yes congrats.  you'll at least be able to replace worn out singlespeed sprockets from the tax savings the government might give you next year

 Jon, the alfine is still running sweetly, despite suffering the worst of the british summer (the full suss gets the best of the british summer!).  <controversial>I dont know why anyone would bother with a singlespeed when they could have an Alfined winter bike - better on knees, better lung training rather than muscle training (you dont need to generate 1000 Wats unless you are going to be an olympic sprinter).</controversial> 

Well done Macs!  You'll have plenty of time to save as venues get booked about 2 years in advance anyway (in our experience).

Riding SS is just a different dimension to bikes Dave, like full suss or no suss or lots of suss.  I get that it doesn't appeal to all, but there's no reason why you couldn't have a SS and a Alfine, and a geared bike and a fixie and.....

sounds expensive!  isn't the idea of a SS low price, low maintenance, and lack of gears to change - nice simple bike no extra faff.

oh and Congratulations Macs

nice simple bike no extra faff - That just about sums it up for me.

So - is anyone out on Thursday? Or is it just me and the tumbleweed again?

Congratulations Macs - great news!

And FP - thats almost blasphemous, but after seeing Rob blasting around SITS with an Alfine powered Soda, I guess I can see the point of them...if you are weak....;)

alfine wheel and full kit is £220!! 

 Its OK, I understand why some might find a SS attractive.  Its just not me, but then I can use a video recorder

 I have a SS - buts it weighs about 13lbs and is most unsuitable for anything but pristine track boards.  I would love more bikes, but no storage room until I buy somewhere ;-(

 I was blind for many years - and then I discovered MTBing, and then I moved back up here and was reborn!!

weak huh? Right!

I see my alchohol sodden, slightly drunk (up the first climb), no sleep and rain soaked performance last week didn't do anything to fill you with confidence in my legs for D2D then? Dare I mention Mayhem fastest lap times

I got my alfine onto the bike for £127 out of my wallet (£115 for the alfine including bits + £12 for new shorter spokes), the bike was previously singlespeeded so chain tensioning was already sorted. I built the wheel myself and saved cash y buying a nexus sprocket rather than the alfine one with chain guides and the chain doesn't come off, just like it doesn't on a correctly setup SS.

The alfine rocks if you ask me. I do tend to use "like a singlespeed with gears" as per the recent review. It was THE ultimate bike for SiTS in the wet, worth 30mins a lap in an A-B-A test.

The Alfine certainly works out cheaper than knee surgery

 Its not perfect tho, and the slight back pedal/pressure lay off required to change gears some times is a bit annoying up a steep climb, but just takes a bit of practice.  And it is a bit back end heavy, which does affect small jumps, when the rear wheel tends to plonk down - still its well planted on technical climbs!!

Only "almost blasphemous" - thats dissapointing

Thanks for the Alfine feedback. I'm not too worried about my knees, they seem quite happy singlespeeding thanks. It's more that the nature of singlespeeding seems to mean that recovery takes longer - more brute leg power and muscle damage I guess and lots of anaerobic bursts

Glad you didn't rise to the bait there Rob, that would have really spoiled it for me Anyway, just to get into 'put up or shut up' mode, I'm just back in from a test ride on the 'new' bike (well, newly built up from second-hand parts and bits I had lying around).

I've already swapped the stem out for a 100mm/0 deg rise to lower the front end slightly and stretch me out a little, other than that she rides pretty sweetly.  Might even make an appearance at D2D, although I may succumb to weakness and stick some gears on

Oh, and this isn't STW, so comments about the grass, fence, gardening requirements will all be gratefully received!

I've heard you using knee damage as an excuse before Dave and know for a fact that both ChrisF and I have completely screwed knees and don't get any aggro from riding SS.  If anything, I get more knee jip from riding on the road and running than owt else.

that looks far to clean and shiny.... needs a little UK race mud on it I reckon  

If it were new white trainers we'd have to stamp on your toes.