Readers’ Rides # 2

I’ve had a few great submissions for Readers’ Rides already and a few questions.  Are we only looking for off the charts, expensive, hot off the torch dual suspension DH bikes?  This entry should clear up that misconception.  More than anything else we’re looking for stories.  How did you get from your vision of a bike to reality?  I like hearing about exotic and beautiful as much as anyone but I also love a good story.  Got a Readers’ Ride submission?  Fire me an email and I’ll give you some loose quidelines to follow.  Thanks to Kevin for his 20-year old makeover!
Cam McRae

What a long winter we had on the west coast this year.  Out of boredom I decided to pull out my long neglected original mountain bike from the garage and give it a makeover.  My goal was simple; build a single speed I could ride on my local trails and do it for less than $100.

   The Kudu in its near stock original condition – but the Tioga tires and flat bar are long gone.

I originally purchased the Concorde Kudu for $650 in 1990 from Performance Cycles in Victoria, after catching the mountain biking bug.  I rode it on local trails and did some commuting with it for a couple of years.  I even did a few DH runs on Mt. Benson in Nanaimo before I hung it up to collect dust as I got married and started a family.  I rediscovered mountain biking again in 2000 just as the freeride craze was taking off.  Wow had things changed!  Disc brakes and suspension!  I purchased a Specialized Bighit and after a few weeks starting throwing myself off drops and going faster than I had ever gone on a mountain bike.

As I got back into shape and my mountain biking skills grew I pulled the Concorde out, dusted it off, tuned it up, and put it to work as a commuter.  I really felt that its use as a trail bike was over.  I put slicks on it and it became my road rocket.

 Horizontal dropouts – tensioning a single speed chain doesn’t get any easier than this.

A couple of years ago we moved into a new neighborhood that backed onto a wooded area.  It didn’t take long before I discovered a wealth of trails less than five minutes from my door.  I had hit mountain biking paydirt!  They were mostly xc which suited my Stumpjumper just fine and I spent my free time exploring and enhancing the trail network. 

One of my riding buddies commented that the area would be perfect for single speeding, in fact, it would be great on a full rigid.  I had a good laugh at his expense.  Why would anyone want to go back to a full rigid single speed?  So 1990!  Just plain nuts I thought.  Well I guess a long winter makes a guy nuts because after the 3rd or 4th snowfall this past winter I thought it would be a great idea to convert the Kudu into a single speed.  I first needed to know if it was doable.  I wanted it simple, cheap, and without any kind of chain tensioner.  

 The origins of front suspension; a little bling and they soak up bumps as well.

I started to research and spent most of my time at www.sheldonbrown.com.  I quickly discovered that my bike would be an excellent candidate for a single speed make over. 

My single speed recipe was simple:

-18 tooth rear cog with spacers
-Wide riser bars
-Existing 36 tooth chainring
-Classic Oury grips to absorb the bumps
-Upgrade the cantis to v-brakes
-WTB Speed V seat for comfort

I stripped down the 7-speed drive train, pulled derailleurs, changed out seats, and purchased an 18 tooth cog and some spacers for $10 from the lbs.  My lbs also had a set of new used v-brakes that I picked up for $25.  My first set of v-brakes!  I found a nice set of red Oury grips and had a 28” wide set of Titec Hellbent risers that came off my old Brodie Diablo.  I was into the build for less than $50!

 Old School – the finished product.

Only question was how would it ride?

I wasn’t into this build for a whole lot of money and I didn’t have high expectations that it would make a great trail bike.  I built it up because I was bored and unable to ride due to snow, so I was completely shocked after my first ride. 

The bike was a blast to ride!  It was quiet, simple, and bloody hard work to keep things flowing.  After a couple of rides I gained more flow and was feeling brave enough to try a couple of steeps and techy rock sections.  The bike handled them with ease!  The steel frame, bigger tires, and soft grips provided enough plush to keep me rolling and smiling.  

 Sometimes the simplest solution can be incredibly satisfying and a lot of fun. Photo ~ Aidan Brown

The Kudu is fully capable of handling the local trails I ride and I’m getting stronger legs and new bike skills in the process.  I’ve had many mountain bikes over the years but this build was by far the easiest and had the biggest pay off when it was completed.  The bike is simply fun to ride and reminds me why I started mountain biking in the first place.  Old has become new again.  It’s a welcome addition to my quiver of bikes.  Happy trails!

Do you have any skeletons in your biking closet?  Can you rebuild it?  Any use for a single speed in your zone? Chime in…