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69ersinglespeed (Image credit: BikeRadar)

US singlespeed superhero Travis Brown has epitomised top-class single-gear racing for years. All his experience is distilled into this unique machine, but it’s not one for comfort seekers.

The most interesting aspect of the frame is its wheel size concept. The

Ride & handling: Super-swift but bruisingly stiff

It’s obvious that the monster-width

Weight is reasonable for an off-the-peg 69er at 24.2lb (11kg) and the smaller rear wheel accelerates quickly.

The most obvious casualty from

Frame: The most holistic singlespeed around

The 69er frame has been around for a while, but it’s still the most holistic singlespeed frame solution around. While the weight-saving butting and cutting inside the frame is hidden there’s no mistaking the extensive hydroforming on every tube – even the seat tube ﬂares to full BB shell width.

Big braceless chainstays and wishboned seatstays keep the rear tight while hollow-section terminals carry the dropout sections with inbuilt screw adjusters.

Equipment: Classy Fox fork and Seventies-style detailing

Fox’s F29 RP24 100mm fork with custom Bontrager crown offset gets the party started. Bontrager also provides the singlespeed-speciﬁc chainset and single-cog cassette with neat chainguards on each end.

The ovoid link Shimano chain is super tough and ﬂex free. We’re big fans of Bontrager’s fat, tubeless-ready Duster tyres, which with the broad tubeless-ready rims let you run lower pressures if the frame proves too painful.

The wide, ﬂat bar gives power-assisted steering without raising hands too high. Kit is colour co-ordinated with the frame, with brown rims, brakes, grips and saddle backing up Seventies psychedelic graphic detailing.