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Submitted by
rob
a
from edinburgh
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | 875 | | Strengths: | light and fun | | Weaknesses: | c'dale b/b is no good as all | | Similar Products Used: | on one | | Bike Setup: | stock with hayes brakes, new stem seat and ebb | | Bottom Line: | great realy fun bike, i only ride this now but the cdale ebb is rubbish, i ordered a new one from seven and put that is and iv never had to adjust it. the stocl stem is huge but that came off before i left the store. bike feels like my old beast of the east only even more fun. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
karl
a Racer
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Light Street Cycles | | Strengths: | No nonsence, stiff and light. | | Weaknesses: | BB a bit of a pain | | Similar Products Used: | first Single Speed..all else is geared, road and Mtn | | Bike Setup: | Fully rigid 03 but Upgraded to lighter bar, stem and post with Avid Mechanicals in the rear and running Fire XC Pros | | Bottom Line: | Bought the bike used after a hammer session with a bunch of local Single Speed riders convinced me to try it. I rented one and bought it from the store directly after the first ride. My other mtn ride is a Scalpel 2000 which has been a bit of a mechanical nightmare so the Single Speed is a refreshing change. It is a terrific ride. Very responsive and very quick over all terrain. It forces you to adjust your riding style and energy management for the better. For those of you concerned with speed and efficiency... Over a regular 13 mile loop on mildly technical rolling terrain (Patapsco State Park, Md) I completed a ride in 1:13 with an average HR of 156. The intention was to ride at a steady pace, not to hammer. The next day I ran the same loop under near identical conditions and with the same intention on the 1FG and completed it 3 minutes quicker with an average HR of 161. This type of comparrison has been pretty constant on any number of other similarly matched runs. In essence the Single Speed demands more in the way of energy from you but it does it quite naturally. Hill riding is the trick. On a long climb there is no gearing out, you simply have to knuckle down, find your pace and get the job done. Though the bike is beautifully simple it is a much more complicated machine to master than a gear'd machine but so much more rewarding to ride.
I'd agree with some of the notes on the components, a little iffy at times. Overall the the 1FG is a thing of beauty. The Eccentric BB set-up can be a little fickle to adjust but the quick release rear is a real advantage for quick flat fixes so all is good. I love this bike. I love that it never breaks and that it hurts in all the right ways and I love that it cost a fraction of its geared relatives and can gobble them up on the trail.......If you're looking for a Single Speed this is a pretty good one. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse VOZA
a Racer
from St-Martin, Caribbean
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine rim in Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | TRISPORT St-Maarten | | Strengths: | - Simple
- Clean
- Look
- Stiff
- Light
- Troublefree | | Weaknesses: | - BB Shell
- Cheap parts | | Similar Products Used: | Ventana ss 29' | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded with XT and tubeless | | Bottom Line: | I own 4 bikes and this one is really unique.
It is light (9.5kg) and always ready to ride. Nothing to adjust, just go. Reliability is 100%.
It is true that you have to ride it differently. Momentum is key. Hard on the wrists. I have the 1st version and I think it is the nicest.
Now for the BB, if you grease it too much it moves, if you don't, it creaks. To adjust it easier, turn it around, you will be able to access 'the bolt' without removing the crank. Also intall the self removing bolts from a road bike.
Upgrading your freewheel with one from White Industries is a nice addition. Also, put a pair of 2.25 light tires from Hutchinson.
Happy riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Calgary, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Jumping pound/Cox hill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | One F*&#ing Gear baby. | | Weaknesses: | I have had issues with the EBB slipping as well, but it seems to slip less after you've had the bike a while. | | Similar Products Used: | All manner of bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except XT hydraulic disks and Fox Float fork. I don't know what the stock tire is, but I'm running FireXC's. You need the grip on a ss. | | Bottom Line: | The EBB and vertical drop-outs, although sometimes a pain to adjust, allows you to use a standard quick release on the back wheel so you don't have to carry wrenchs like you do with horizontal drops. Initially, I was adjusting the silly thing after every ride and sometimes during the ride, but lately it's been good. I was on a week bike vacation and didn't have to touch it once.
One thing you should know about this frame though is that it is STIFF! My geared bike is a Specialized M4 and it's a much smoother ride. Although the 1FG is a thing of beauty with it's polished bare frame, I may have to go to a steel frame just to have a smoother ride.
Overall, a very fun bike for short rides but all day outings kick the heck out of you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Budd
a
from Madison
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Willy East | | Strengths: | Great frameset. Very cool looks. Makes me feel like a tweelve year old. | | Weaknesses: | Cannondale's EBB is poorly designed. The extractor strips out easily and requires "gentle blunt force displacement". The OEM Truvativ BB seals are junk - fouled out after one winter. Cannondale replaced (funded a different BB) under warranty. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 5900 10x DA isn't exactly similar, but it's my "other car". | | Bike Setup: | Bushnell EBB. Race Face XC BB. Conti Traffic tires. SKS Shockboard and X-Blade fenders. | | Bottom Line: | I've got a problem with stickers. First night I had my 1FG I stayed up all night and took each and every sticker off the frame, fork and wheels with a razor blade and a bottle of lighter fluid. Result: bad-ass stealth bike.
I test rode the 1FG and fell in love immediately. I haven't had so much fun on a bike since my Schwinn Predator when I was twelve. I love the rigid no-nonsense aesthetic, and it just plain makes me happy to ride. I get off-road some, but most of my miles are on asphalt. As such, I replaced the very good, but highly knobby, rubber with more street friendly tires. The Maxis will probably go back on for snow and ice commuting.
I hate the new painted 2005 frames. Horde any pre '05 raw aluminum framesets.
I imagine I'll have this bike for a long time. Attrition-necessitated upgrades (BB, headset, etc.) will improve some of the OEM parts, which are mostly mid-grade. Nice that the hubs are disc-ready.
Uber bottom line is that I love this bike. A lower retail price and/or higher quality trimmings would have increased my ratings.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Lincoln, Nebraska
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Platte River State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Simplicity, great looks, great in techinical areas, good for building strength and lungs. FUN | | Weaknesses: | New, off the shelf is a pricey, but it is a Cannondale. | | Similar Products Used: | Converted an older Marin | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Variety of front chainrings. | | Bottom Line: | If you've been mountain biking for a long time on a variety of different bikes and want a new challenge, a single speed is the way to go. It has taken me a year to fully change my riding style. This bike forces you to ride better and smarter. It's a great feeling to follow a geared/suspended bike through a hilly, technical section and end up right on their tail.
The most rewarding ride you'll get; but you'll have to re-learn how to mountain bike again, and it won't be easy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lomoid
a Weekend Warrior
from brooklyn
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay-- New in box | | Strengths: | super light, fast, fun, easy to set up, easy to maintain (so far), fun, looks great, did I mention fun? | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | avid bdb5 mechanicals-front and rear, thudbuster seatpost, mallet c pedals. . .otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | I won this on ebay and I conisdered it a real steal. It was shipped in the factory box unused and untouched. man I love the brushed aluminum look to the newer black and gold jobs---there's nothing else like it.
I was nervous at first about setting it up myself as I haven't touched a bike in 15 years, but I figured I'm handy and the worse case scenario is that I'd take it to a shop to finish it up. It turns out that it couldn't have been easier to do on my own. After reading about the problems with the EBB I was nervous, but it performed perfectly the first time I went to adjust it and It hasn't shifted or creaked since. I'm only 5'6" and 130lbs and I mainly ride in the parks and on the streets of new york, so I'm not especially aggresive with it, but man, this is as much fun as I ever remember having on my GT Performer from back in the day. My only problem is that everytime I lock it up I'm afraid it will be the last time I see it.
After riding a bit I can see why a single speed isn't for everyone. . .(It's tough on the legs and lungs). . .but I can't see how anyone who's done their research and decided on a single be dissapointed in this bike. And as far as the hard tail and stiff front end, I just installed a thudbuster seatpost and it has made a huge difference in evening out the rough spots. (Based on prior reviews I would consider upgrading to the ultra fatty dl fork if riding rough isn't your thing). Bottom line:: If you are lucky enough to find one through ebay or elsewhere snatch it up. . .Im considering finding another one just to keep in storage in case anything happens to this one :] | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ronald
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, VA USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | CityBikes | | Strengths: | Fun to ride, no need to think about shifting gears. | | Weaknesses: | Kind of worry about the eccentric bottom bracket. I read some folks had problems with it before. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | I start riding again to lose a few pounds and want to enjoy all the bike paths around DC.
I did some research online about single speed and decide to get one. This is not a cheap bike but it sure is fun. Really enjoy the fact that I don't have to think about shifting and just ride. This is not a fast bike per se but it sure is fun, bring back memories when I was a kid.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from westminster,ca,usa
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | aliso/woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$559.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Price!!!Light, stiff, frame. Decent parts mix. Love the raw finish look. | | Weaknesses: | Eccentric bottom bracket. Slips and creaks needs constant adjustment even after 2 trips back to LBS. EBB has pulled out to drive side on occasion :( | | Similar Products Used: | converted '95 diamondback apex ss w/singleator | | Bike Setup: | Fully rigid. Hayes mechanical discs, XT 180mm cranks, 32X17 gear, Cane Creek bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | This is a fun bike to ride. Very quick and responsive. Great conversation piece on the trails. I have a Santa Cruz Blur but I haven't ridden it since I got the 1FG. Fully rigid aluminum frame is actually comfortable to ride. Xtra wide bars help with leverage on the hills.
The Eccentric Bottom Bracket is another story. I like the fact that I still have vertical dropouts but since first buying the bike, I've constantly had to readjust the EBB even during the middle of rides. It has come loose enough to cause chain slap and other times created too much tension. It requires a ball-end allen wrench to reach an adjusting screw on the drive side which can be a pain to get to. C-dale should have put the adjustment on the non-drive for easier access. I was wary of buying a C-dale because of issues with their Coda components and their EBB design is no exception. You'd think a SS would be less maintenence, but I'm always readjusting the EBB. Buy the 1FG if you don't mind getting playing around with the EBB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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