Single speed or not????

[stabaliser]

hi,
i need some advice...
i want to start cycling to work. it's about 12 miles from home to office and am looking in the region of 500 pounds.
A lot of friends are suggesting single speeds. i really like the look of these, and the low maintenance aspect, but aren't they just for quick short journeys?
i like the cannondale bad-boys, any other suggestions much appreciated.
By the way, this t-shirt might be of interest: http://teepay.com/frontend/showtee/316

 

[Ivan Ardon]

How hilly is your commute? If you have any seriously steep hills, you may be better off with gears, but a SS is far more flexible than it first appears - you only have the one gear so you just get on with it.

 

[Tharg2007]

12 miles is a short journey isnt it?

 

[fossyant]

I'm new to Fixed, and my route has a two mile drag on the way home, and a two mile descent. Took a a couple of commutes to get used to spinning down the hill (on fixed you can't stop pedalling), but climbing is fine (that is so long as you are OK at climbing).

Not just for fast folk, just make sure you get a gear to suit you, new sprocket's aren't expensive.

I ride upto 30 miles a day on mine ! I'm happy riding mine now - it's only taken four days, and I managed 160 RPM (that's a PB by 10 RPM's) tonight on the way home down another hill.

 

[RedBike]

12 miles each way isn't a short commute. You'll be fine the first day, probably fine the day after but by the end of the week your legs certainly wont be as fresh as they were on Monday.

I've tried single speed a few times but I never took to it. I just felt under geared downhill and over geared uphill. Put your bike in one gear and leave it there and see just how long it is before not changing gear beomes annoying.

On the days when you're tired, it's windy and you've got to carry everything including the kitched sink to work I think you'll apprechiate a few lower gears.

 

[RedBike]

It's definately worth having a bike with full mudguards and panniers.

Anything that helps prevent you getting a wet backside / feet every day it rains has to worth fitting.

Also a pannier bag stops you getting a sweaty back.

 

[RedBike]

BTW, I'm seriously thinking of commuting on a fixed wheel bike. (And geared for those days I can't be bothered / it's raining and I want mudguards)

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...QRY=C107&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c002912

 

[colinr]

I bought a SS, though I've only ever ridden it fixed. I think I'd miss leg braking on a freewheel. If your route isn't massively hilly I'd say go for it. For my use, I don't miss gears, though but occasionally I agree with this:

On the days when you're tired, it's windy and you've got to carry everything including the kitched sink to work I think you'll apprechiate a few lower gears

I don't have panniers or mudguards (rucksack and waterproofs do those jobs) because I'm a closet hipster.

 

[skupp]

I do around 14 miles each way for my commute on a single speed langster.

Great way to build up your fitness, particularly if there are some decent hills

First attempt took around 80 mins, and walking up a few hills, now can do the commute in around 55 mins, without being defeated by hills.

Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[Tynan]

I've poo pooed ss in the past for not being quick enough but I barely managed to follow someone today, 22-26 mph all the way home, he let me do a few shifts but they were slower

took me a while to even realise he was ss, christ knows what gearing he had and more importantly what sort of legs

I worry about windy days and Fridays, I like the gears in both directions

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i'm a fat middle aged bald due, redbike will concur, i now single speed a full suspension everywhere. 12 miles each way, either on fixed or geared will be knackering until you get used to it!! BUT, single speed will be especially harder than gears, you will get fitter quicker (but more depressed until you get used to it) fixed not as bad in winter, no wind chill. HOWEVER, fixie will be better in the long run. if i could turn fixie i would. i get up a 4 mile 15% to 20% to get home and i use 32:18 on the rd, no problems now (5 weeks ss) the worst thing is not uphill but spinning out, now there's irony. my advice? go fixed, you will get more for your money, BUT don't fall for fashion, have front and rear brakes.

 

[Tynan]

I've just watced London Calling for the nth time to pep me for tomorrow

Why do they all have their seats so low that they're riding with bent legs, and is itme or are they generally using short cranks?

 

[Black Sheep]

I have gears on the road bike, all 6 of them.

i don't use that many, but have started using them a little bit more now.

the mountain bike was my main transport until the road bike was built, I used to do 20 odd miles on a 32 - 16 t mtb, its good fun, very chilled out but i need gears to get up one or two bits of my route, especially with full panniers.

 

[dudi]

I'd love a 12 mile commute.
My direct commute is 2.7 miles, it's just not enough, so I have to go out of my way and take a really really scenic route to work.
I wish it was a longer commute, then I'd have no excuses for a longer ride every day.

 

[jimboalee]

There once was a hub where you could have up to four ratios. Two sprockets on each side.

The difference between highest and lowest was determined by the amount of travel in the rear dropouts. Each time you wanted to change gear, you loosened or removed the wheel, laid the chain on the desired sprocket and retensioned the chain.

Amazingly, the first few years of the Tour de France were ridden like this.
Stages were 300km long. Up the mountains included.

Then came the first derailleur. This was the configuration of my uncle's Claude Butler Tour D'Angleterre 531 1937 race bike.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2kings/2839061776/in/photostream/

I digress.