How do I cycle faster with a single speed bike?

[Hydrode]

I have just bought a new specialized langster for £210.

I like it but it has only gear, I can reach just under 30MPH on it but I can't go any faster than that and my bum starts to come off the seat.

I want to know how I am going to pedal faster rather than pedal with more power, I have quite powerful legs as I do squats but I can't get any faster with my legs, I want to be able to reach 35 - 40MPH, I was considering buying some rollers so I could build up the speed. I find that putting more weight on the seat rather than on the pedals give me more speed.

 

[classic33]

Get the bike set up right, for yourself.
Are you still pedalling when you reach your maximum speed at present, or have you long since stopped putting any effort into pedalling?

 

[screenman]

I take it this is down a large hill with the wind behind you, you have just found the reason for buying a bike with gears.

If that speed you mention is on the flat and you can keep it up for a few miles then there might be a team out there looking for you.

To be honest sitting here it looks like an internet speed as opposed to an average speed.

 

[Dusty Bin]

I have just bought a new specialized langster for £210.

I like it but it has only gear, I can reach just under 30MPH on it but I can't go any faster than that and my bum starts to come off the seat.

I want to know how I am going to pedal faster rather than pedal with more power, I have quite powerful legs as I do squats but I can't get any faster with my legs, I want to be able to reach 35 - 40MPH, I was considering buying some rollers so I could build up the speed. I find that putting more weight on the seat rather than on the pedals give me more speed.

Congratulations on discovering the inherent limitations of a single speed bike. On a SS you are limited by either your gearing and/or your cadence. So either change the gearing, or learn to spin faster. Whatever you do will not alter the underlying problem though..

 

[tyred]

If you have really powerful legs, you probably could up the gearing but my preference would be to learn to spin faster.

Unless you live in seriously hilly terrain, you will notice surprisingly little difference in your average speed anyway.

 

[jay clock]

+ 1 for all the comments about getting a bike with gears. If the problem was the other way round, i.e. you could not climb hills, would you be looking for advice about how to get up hills with inappropriate gearing?

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Try this calculator, play with the different bearings to calculate the speed you'd like to go at what RPM etc.

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com

Or as ever Sheldon's site..

Www.Sheldonbrown.com/gears

 

[Fab Foodie]

What sprocket sizes are you running front and back?

(Oh and you should convert to a fixed wheel )