Single speed - anyone with experience ?

colonel

Thinking of single speed bike (as its 1.cheaper and 2. better for exercise ?)

From specializedThere is a langster and tricross.

Anyone use a single speed and any views ?

henderson_mk

i don't think that the spesh tricross is a single speed.

the langster is a fixed/ss combo via the rear wheel. singlespeed is good if you get a bit tired after riding fixed and good around town until you get really comfy with fixed.

I've a ss bike that i generally use a commute bike and a bit of winter training and its great.

what about going to a track and trying fixed to see what you think of it?

colonel

henderson_mk wrote:

i don't think that the spesh tricross is a single speed.

the langster is a fixed/ss combo via the rear wheel. singlespeed is good if you get a bit tired after riding fixed and good around town until you get really comfy with fixed.

I've a ss bike that i generally use a commute bike and a bit of winter training and its great.

what about going to a track and trying fixed to see what you think of it?

new tricross:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32208

This is the US site, but its available to purchase at some UK stores now.

dumb question - what is the difference between a SS and a fixed ?

henderson_mk

singlespeed has a free wheel... so you can coast...
fixed there's no free wheel. i.e. if you pedal backwards you go backwards.... all the fun of the fair! there's just one golden rule.. dont stop pedalling!!

colonel

so the langster allows you to coast, and if you pedal backwards nothing happens.

this sounds better that fixed, which sounds like its for masochists only :twisted:

it seems a very light bike, particularly as it looses the derralieur and stuff.
I guess the position is like a road bike (short) rather then a long hybrid

intersting. I might take one for a test drive. Seems that a trackis no good , as for a SS need to include up and down hills to really understand

henderson_mk

langster can do both as far as I know... it has a rear wheel thats singlespeed one side and fixed the other... so you can just swop it round.

fixed is good fun though! I do track stuff and its all fixed and a great workout. I'd recommend giving it a go!

bahzob

I have a Specialised Langster 2006 that I use when the weather is bad and for winter/strength training.

One thing I did was to change tyres to gatorskin 25s to reduce chance of punctures (which are a bit more of a pain as no quick release). Also resulted in an improved ride.

Archie38h

I got a fixed wheel 2 weeks ago and love it, first few days were a bit eventful but now I've got the hang of it it's great

depends how far you travel and how hilly your route is, anything under 10 miles and fairly flat I'd say try a fixed wheel, most have a freewheel sprocket on the other side so just take the wheel off and put the freewheel side on when you want a rest

colonel

what kind of riding position is the langster.

Is it agressive like the Allez ? or more moderate like the sirrus ?

TomB1960

Another one for you to consider Colonel, a Genesis Flyer. I have one to commute on, it's great fun. It was well reviewed in Cycling+ not so long ago. I think I am right in saying Genesis are a spin-off of Ridgeback. IMHO it's better made than the Langster. I ride mine as a single speed (Birmingham has some hills) but it is easy to convert it to fixed.

colonel

TomB1960 wrote:

Another one for you to consider Colonel, a Genesis Flyer. I have one to commute on, it's great fun. It was well reviewed in Cycling+ not so long ago. I think I am right in saying Genesis are a spin-off of Ridgeback. IMHO it's better made than the Langster. I ride mine as a single speed (Birmingham has some hills) but it is easy to convert it to fixed.

thx Tom.
I took the genesys day range out for test drives and found the riding position very aggresive, i.e. in line with some of the more serious road bikes.
Is this repeated with the Flyer ? (i.e. is the frame the same as the Day series ?)

peejay78

i ride a fuji track bike, fixed, with a 48:16 gearing, which equates to around 72".

riding fixed is not masochistic, and it is much more fun than riding SS. it requires different skills and also makes you much fitter and generally a better rider. you don't wrestle with the pedal stroke and it is surprisingly natural and relaxed, or even, and i hesitate to use this revolting word - a bit "zen".

most, if not all off the peg SS/fixed come with a flip-flop hub, sometimes with a sprocket on both sides, meaning you can flip the wheel around (they're not dished because there is no need) and ride SS or fixed. the only thing to consider is that if you ride fixed you'll probably only have a front brake. this is not good for ss.

langsters are quite relaxed, very popular, the mondeo of the fixed/ss world, beloved of shoreditch media mullet heads and general london part-timers with no skill or technique (i generalise). some people say the genesis has chainline issues and friends of mine have had maintenance problems. i would seriously recommend the Lemond Fillmore, it's a very good bike for the money. i would recommend the fuji - it's very cheap if you can find one (£300) but by the time you've replaced the substandard wheels with something not made of spaghetti, added a brake, changed the alarmingly flexible bars, it ain't so cheap. at all. but the frame is a lovely shape and they are great. and i love mine. (until i buy a vigorelli).

but overall, off-the-peg fixed/SS is a great way to get started. the thing to remember is that sooner or later you'll go fixed, so you may as well from the start.

fuji:

henderson_mk

+1 on what peejay said.

PeteinSQ

There are lots of different single speeds to consider. Cannondale and Lemond both make one and I would be surprised if Trek don't have one in their range.

I am considering getting a Charge Plug : http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71373 [/code]

colonel

peejay78 wrote:

i ride a fuji track bike, fixed, with a 48:16 gearing, which equates to around 72".

riding fixed is not masochistic, and it is much more fun than riding SS. it requires different skills and also makes you much fitter and generally a better rider. you don't wrestle with the pedal stroke and it is surprisingly natural and relaxed, or even, and i hesitate to use this revolting word - a bit "zen".

most, if not all off the peg SS/fixed come with a flip-flop hub, sometimes with a sprocket on both sides, meaning you can flip the wheel around (they're not dished because there is no need) and ride SS or fixed. the only thing to consider is that if you ride fixed you'll probably only have a front brake. this is not good for ss.

langsters are quite relaxed, very popular, the mondeo of the fixed/ss world, beloved of shoreditch media mullet heads and general london part-timers with no skill or technique (i generalise). some people say the genesis has chainline issues and friends of mine have had maintenance problems. i would seriously recommend the Lemond Fillmore, it's a very good bike for the money. i would recommend the fuji - it's very cheap if you can find one (£300) but by the time you've replaced the substandard wheels with something not made of spaghetti, added a brake, changed the alarmingly flexible bars, it ain't so cheap. at all. but the frame is a lovely shape and they are great. and i love mine. (until i buy a vigorelli).

but overall, off-the-peg fixed/SS is a great way to get started. the thing to remember is that sooner or later you'll go fixed, so you may as well from the start.

fuji:

I'm more of a BMW man but ford sounds just up my street for my first new bike in 15 years 8)

colonel

PeteinSQ wrote:

There are lots of different single speeds to consider. Cannondale and Lemond both make one and I would be surprised if Trek don't have one in their range.

I am considering getting a Charge Plug : http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71373 [/code]

the charge is a nice bike but rather heavy steel. I prefer as light as possible. I think the langster and genesis are amongst the lightest.

I am keen to look at the new tricross ss, but I suspect this is heavier.

rgds

colonel

this thing is a killer:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70448

is it legal to have no brakes, and how the hell do you stop :twisted: ?

gkerr4

it's a track specifc bike and no it's not legal to have no brakes!

You can however drill a hole either in the seatstay brace or the fork crown and put a brak caliper on. I saw a real smart one chained to some railings in picadilly circus the other month and it had brakes fitted so it can be done.

smart bike, but a pain to make roadworthy I'd imagine!

PeteinSQ

I think the genesis flyer is steel as well isn't it?

peejay78

it's not as if these steel frames are made of scaffolding tubing.

PeteinSQ

I shouldn't think so. The genesis frame looks nice, much narrower tubes than on the aluminium frames. There probably will be a weight penalty with both the genesis and the charge but as I barely see any hills on my commute that won't be a problem.

peejay78

weight penalty with modern tubing is often as little as 300-500 grams.

colonel

Just been into Evans and Condor Bikes in London.

Had a look at Genesis and Specialised. Also had a quick look at the tricross (definitely the heaviest but can probably take the most abuse). Couldn't find the charge unfortunately.

Must say I've fallen in love with the new 2008 Specialized Langster 'London' edition. Its look stunning, if a bit garish, in white frame with silver trimmings and red on the wheels. But the chrome handlebars, and most of all the brakes on the top (as opposed to the std langster which has the brakes on the drop) means this is probably the one for me. It was also the lightest.

Will think about it for the next few hours/days. A pity the 'boston' edition is not available in the UK as this looks even cooler.

Its not the looks, its the bike I'm after, honest .......... 8)

peejay78

there's a thread on londonfgss.com all about the new specialized langsters.

personally, i think they're a horrible, specious marketing exercise and the bikes are revolting - what's more, they look disgusting too.

but it would be a boring world if everyone liked the same as me.

pete236uk

I have an on one that is fixed although did run one side with a single speed but have now gone fixed still looking at gearing, the one is great I am big guy and love wheels still straight and true

colonel

peejay78 wrote:

there's a thread on londonfgss.com all about the new specialized langsters.

personally, i think they're a horrible, specious marketing exercise and the bikes are revolting - what's more, they look disgusting too.

but it would be a boring world if everyone liked the same as me.

you are terribly dull m8

peejay78

maybe,

but also not fond of cynical, lazy marketing.

colonel

peejay78 wrote:

maybe,

but also not fond of cynical, lazy marketing.

why cynical ?
they are trying to make bikes that sell. if they don't they will try something else, they are a business after all.
I liked the look and Evans (my LBS) tells me they have sold all the initial batch, so they will have to order one.

I think that the core of ss cyclists think they have a unique and hardcore sport. and they resent 'normal' punters (like me) muscling in and any ideas that it will become popular so they will become less 'cool'.

A white bike is also safer .........

BTW , thxs for that forum

peejay78

not at all, more the merrier.

it's not about that. it's about using marketing and the insidious skills of men in the advertising and 'ideas' world to market a product that actually isn't that good. the selling point of the bicycle is the look and the idea behind it, not the bicycle itself, and they know that, and hence - it's a con.

colonel

peejay78 wrote:

not at all, more the merrier.

it's not about that. it's about using marketing and the insidious skills of men in the advertising and 'ideas' world to market a product that actually isn't that good. the selling point of the bicycle is the look and the idea behind it, not the bicycle itself, and they know that, and hence - it's a con.

if you get punters to buy something less good due to marketing, thats up to the punters. Also means the marketers are earning their wage.

I mean people buy apple macbooks cause they look nice and are cool, but they are lower power, more expensive and less well equiped then Win laptops. Not that I haven't indulged in a little apple stuff myself

Like the iphone. Its big, heavy, can't have 3rd party apps (the OS is proprietry and locked down), isn't 3G and only has 8gb for music ...... But 200,000 people bought it when HTC has a myriad of superior machines. DO I feel sorry for folk that have bought the iphone, sure I do, but they will have fun and apple can continue to pay its employees ,,,, rant over

I think the new langster is a very good bike and very good value. People who spend £1000 on bikes will always look down on lesser mortals like myself, but consider what you get for £399:

1. Lightweight, good quality frame,
2. Carbon seat post.
3. Carbon fork.
4. Fairly light wheels
5. ok tyres

Add gears and go to allez and you are talking £200 for the gears (and no real spec. change). £500 or £600 would be a cynical price for this bike (like the cannondale ss at £800, which I saw and was not impressed with). But £399 certainly isn't - and a nice paint job is a bit of fun!

peejay78

there are other bikes for the same price.

two of my bikes cost less.

it is a reasonable price, yes.

it is also a marketeer's wet dream, as is the apple.

style over substance.