What are singlespeed bikes for?

[jethro10]

Pardon my ignorance, but I wonder why there seems to be a fad on these.
I live in the Uk, and nearly everywhere has hills or inclines. Yet there appears to be a growing number of them.

Gears make you efficient uphill, and faster downhill - or on flats, so I wonder why there is a bike designed to torture you muscles!

So, what are these bikes for then? Well in the UK at least. I could get Denmark probably

Jeff

 

[biglad]

I have a lot of mates who ride them. They do so because single speeds push them a little harder both on inclines and by the fact that they dont allow freewheeling. But experienced riders on this forum may be able to offer more than I can... Its definitely something I would be interested in once I have built up my fitness to an appropriate level.

 

[Alan Whicker]

I have a lot of mates who ride them. They do so because single speeds push them a little harder both on inclines and by the fact that they dont allow freewheeling. But experienced riders on this forum may be able to offer more than I can... Its definitely something I would be interested in once I have built up my fitness to an appropriate level.

Singlespeeds do allow freewheeling, it's fixed gears that don't. I'm building a SS at the moment, 'cos gears are making me lazy (and fat).

 

[frank9755]

Apart from BMX, where singlespeed freewheel is the norm, I've always assumed that they are for people who want to look as if they are riding fixed but don't quite feel up to it.

Riding fixed gear is fun. It gives you a much greater feeling of control, more like the bike is an extension of your body, rather than a separate machine. It has also historically been used as a way of training during the winter, building climbing muscles. The bikes are obviously lighter and simpler than geared bikes so there is less to go wrong or to clean and so cheaper to run.

Fixed gear is also used extensively in racing, obviously track is fixed but they are also used a lot in time trials.

I ride one (fixed) in flat or moderately rolling country but I'm not a strong enough climber to take on serious hills on it. Although some people certainly are - you do see the odd one on hilly rides.

 

[biglad]

Ahhh I see. My apologies mate

 

[nightoff]

I wouldn't mind a single speed for my 8 mile commute. The closest thing resembling a hill near me is a motorway bridge.
I have an old 5 speed Dawes rotting in my garage. Might dig it out this summer and see if it is worth converting.

 

[tyred]

Single speeds, with or without freewheel, can be great fun to ride (so long as it hasn't been over-geared). They also aid fitness, strength and improve pedalling technique. If it's fixed gear rather than freewheel, you also have improved control on slippery winter road conditions. Remember that SS will always be lighter than the same frame built as a geared bike and the drivetrain is notably more efficient. You will be amazed at what you can climb with one gear.

There is the other advantage that a single speed bikes can be built up very cheaply and avoid all the hassle of cleaning and maintaining a deraillerur equipped bike. The 1/8" chain will last longer between replacements.

A Sturmey Archer hub gear will also bring most of these advantages and give you a few gears into the bargain. SS and hub geared bikes also give the option of an enclosed chain for a real minimal maintenance machine.

 

[PoweredByVeg]

Don't forget your skinny jeans, check shirt and floppy fringe haircut when out on your single speed, like they do in Hoxton Square and Dalston ;-)

 

[tyred]

Don't forget your skinny jeans, check shirt and floppy fringe haircut when out on your single speed, like they do in Hoxton Square and Dalston ;-)

I wish I had enough hair to have a fringe.

 

[Alien8]

I live in the Uk, and nearly everywhere has hills or inclines.

Hills or inclines? Nope - no idea what they.

Cambridge - the gateway to Flatlandia.

 

[Biscuit]

I'm currently commuting fixed cos my freewheel fell apart. Looking to replace it payday, thankfully just around the corner, as I'm fed up with peddling downhill like a demented egg whisk. Although great fun at traffic lights. It's been a great bike, very cheap for bits and reliable all through the winter (except the freewheel :-)). I think they have their place in the bike kingdom. Been riding mine fixed and free for about 4 years now across the essex / suffolk / cambs border.

 

[mightyquin]

I wanted a SS when I got back into cycling recently, just liked the idea of a really simple bike, and I guess the 'challenge' of it.

The majority of use will be local running about/commuting - there's one steepish but short hill on my commute to work. For the first couple of weeks I had to get up on the pedals to make it but I'm already able to ride it sat down now. I've not yet tried any long/steep runs. I rode round London on it last Sunday and it was great. Moderate inclines aren't an issue at all.

I think I read the road a lot more knowing that I want to keep momentum up, and not having to worry about which gear I'm in. Not tried fixed yet, my bike only has the freewheel at the moment.

 

[colinr]

I like my fixed much more than my geared. It just feels better.
Though it costed and weighs more than my geared, negating the usual arguments for.


I don't have a floppy fringe, but you wouldn't see it under the Rapha cap anyway

 

[Fab Foodie]

We've become enamoured with the multi-geared era!
Fixed and SS is elegant, simple, reliable, light, easily cleaned and maintained, cheap to replace and joyous to ride. You soon realise you don't need 20 gears to get from A to B.
I prefer fixed to SS having run fixed exclusively for about 20 years, but SS has it's place for sure.

 

[Alan Whicker]

About a hundred years ago when I was a student, I had a second hand Halford's something-or-other town bike, which just had the one gear. It coped with Cumbrian hills OK, and if I could get up them without pushing - considering I lived on a diet of toast, cornflakes and Theakston's at the time - anybody can.