(I take no credit for the clever title.)
I demo’d the Haro Mary SS tonight, a rigid steel single speed bike with 29″ wheels. The big wheels seem to be a growing trend, so I wanted to check them out as a ponder the purchase of a replacement singlespeed for my aluminum 26″ Trek 7000 single speed conversion.
The bike definitely feels bigger; you sit taller with a longer cockpit (the frame size was also a little bigger than my other bikes). Bikesport had already swapped out the swept-back On-One Mary handlebars since few people liked them. The tires were big 2.3 inchers for a bit of shock absorption; another growing trend is to go tubeless. All this adds up to a rather heavy single speed bike at 27.5 pounds, versus 24.5 pounds for my current sprung single speed.
On the trail, the added weight wasn’t noticable. The bike did feel “bigger”, and the 29er tires roll over the big logs and log piles with ease. It was the smaller stuff that began to wear me out without front suspension; I don’t think I’m ready to go back to a totally rigid bike. The disc brakes, though mechanical, were quite adequete, affirming my previous experience with a mechanical disk loaner on my usually hydraulic Trek Fuel full suspension. No complaints about the drive train, aside from the constant clicking from the rear hub when freewheeling.
Overall, it’s a solid bike for $900, as it should be; though for the money it’s not a compelling replacement for my current cheaper, lighter, cushier single speed. 29er bikes are a fun change though, and worth trying out if you have the chance.
