Would you go single speed and why?

[Arch]

Nope, single speed for normal road riding are very limited, from an era best left in the past.

That's a ludicrous thing to say. Single speed suits plenty of people fine. It might not suit you, in which case say so instead of making such a sweeping statement.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Think i will stick with gears for now ,not the hilliest route but with fenders,rack and a bag of crap...........

that's the profile of someone lying down!

 

[longers]

Snoring as well by the look of it!

 

[cyberknight]

Interesting - where's your peak (on the chart) cyberknight?

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=23466

this is my daily commute you see , i think i posted it before>the worst bit has got to be the reverse direction when i hit the hill 1st thing

 

[Arch]

that's the profile of someone lying down!

Not unlike the Cave Hill. We used to be able to see this out of the top of our bathroom window, if we stood on the toilet.

 

[longers]

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=23466

this is my daily commute you see , i think i posted it before>the worst bit has got to be the reverse direction when i hit the hill 1st thing

Mine's worse*

Pick a sensible gear to start off with, take it easy and feel it doing you good

*I'm trying to find out how to save it and post it from bikehike. Will do when I do.

 

[TheDoctor]

I'm not sure I'd want a single-speed as my only bike, but there's definitely a place for them. I like mine.

 

[Arch]

I'm not sure I'd want a single-speed as my only bike, but there's definitely a place for them. I like mine.

Well of course not, because that would mean having only one bike.

 

[cyberknight]

Mine's worse*

Pick a sensible gear to start off with, take it easy and feel it doing you good

*I'm trying to find out how to save it and post it from bikehike. Will do when I do.

I rode a SS for years , a grifter stuck in top gear , now i am saving my old knees

 

[Crankarm]

That's a ludicrous thing to say. Single speed suits plenty of people fine. It might not suit you, in which case say so instead of making such a sweeping statement.

No it's not, it's my opinion. The OP was asking so I obliged. Next time I'll run by you my responses prior to posting. This OK with you ?

If single speeds are so good then why doesn't the only guy who rides SS fixed ride in the fast group on club rides? He tops out at about 21/22mph with a cadence of about 150.

 

[MajorMantra]

If single speeds are so good then why doesn't the only guy who rides SS fixed ride in the fast group on club rides? He tops out at about 21/22mph with a cadence of about 150.

Maybe he's just not that fast - not sure what that proves. And if he's spinning 150 at 22mph he's got a rather low gear. I ride 70 or 73 inches which puts me in the low 20s at 100rpm. I top out just shy of 40mph at 180ish rpm.

Matthew

 

[swee'pea99]

Why? Because they're great. I wouldn't rely on one if I lived in a hilly place, but I don't, and I love it.

 

[dudi]

I've ridden my fixed pretty much exclusively for the last couple of years (total about 8k miles so far).
as I live in suffolk there's no really major hills. the ones that are here seem to have been worn down in the last couple of years as they dont seem anywhere near as steep now!
When I ride fixed for commuting, I ride because of the low maintenance.
When I ride fixed for training, I ride because of the presumed benefits of the extra effort (not sure f there is any benefit, but it seems that way!)
When I ride fixed for leisure, I ride because of the simplicity - it's very enjoyable and care-free.

Having said that, I have just started to build a new geared bike so that I can go faster and longer when I eventually join the local cycling club!

 

[Manonabike]

Very interesting comments I think.... I'd probably go with having a single speed and geared bike. At this point, without ever riding one the most appealing point to me would be the easy maintenance / cleaning. The rest of the "fun" I guess can be replicated with a geared bike ridden on one gear only.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i love my old fixed bike. it doesn't get out often (probably won't leave the cellar 'till spring now), but it's great fun on a nice flat ride.

if nothing else, it introduces the idea that gear ratios can be changed and to think about them, as opposed to relying unthinkingly on the cassette that came with the geared bike you owned first.