1-Steel is real: the thin tubes look nicer than aluminium, give an easy ride, and it''s durable. It''s also light, despite the image of steel as heavy. It''s the quality of the steel, man. 2-Clearance and options. You can use disc brakes or cantis (even vbrakes). I''m running old school cantis. The frame fits wide tires. 3-Geometry rides like a cross between an mtb and a bmx. 4- Price. (You may disagree. It''s expensive but I got a deal on mine from a friend who owns an lbs cause it was an older model...)
Cons:
1-Steel. This can rust. Just means you gotta take care of it, tho. Not a big con. 2- The rear dropouts are awesome, but the shroud coverign the first half limits your wheel position horizontally if you use a wheel with a quick release. Also, the rear brake bridge doesn''t have a hole for a fender mount. On a steel frame? Really? No biggee for offroading maybe, but a good single speed can be a nice around town bike with less agressive tires and higher gearing, and I''m not the only one using it for that too I''m sure...
Time Used:
6 Months
Comments:
Got this cheap and built it up with parts I had aroudn the house. I wanted a smaller frame for clearance (also cause iw as going for the grownup bmx look and feel). Running a 39 ring up front and a 18 or 17 in back. This bike is fairly light, responsive, and handles great. It'' so far seen limited dirt, one or two passes throught he local woods when they weren''t drenched, but it has seen plenty fo street and around town use. It''s held up to my weight and sprinting in traffic. It''s gone over curbs pulling out from storefronts and bunny-hopped potholes so deep they need lifeguards. It''s a fun fun fun machine and deserves stars. But the shrouded dropouts and a few other things -- lack of fender moutns is a biggie since a good singlespeed is a perfect around town ride -- knock it down a bit.
