Foldable Bikes Party: Singular Swift frameset

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Singular Swift frameset

http://ift.tt/1F9YaxL

UK-based Singular first introduced the Swift in 2007 â€“ and we enjoyed its company four years later â€“ but since then itâ€™s been updated with extra mud clearance, improvements to various fittings and a fetching creamy white paint job.

Highs: Room for huge rims and massive traction
Lows: Competent but slightly unexceptional ride
Buy If: You love impossible climbs or simple, effective tools

Constructed from 4130 double-butted chromoly steel, itâ€™s very much a no-fuss rigid 29er â€“ all straight lines, neat bolt-on cable guides and no extraneous detail. There arenâ€™t even any rack mounts, though it does feature an eccentric bottom bracket for easy conversion to singlespeed.

For readers unfamiliar with the terminology, it means the frameâ€™s BB shell (letâ€™s call it the crank axle hole) is oversized, and a CNC-milled alloy insert sits inside. The hole in that takes regular threaded 68mm BBs and is offset, so rotating it (and then pinching it in place with two bolts) allows the chain to be tensioned. Without it, youâ€™d have to faff with an external chain tensioner.

'Eccentric bottom bracket' might sound like a euphemism, but it just means that converting to singlespeed is easy

Geometry-wise, meanwhile, the thinking is fairly short and steep, with a tight 1082mm wheelbase and 71.5-degree head angle in the medium size (72 degrees in L and XL) we tested. In fact, itâ€™s short enough to cause the the big 3in Surly Knard front tyre to hit your toes when turned hard. You rarely have that much lock on above walking pace, but it can happen.