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Singlespeed?
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Looks like I might be getting a singlespeed 29er to play with for a few weeks - having never ridden a 29er nor a singlespeeder previously.
29ers I can get my head around, but I'm wondering what folks who've ride singlespeeders - and enjoy them - find that they do for their riding.
I'm quite looking forward to it if it comes off - although I can't see myself making it up Hearbreak Hill or Quarry Climb without getting off and pushing! 
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to hearing your thoughts on this.
The sadist in me quite likes the idea of having a go on a single speed and I think it would help tell me I'm being a bit of a sook having a granny ring.....
Sounds cool.
I found that my move to singlepeed (26") made me approach riding from more of a a momentum perspective. Small hills need to be attacked/sprinted, longer hills need to be ridden at a higher tempo than on my geared bike and the top of hills become more about recovery. I also am far more aware of my line and look further ahead to make sure that I am able to keep my momentum going. I reckon it made me a more aggressive and faster rider on a geared bike - still pretty slow though. Don't underestimate what you will be able to climb, you may be surprised!
Have fun
Sounds good Sly, line and momentum are definitely areas I need to work on - just ask Rob.
It's supposed to be one of those Spot belt drive bikes.
Will be a good excuse to go hit DH+C and P+L when it's rainy.
All in the name of good journalism of course. 
Thats when I use my SS all the time. Its a rigid 29er and it comes out when it rains.
Mudguards and no maintenance make it ideal. I'm not sure about it improving my pick of lines, as I only use it 50% as much as the geared bike, so my habits are still formed on the gears.
It definately has helped with steep, low cadence climbing, and it has also given me much stronger biceps and triceps - all that honking on the bars....
Hey Hawkeye, is this the bike, if so i'm seriously jealous!
http://nobmob.com/node/16258
Single speeds are awsome. Just get on and pedal no fuss. It makes you ride more aggressive, pick faster lines and attack hills rather than cruz up. Less servicing and a lighter bike. As for not as fast, I just won the shack attack 6hr in a mixed team of 3 all riding 29er single speeds. Go for it you will never look back.
@Sly: Yep, that's it.
But it's only for a few weeks, though, while I do a review for web publisher. I'm looking forward to it: will be interesting.
Here's the last review I did:
http://www.bicycles.net.au/MTB-News-and-Articles.61.0.html?&cHash=815e902038&tx_cmarticle_pi1[singleID]=835
Chief item of interest will be whether my late-forties-something skinny legs and knees will survive! Time to do some preparatory work in the gym, methinks.
29er and SS were made for each other. I run a belt drive Ventana and a mate has the Spot and loves it, plus it doesn't actually take too long for the fitness to improve. Do you know what gear ratio you're getting?
As for heartbreak hill, took me about 4 weeks of riding before I could do it in one but I reckon you'll surprise yourself. I'll be interested to see your thoughts. Keep us posted.......
All the points above are very true, plus look at the current chain suck discussion…..
However, Bartman I would argue the speed/faster point. I contend that outside of the perfect course set up (for the particular SS gearing) the same rider will be faster on a geared bike than a non geared bike. This is not to say a SS rider would not beat another rider (as you obviously did – well done) but rather they would not beat themselves – SS’s are overall slower. I have a number of examples where this is clearly born out in individual’s race times. Of course I assume the relevant individual has some ability to select the correct gear and no gear related mechanicals, plus they are not just plain slack on their geared bike....
Get into it. SSing is great, however to get the most out of it you have to do your time i believe. Of course there are those out there with heaps of knowledge about riding technique that will be good on an sser straight out of the garage, however for punters like me, taking time to learn how to ride them, learning the gearing options, and what works best just simply takes time. You certainly won't be any slower up hills, and there are only 2 climbs in Grock that are a bit out of reach of punters on ssers (log on log of, do rights)
Don't ride an sser like you would a cheaters bike and you will be fine. More to the point, don't ride a 29er like you would a 26er. They are different bikes. You need to get over the front wheel and pound it.
As far as the time split on the same rider (geared v sser) can't agree that the same rider will be slower on the geared bike. It all comes down to the rider, the course, etc. I'm faster on my sser than on my geared bikes (don't own a geared bike anymore though). It all comes down to not being able to bludge. You just have to go, there is no dropping a few gears and spining. Your either hammering a climb or your pushing.