[Jerk_Chicken]

I will admit I haven't looked through this forum much before. Here's my situation:

I commute with a bike I got from a hardware store. The rear shifter exploded some time ago, so I locked it into the top gear in the back. Much to my surprise, I don't feel like repairing it and allowing gearing. I kind of like the simplicity. Being what it is, it does have a lot of other setbacks, but it gets me to the other side of the city faster and cheaper than driving or taking the Tram.

This has made me thing about possibly putting together a cheap SS, simple, plain, no frills. The roads in East Germany are awful and untouched since before the fall of the Berlin Wall, so it needs to be reasonably tough- road bikes will not work here. They are so bad that people use true mountain bikes as commuters.

So what can one suggest? Disc or Vee is not totally important, but if I have compatible hubs, that would be fine, as I have several spares. Would rather have a rigid fork over a bad suspension fork. Once in a while, I might want to hit the trails, albeit lightly, should I feel that way. I have a 100mm fork at home also for this purpose.

What can I pick up complete that's cheap, durable, and possibly stealth?

 

[Tubedriver]

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI290F00-Gt+Bicycles+Peace+Ss+26+Inch+Bike+2007.aspx

GT Peace SS 26" rigid Fork $435

 

[Jerk_Chicken]

That's really cool. I'll check if I can find them around here.

More options welcome!

 

[jetpropel]

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI290F00-Gt+Bicycles+Peace+Ss+26+Inch+Bike+2007.aspx

GT Peace SS 26" rigid Fork $435

+1 GT Peace

 

[jetpropel]

Also...

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI291T05-Gt+Bicycles+Ruckus+Ss+Bike+2006.aspx

 

[Jerk_Chicken]

Not bad, but believe it or not, the rigid fork has more use for me than that fork.

 

[jetpropel]

Not bad, but believe it or not, the rigid fork has more use for me than that fork.

I think anything is a better option than the suspension fork provided on that bike!

 

[jetpropel]

29er:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outcast29_08.htm

 

[Doggity]

redline monocog 29er

Word! Can't think of a more bad road ready, bomb proof commuter. Prob is, they're not available in Europe, I would imagine not East Germany, anyway.:madman: www.nashbar.com has those frames on sale for $229.00. If it were me, I'd be trying to get 'em to ship me one of those, and I'd be building it up with cheap but strong parts. :thumbsup:

 

[ktm520]

redline monocog 29er

 

[axcxnj]

29er:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outcast29_08.htm

he is in Europe, they dont ship to europe

 

[jetpropel]

he is in Europe, they dont ship to europe

Courier is always an option.

 

[trailadvent]

JC if ya looking for a cheap 26er SS

DMR is another good option!

Sidekick
90 -110mm fork
Trailstar
120 -130mm fork ideal
Some reviews

I know some peeps with this frame hence why I rec it, gets raves here! anyways just thoughts, this and the Chromag Sam are my favs to opposite ends of spectrum but in 26ers rule it for me, would love both in HTs :thumbsup:

 

[manida]

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...reid=&pagename=Shop by Subcat: Mountain Bikes

never seen a Nashbar brand 29er before either....pretty cheap too.

 

[chumbox]

+1 the Peace but get the 29er

 

[Jerk_Chicken]

29er is out. Sticking with 26.

Interesting to see people just simply recommending a 29er just because.

 

[EGF168]

Genesis IO, it's cheap, has reasonable kit, is made from Reynolds 520 and doesn't ride half as bad as it should considering Genesis is owned by the UK Shimano distributor. If you look in the latest What Mountain Bike there is a group test of SS bikes, the Genesis got second place to a bike that costs the same just for the frame.

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/io

 

[Velobike]

The Genesis IO is an outstanding bike for the money. I rode my daughter's IO in a 12 hour race after my somewhat more expensive SS bike had the forks collapse. I did faster laps on it

Handling and response is good, it's not heavy, and all the bits on it are a decent standard. There's nothing on it that needs improving.

My daughter is going to race hers in a 24 hour race shortly, and the only thing we need to do to it is to add ice tyres.

 

[manida]

why not just convert an old used MTB to SS? That'd be pretty cheap.

 

[Doggity]

why not just convert an old used MTB to SS? That'd be pretty cheap.

Well, DOH! After rereading your OP and responses, this 'un seems like a no brainer. A 26"
MTB converted SS works just FINE as a commuter. In fact, I think that is the ultimate bomb proof city bike, not some skinny wheeled fixie. A 26" SS is what I use here in New Mexico, whose roads can't possibly be any worse than a former Iron Curtain country's. I only recommended the MC 29er 'cause, 29'er's are flat out more fun SS's than 26"ers, IMO. But either will get the job done admirably.