On-One Inbred Singlespeed Review - BikeRadar

While singlespeeds are essentially simple beasts, a hell of a lot of thought has gone into On-One's Inbred since it burst onto the scene in a wave of guerrilla marketing in 2000.

Frame: No nonsense steel with full cable routing

On-One aims to build tough, hardworking but sweet-riding bikes, so a steel tubeset was an obvious choice. The first few bikes came in ultra-high spec Reynolds 853, but the extra expense didn't seem worth it compared with cheaper custom steel frames. The DN6 pipework now used has been chosen to deliver sturdiness without feeling dull or leaden over the lumps, but current frames cost far less than the originals.

On-One still fits full cable routing and a rear hanger for variable gear versatility, though, and removable V brake mounts are supplied in case "your discs brakes die the night before a big ride".

Ride: treads the line between flexy and forgiving

Singlespeed setup isn't just limited to its gear count, as you'll realise as soon as you size an Inbred up. The gently back-sloped top tube is cut deliberately long to give you plenty of room to heave on the bars when the gradient starts to get on top of your gear. With a super-low 23.5lb complete bike weight, it has to be a serious slope to make you struggle.
The double-butted cro-mo steel tubing also picks up more spring from the extra frame length, boosting the already lithe and muscular sensation.

There's a real spring and swing to the way it responds to heavy cornering loads or ricocheted rock blocks, treading the fine line between too flexy and forgiving. It's still more sturdy in feel and heavier than the thinnest tin, but we'd be far less worried about really thrashing this bike than some exotic prima donna. Given the price benefits as well, we can certainly see why On-One switched materials.

Equipment: Impressive fork, interesting 'bars

Saving money on the frame means On-One could fit its impressive 'Superlight' carbon fork as standard. Based closely on Pace's pioneering fibre fork, it's impressively smooth and buzz-killing over rocks, without twanging or twisting all over the place under braking. They're shaped for easy swapping to suspension forks, too, if the mood takes you.

The pronounced back-sweep of the 'Mary' bar adds some wrist-saving flex and lightens up front-end responses - try it for a while to see if it works for you, rather than simply changing it straight away.

A convertible rear hub means that gearing up is an easy option, although the impressive-for-the-price Firex singlespeed crank doesn't have mounts for a granny ring.

Fat Kenda tyres act as useful extra suspension, and Avid brakes are great for the money; the On-One kit is better than most major manufacturer own-brand stuff, too.

Summary
You can pay more for a steel singlespeed frame than this whole bike, but you won't find any that are as well designed as the Inbred. Superlight, yet a sturdy, maximum-enjoyment machine for minimum money, we can't think of a better one-gear bike package.

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