Just curious. I'm new to this riding concept, this "go anywhere" bike. Was a geared roadie for a few years, then got the MTB bug and ended up going strictly rigid ss 29'r for trail riding (and gave up any kind of road riding entirely for a while). This past winter I decided I needed an "adventure" bike all-rounder, but still wanted to go ss, so I got a flat-bar, ss Cross Check. I ride it all over, from street to fire roads to you-name-it, just exploring. Really digging the versatility and fun factor. Just wondering if there's many other folks doing it with one gear and flat bars.
I've been riding a 2010 Kona Unit 29er as my gravel bike all year. The only thing I changed was the tires (Clement MSO 40s tubeless) and added Relevate Tangle & Feed Bags. I'm running 41x17. I would like to try drop bars (Salsa Cowchippers), but don't want to spend the money (stem, bars, lever). And I think I'd miss my wide flatbars when grunting up the hills.
In the past, I've ridden a Trek Crockett 9 for gravel. Same tires, Ultegra 6800 2x11, aerobars, same bags. Comparing Tour of Hermann times from last to this year, I'm ~10 minutes slower on the SS over 100 miles. (I realize there are a lot of assumptions there.)
Very cool sounding rig! My MTB is a 2014 Kona Unit. I've got 2.4/2.25 Ardents on that one, geared 32x20 for where I live which is relentlessly hilly, rocky, etc. My Cross Check has 41mm Knards, geared 42x18. I've got some Richey riser type bars on that - considering drops for it, but I'm just so used to and comfortable with flat bars. In some ways, my two bikes aren't really that different I suppose, but I like having the dedicated MTB (which I usually drive to the gnarlier trails with), and then the all-rounder adventure rig for everything else.
I ride a State Thunderbird SS and use my Specialized Carve SS rigid on gravel rides sometimes...have not gone SS only...but I do like riding SS speed alot....really helps me improve and I can tell the difference when I get back on a geared bike
One of my mountain bikes is a Kona Big Unit single speed. Noway I could ride single speed around here on the road though. I have enough problems with the climbs riding gears.
My passion for gravel riding started on a single speed. I know you asked about flat bar bikes and this has a drop bar but I greatly enjoy riding it.
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My primary gravel bike at the moment is a single speed Kona Private Jake. But that's for lower mileage 20-30 miles stuff and on specific roads in my area that don't have a lot of climbing. I love the bike but when you live in the mountains and are heavy and fat...sometimes it's necessary to break out the geared bike as much as I hate to do so.
