Is an SS a perfect beginner commuter?

[geekinaseat]

Hi everyone, my first post and yes its a "is this type of bike any good" question!

I've been lurking here for a while as I'm thinking about getting myself a bike to go to work on. I've been looking a bit and obviously want my first bike to be a cheap as possible and yet of the highest quality going -don't we all?! After examining all of the different types of bike, I think I've ended up with an odd conclusion as to the best type to get and need a sanity check from people much more knowledgeable than me (yes that's you guys ).

I would travel about 3-4 miles each way, it's all very flat and I have no intention of taking it on anything rougher than a cycle path/road (although some of the roads around here are not great) I also need to drag it up and down three flights of stairs to get into my flat every day so weight is a big factor. With that in mind I've noticed that single speed bikes seem to have a greater quality and are lighter for the same price when comparing to mountain bikes or hybrids. This seems to make sense as the less components involved the more simpler it is and therefore must cost the manufacturers less to make. The fact that there are less things to go wrong is also a big plus.

I've seen some very nice looking SS bikes with freewheel and front and rear brakes in my price range. Fixed gear with only a front brake look very cool but seem a step too far at this point!!! So it comes down to this: the obvious disadvantage is lack of gearchange and having to pick your ratio before you buy but is this a big deal? I need some experienced SS and non-SS riders' advice as there is no way I can know this before I start! Also are they that much lighter/easier to look after/better quality over mountain/hybrid bikes in the same price range as I think or is this something I have dreamt up?

Is this a ridiculous idea for a beginner or am I onto something? I await your pearls of cycling wisdom!

 

[gbb]

Hi Geek, and welcome...
Looking at your factors, i think a SS would be an excellent choice. I should say i'm a newbie to SS myself and i can't say i love it..or hate it. It has its place, and at the right time (for me) its good fun.
Your terrain is flat, the distance is not too great, why would you want gears ?

The only thing i find (as a newbie SS'er) is struggling into the wind on a blowy day. I miss the gears then, but otherwise it brings a whole new dimension to cycling.

I won't offer any advice technically, i havnt got a clue about ratios etc

 

[geekinaseat]

Hi Geek, and welcome...
Looking at your factors, i think a SS would be an excellent choice. I should say i'm a newbie to SS myself and i can't say i love it..or hate it. It has its place, and at the right time (for me) its good fun.
Your terrain is flat, the distance is not too great, why would you want gears ?

The only thing i find (as a newbie SS'er) is struggling into the wind on a blowy day. I miss the gears then, but otherwise it brings a whole new dimension to cycling.

I won't offer any advice technically, i havnt got a clue about ratios etc

Hey, thanks -a positive comment is always a good start, it means I'm not totally insane! Do you find your SS noticeably lighter/higher quality than other bikes in the same price range or is that just me dreaming things up?

 

[Matty]

The only thing i find (as a newbie SS'er) is struggling into the wind on a blowy day.

Ah, this is when it does you a big favour in terms of fitness. You have no choice, grin and bear it. Since commuting single-speed I find the wind nothing like the problem I used to find it. I'm definitely fitter for commuting single speed.

Matt

 

[TheDoctor]

Hi and

For a flat, short commute I'd say a SS will be perfect.
Plus, the lack of expensive bits means you'll get something nice for a lot less than an equivalent geared bike. Much easier to look after as there's less to go wrong / get gunged up / break / fall off.
Just two things - get a decent D-lock or you won't keep the bike long, and get a track pump to keep the tyres hard.
Have fun!!

 

[Matty]

I'm not convinced about the quality argument. I spent 18 months commuting on an old knackered MTB - during which time I found I used about 2 gears of the numerous available. So I stuck it in one gear and rode for a few months to test the water and it was fine, so went single speed. I think it's perfect for commuting, but I don't have any hills!

Gear ratio is a very personal thing. Try what it comes with and adjust to suit. I have mine set up so it's comfortable cruising in calm weather, so it's tough into wind and nutter spinning down hills.

Matt

 

[geekinaseat]

Thanks for all your comments guys. I must say they are a lot more positive than I expected, I really thought I would get a few posts telling me to not be so ridiculous! This is sounding more and more like the right idea for me and I'm looking at a few bikes as we speak! I popped into the local bike shop today but unfortunately they didn't have any SS bikes to try so I'll try a bit further afield on the weekend. I think trying before I buy is a must with this type of bike!

I still wonder, has anyone had a SS and gone back to the geared type due to it's limitations?

 

[jay clock]

sounds like an excellent idea. I would do exactly what you are suggesting in your circumstances. In fact I did about 25 years ago and it worked perfectly

 

[ColinJ]

I think a SS bike would be great for a short flat commute. The one slight disadvantage that I can think of - if you have a gear chosen so you can ride comfortably at over 20 mph, you might find the gear a bit stiff for sprinting away from a standing start at junctions and roundabouts. I have a 39/15 on my SS bike and I find it takes me a couple of seconds to really get moving. If you aren't riding a lot in traffic that might not be a problem.

 

[battered]

I have a number of bikes, inc an SS MTB. On a sort, flat commute, why not? It's lighter for sure. The disadvantage is that if you have an easy gear then you risk being overtaken by grannies on MTBs if there's a slight slope, and if it's a higher gear then it's tough getting away from the lights. Do able though.

Easiest commuter is an old MTB with slicks though IME. It's a bit heavier to lug up stairs butan easier bike to live with.

 

[jimboalee]

I think a SS bike would be great for a short flat commute. The one slight disadvantage that I can think of - if you have a gear chosen so you can ride comfortably at over 20 mph, you might find the gear a bit stiff for sprinting away from a standing start at junctions and roundabouts. I have a 39/15 on my SS bike and I find it takes me a couple of seconds to really get moving. If you aren't riding a lot in traffic that might not be a problem.

This is very true.

Gear too high, and as ColinJ says, accelerating is slow. Gear too low and speed is limited.

A beginner might find the OE gear ratio a tad high. The secret with SS and fixies is you ought to have big legs which can give an explosive burst of power ( both legs at the same time, up as well as down ).

When a newbie buys a SS, they usually end up a year later with a drawful of rings and sprockets. Not a bad thing because a day out in the countryside will need serious thinking about what ratio to install.

The less gears you have, the more route studying is done.

 

[RedBike]

A lot of single speed (road) bikes come with whats known as a 'flip flop' track hub. This allow you to fix a different sized sprocket to either side of the wheel. To change ratios all you do is flip the wheel over and re-adjust your chains tension.

Alas, it isn't really practical to keep changing ratios in the middle of ride, but there's no reason why you can't swap to a easier ratio on those days when your legs are tired or its really windy.

 

[battered]

To answer your original question "is a SS a perfect beginner commuter", no it isn't. Is it OK to live with? Yes, probably.

I think the perfect beginner commuter is a hybrid with flat bars or an MTB with slicks, bought secondhand cheap (or out of the shed), of medium quality, a bike like this will cost you virtually nothing to buy and run and will allow you to establish exactly what you DO want for your "perfect" bike that comes along after a year or two.

As it turns out my perfect bike is my MTB turned tourer, it's 15 yrs old, looks like it came out of a skip, costs nothing to run from the bits box, and is very comfortable and pleasant to boot round town.

 

[hairyfrog]

I have to say I think SS bikes are a bit of a specialism. Why wouldn't you want gears to get you going quicker (instead of wobbling off very slowly from traffic lights),
make hills or wind easier, just a more flexible bike.
Cheers

 

[TheDoctor]

Yes, but...if you fancy having a SS as a short-commute-along-the-flat bike, why not? Let's face it, virtually anything would be fine for that. I do a similar sounding trip, and I use a variety of folders, a carbon road bike, a SS and a touring bike.
Not all at the same time, obviously. That would be daft!!