but not a lot -- I ride much more leisurely here; these are slower utility rides to town to buy groceries, to visit friends, to go to restaurants, not technical trail rides. My beach cruiser bike is my vehicle here since we are car-free, so it needs to be comfortable. And oftentimes I'm doing this riding after a 4-5 mile morning run, so my quads aren't really up for a ton of out-of-saddle riding at that point. Riding is VERY relaxing compared to running here! :cool:

So, after considering all the myriad of options offered up here (thanks to all who contributed!), doing a bunch of research online, and considering the logistics and cost of getting a new bike here, I've decided for now to pursue the suspension seatpost only. In time, a new bike may be in my future, but for now, it makes sense for me to work with what I've got and save a bunch of money. It's not like I'm out doing 50 or 100-milers or anything close to it. My bike is just my transportation here, and the more comfy I can get it, the better. I've already changed out the big cushy, cruiser saddle that came on it for one with a cutout, and the original super wide handlebars for some that are less swept back (the super swept-back ones were giving me elbow pain), and that has helped a lot.

Bethany1

03-09-2012, 08:07 PM

Aggie_Ama

03-10-2012, 05:58 AM

Emily - as an avid MTBer, and an avid SSer, I can safely say that a FS SS MTB is nearly impossible. Having broken derailleurs while in the woods, and needing to quickly do a SS conversion just to get home, the issue with pivots and suspension changing the chain line causes significant issues (as in, you can't keep the chain on) - just as Spokewench said.

Oddly one of our best mechanics in Austin races a full-suspension Specialized Epic he has converted to SS. My husband even insisted I had not seen the bike properly and it must be a 1x10. I didn't think it was possibly either because of the issues being mentioned. However he has torched the field on technical courses with it. That being said is he a true genius with mechanical things and I don't think it is something I would recommend for home maintenance unless you're also a wiz at mechanics. He also admitted it was the project of several failures in the shop and I don't think it is something even he would recommend to many others.

I think the suggestion of something like a Pugsly or a suspension seat post are the best solutions for you Emily.

emily_in_nc

03-10-2012, 01:59 PM

Salsa mukluk or a Surly Puglsey. There are other fat bikes out there and they do come in various sizes and you can do single speed. They also make a bash guard to keep out grime and rocks.

I think the first mountain bikes were modified cruisers.

Check to see what the widest rims and tires you can put on your bike are. Maybe you can put fat tires on yours.

I'm guessing the only way I could do that (if at all) is if I remove the fenders, and they are a real MUST here during rainy season. I have to ride through many puddles, shallow and deep, and the white clay here STAINS when it it hits clothing.

I have no idea how to determine what the widest rim/tires that would work with my current bike are. However, because such tires aren't available here in Belize, I'd have to make sure to have plenty of spare tires and tubes. It's much easier to stick with standard tire sizes that are available here (I currently run 2.1" cruiser tires). If you've never lived in a foreign country, you have no idea what it's like not to be able to order/buy the things you want and need easily. So few bike parts are available here, it's crazy, and most of what is available is of extremely low quality. Think heavy and cheap. It's reallllly frustrating at times, but part of the price of living in a place where I can see the turquoise Caribbean sea right out my window as I type this.

So I am thinking I really need a rain bike (with fenders) and a dry bike! Maybe someday... I definitely love the idea of a fat-tire bike.

emily_in_nc

03-10-2012, 02:01 PM

I think the suggestion of something like a Pugsly or a suspension seat post are the best solutions for you Emily.

Thanks Amanda. I agree with you. I still haven't gotten around to measuring my seatpost to see if I have clearance for the short-travel Thudbuster, but I am hoping I do. We're going on one of our longer rides tomorrow to do some birding, so I should have a chance after that ride. The bikes are locked up in a shed right now, and I never seem to think of it when I actually have the bike out!