Singlespeed for commuting novice - yes or no?

[simon.r]

My son is seriously considering commuting to work by bike (rather than train / tube). As far as I can tell it's a fairly flat 9 or 10 mile route, from Wimbledon into central London. He rode a bike a fair amount as a child (mainly just messing around with mates, with the occasional longer ride with me), but has little recent experience of cycling. He's fairly fit.

My gut reaction is to recommend a singlespeed, but I'm biased!

Thoughts? Any down-sides that I can't see because I've been riding singlespeeds for years?​

 

[gaz]

With Richmond Park being on his door step, wouldn't it be better to get a nice geared road bike which he could also throw around there at the weekend.
Otherwise i've commuted from central london to home via wimbledon on my single speed (come up putney hill) and it's fine.

 

[WestcountryTim]

A singe speed would be fine for commuting from there.
As Gaz says a geared bike might be more fun at the weekends.

As a tip from Wimbledon I would go Alexandra Road - Gap Road - Plough Lane - Garratt Lane to Tooting Broadway to get on CS7 to avoid the rubbish first bit of CS7.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

+1 for single speed, I have no regrets about converting to one for my commute.

 

[defy-one]

What about top end speed on these?
Stop/start at lights?
Hills?
Ok if not carrying much gear,but difficult with panniers in my case?
I can't imagine me not needing gears. (i stand waiting to be educated)

 

[StuartG]

Single speed would be great for a fit rider. What worries me here is that he is returning to cycling and may take a few weeks to get up to speed on a 10 mile commute. That's enough time to put someone off cycling as too hard. Even the slightest slope feels like a mountain on day one and pulling away from junctions will test untrained muscles.

Having said that a singlespeed would be a great advantage in maintenance (lack of), reliability, cost and efficiency. So if you can manage his return to cycling and the speedy way we quickly adapt then this is probably the best bike for this route.

Sadly my commute included the highest hill in London (twice) so it was never an option ...

 

[defy-one]

I'm going to try this on tommorows commute. Stick on the middle front cog and middle rear. See how we go. I do love the simple look of a single speed

 

[Buzzinonbikes]

When I first got back into cycling maybe two years ago I bought a single speed (2010 Specialized Langster) and it is great for commuting and whipping around town. Now I'm wanting to get out and cycle farther and faster I am yearning for a road bike with gears for club runs, sportives etc... Just my two cents. Purely for commuting though they are great.

 

[fossyant]

Bugger single speed - pointless - go FIXED !

 

[perplexed]

It's all down to hills innit.

You don't see many single speeds or fixed round here!

They are around, and do look very lovely. They tend to live in the city centre, which is relatively flat. Occasionally one sees the beasts in the odd suburb, but it's not often they're spotted between the city centre and the 'burbs 'cos of the signs that say stuff like 14%...

If out with a bunch, one is serenaded by the clacking of gear levers and ragged respiration...

 

[Jezston]

Lower initial cost and lower maintainance and running costs are another big advantage of single speed. Riding a geared bike through a harsh winter without knowing much about maintaining a bike and having to drop £100+ on a new drivetrain is never fun.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'm going to try this on tommorows commute. Stick on the middle front cog and middle rear. See how we go. I do love the simple look of a single speed

That's what I did to choose the ratio for the singlespeed my local bike doctor helped me build, he recommended I went a few teeth easier than what I suggest, and my god was he ever right!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Lower initial cost and lower maintainance and running costs are another big advantage of single speed. Riding a geared bike through a harsh winter without knowing much about maintaining a bike and having to drop £100+ on a new drivetrain is never fun.

Yes! I clean and lube my drivetrain once a week and did the single speed for the first time at the weekend, it was SO much easier to clean!

 

[Amanda P]

I use a singlespeed for commuting, but my ride is absolutely flat, and there are no traffic lights. I also use it to get into town, which isn't a flat ride, and of course there are traffic lights when I get there.

It's actually got a flipflop rear hub, but I usually need to carry stuff to work, and that (for me) means panniers. Fixed with panniers is a bit of a pain, because you can't so easily lift the rear wheel to get the cranks where you want them when you come to start off at a junction. For that reason, it's usually run on the freewheel side.

For winter commuting, I would definitely recommend either fixed or singlespeed. Unless there's serious climbing or luggage to be carried, the simplicity and economy of maintaining a singlespeed (especially for a rider who doesn't enjoy fettling, or doesn't know how to) is great.

 

[gaz]

What about top end speed on these?
Stop/start at lights?
Hills?
Ok if not carrying much gear,but difficult with panniers in my case?
I can't imagine me not needing gears. (i stand waiting to be educated)

I can hit over 30mph on the flat on my single speed. 100RPM gives me around 21mph.
Stop/start at lights is just the same as a geared bike, except you don't need to worry about what gear you are in. Ok you might need to get it a bit more UMPH.
I use mine with panniers, not a problem.
[QUOTE 2023246, member: 1314"]Re: Gaz's point about Richmond Park. I do Richmond Park on fixed as well. [/quote]
Pah! I got to RP for a nice ride, fixed or ss wouldn't be relaxing for me.