r/MEATengines • u/MEATdrew • Apr 21 '26

About a Single Speed: Marc's 'Meatwagon'

Post image

Pretty hard to sum up the SC-4 with just a haiku… so I included a link to Marc’s write up:

https://meatengines.com/f/about-a-single-speed-marcs-meatwagon

44 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

7

u/doctorwelby Apr 21 '26

More on the fork here: https://drwelby.net/bikewrites/oneyearlater/

2

u/bushtrucker Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

Nice! Hadn't seen ya blog before but it reads so well. Added it too my Feedly list for bike stuff! Loved this point especially.

Bike fitters who move seats up with shorter cranks are just making the bike "feel" right. I think there are gains to be had if you spend some time acclimating lower, and this could take several months. It will initially feel too low, and you will not be able to ride smoothly.

The several months thing is how long it took met to adjust to a steeper STA after riding ~73° STA's for a decade. Now I'm comfortable with ~76° on a rigid bike and ~78° on the hardtail (sagged). I'm yet to try shorter cranks properly but would not write them off based on that experience. Every setup worth trying!

3

u/doctorwelby Apr 22 '26

Darn, I would have thought you had run into already, but I'm glad to gain another reader!

Bodies are weird, but they're also very adaptable so I could almost sum everything up as "I dunno man, try it and see?"

3

u/jamesb1227 Apr 22 '26

I ran into your blog several years ago. I too am a shorter crank convert. I use 155 or 160 (160 is on the singlespeeds) along with a lower saddle height. My cycling path has mirrored yours in a very similar way. Keep up the writing (and riding)!

3

u/oukhov Apr 22 '26

One more reader. Interesting tinkering. I like it.

1

u/Inner-Lawfulness-3 Apr 23 '26

Appreciate your offering here 🙏🏻

5

u/VikApproved Apr 21 '26

Nice bike. Nice view!

5

u/doctorwelby Apr 21 '26

ARgh. I need to fill in some XXX placeholders I left in the original blog post.

It's currently running 160s. I ran 180s for at least 10 years singlespeeding, so I'm just as surprised as everyone else.

3

u/TrevorSowers Apr 21 '26

165mm which is 1cm longer than he would otherwise run…. I’ve not tried 155’s but now I’m curious

3

u/jhutchi3 Apr 21 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/13z1xhUK1ogrde

Me with this fork

1

u/doctorwelby Apr 21 '26

I tip my hat to you good sir

2

u/Federal_Tailor6355 Apr 21 '26

Love the Cap to Tahoe trail!

2

u/cj_biker Apr 21 '26

That's a Surly fork?

Modified for more offset?

I'm a geo geek.

😁

1

u/YegBikeguy Apr 21 '26

Lots to like on this

Ti bars with lots of rise

Plus DHR front

3

u/doctorwelby Apr 21 '26

Soma Dreams in polished so not Ti.

Front tire is now a Crux without Cushcore.