SS for first mtb???

Hello SSirs, should i continue with my plan to build up a SS as my first mtb or should i start with gears first? I notice that most of the SS riders here (i think) started with geared bikes before they switch to SS. Am i right or i'm just confused? I'm attracted to SS because of it's simplicity and the cost of course, but even then should i still go for SS or just start with gears? Reading posts from SS riders experiences, sometimes i get discourage, because of the taught that:
-SS mtb riders always gets left behind by geared mtb riders...
-SS mtb is for the 'monsters', the 'carabaos', the 'mighty' ones, especially for trail riding with long climbs

By the way, i don't want to be a poser only, riding a 'mountain' bike mostly on pave roads, i'd like to do it on trails for the thrill of it and to build my mtb riding skills.

I hope you can give a noobie like me a good advise as to which bike i should go with first, SS or geared?

TIA

Hi primera, I think you're hard core!

Well, my short answer to you is that it really depends.

Go for SS if:
- you're really determined
- budget conscious
- trails/route does not have really long climbs

Don't if:
...well, just the reverse of what I said above.

What you should be really asking yourself is that will you ride with it forever?

I have to admit, there are limitations using SS. I don't see any with geared bikes. As for MTB riding skills, you can do it with any bike. All you need is practice.

Most SSers started with geared bikes. Most SSers still have geared bikes.

What I could recommend to you is go for geared then get a conversion kit (kahit 2nd hand). That way, you could try SS and see if you like it.

If you have the budget, go for a Voodoo Wanga or a Jamis Exile 29er or any bike that you could easilly switch from geared to SS without the use of a tensioner. Solid!

@sup, thanks for your recommendation. actually i'm not hard core, i'm more of a 'jazz' type of person who likes to 'jam' with other mtbikers. just like in making jazz music you don't want to be left out of rhythm with the band, you always have to stay with the beat, so i think since i like to go into mtbiking i want to be up to the beat, that's why the ???, which type of 'band' or group should i choose to belong? the 'Pop' or geared bikes band? or the 'indie', 'alternative' or SS bikes band? hmmm

by the way, i alreay have an ava 2.0 frame, 2.1 knobby xc wheelset, and front suspension, brakes & gears na lang kulang...that's why the dilemma

am not a hard core too but i own an SS. Our trail in Cavite is usually flat kaya ok lang sa akin ang SS.

Kaya ko siguro mga short burst lang na akyatan, pero kung mga akyatan like sa maarat trails tulak ako nun for sure. (Sa geared bike nga tulak din eh hehehehe)

Dati nag la mesa kami, hindi ko alam mga kasama, turns out mga branded halimaw pala puro mga naka SS kami geared bike iwan pa din kami.

Sabi nga ng isang tatak ng Sapatos.

Just do it!

tama, just do it!

later on, dun mo na madidiscover kung anong para sayo but you have to start first and it doesnt matter kung geared or ss ang gamit mo. what's important is you start turning those cranks.

Have you considered going in between? Like a 1x9 set-up?

thanks guySS, i think that 1x9 set up is a good suggestion though...hmmmm?

Go SS kafatid!!!
MaSSarap! Ewan ko lang kasi mas sinasakyan ko yun singol ko kesa geared. Tamad kasi ako maglinis ng bike and panget components ng geared ko. hehe

Tsaka minsan kasi ayoko may kasabay sa trail, lalo pag bigla ka napasabay sa group na stranger ka. Magandang dahilan na mag paiwan ka or mauna ka sa kanila. At isa pa, mas mapapansin ka sa group rides. Epal kasi ako kaya type ko yung ganun.

SSirs, tanong ko na lang din mabagal ba talaga pag naka SS sa flats? Estimate nyo at how fast can you go (at maximum) with a 32x16 combo? 40 to 50 kms/hr or less? And by the way what's the starter combo best for a first timer SS mtbiker, 32x16 or 32x18? Thanks

i suggest go geared first. kung naguguluhan ka. basahin mo uli reply ni sup.

...sige na nga, nadadamay ko na kayo sa dilemma ko...

...as of now my final decision is...

...go SS...

...kung hindi kaya...

...eh di mag 1x9 as suggested by @rattrapante

...thanks for your time guys

if you're going to do any kind of hills, start with a geared setup first to build up the legs and stamina... but if you only ride, say Riverbanks, you can go SS as a first bike...

Oh yeah, also, it's the other way around. Geared riders get left behind by SS riders when the trail points up... but the reverse is mostly true when it points down...

primera wrote:SSirs, tanong ko na lang din mabagal ba talaga pag naka SS sa flats? Estimate nyo at how fast can you go (at maximum) with a 32x16 combo? 40 to 50 kms/hr or less? And by the way what's the starter combo best for a first timer SS mtbiker, 32x16 or 32x18? Thanks

If mag SS ka talaga, max speed sa flats ang 25kph on 32x16... Go for 32x18 muna. Hindi naman sa nagamamarunong pero mabigat ang 16 sa trails.IMHO

Pero kung di ka naman budget concious, mas ok nga na geared muna sana. Or just choose your poison na lang, pareho lang naman masarap yan.