Single speed or not?

GEPC

I would welcome some opinions. I am thinking about upgrading by bike. I have been comuting for about 6 months and love it and having bought myself a Trek 7.3 fx to get started (good enough to not be crap, not so good that I would have wasted too much money if I didn't like commuting) I am now thinking about upgrading and selling the Trek while its still in good condition (anyone wants to buy it let me know!)

So I want something a bit faster and more agile and really like the look of the Cotic Roadrat. I like flatbars and this seems to fit my bill in terms of looks, price and quality. One of the things I like about the Roadrat is that its very flexible in terms of what you do with it. They do a pre built version which is a single speed which I quite like the idea of given that it will be riden in London but am a bit nervous about taking the plunge. Ultimately I know that if i buy the single speed I can easily add gears later. In the meantime however I would just be interested to hear some views of people who have switched to single speed and love it and also people who tried it and went back to gears.

el_presidente

I commute 5 miles on a bodged up old Spesh Hardrock singlespeed. It is too small for me (16" frame / 6'1" bloke) but I do like it (see pic on this thread http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... c&start=15)

Advantages imho:

Simplicity. No need to think about what gear you want - just pedal. Might sound obvious but it is quite a step-change if you are used to gears.
Individuality. Without wishing to get too philosophical on yo' ass, it's nice to pedal something different and which goes against the grain a bit.
Fitness. Definitley means you have to put in a bit more effort at times.
Maintenance. No need to fettle gears or clean cassettes. Not a massive deal but worth thinking about.
Narrow bars. Again not a massive deal but I run quite narrow bars to fit through gaps and no shifters makes a bit of difference.


Disadvantages

Not many round town. If you have a hilly route or do big miles then you prob will need gears. I did try to take it up Highgate Hill once to see if I could but failed miserably

I have recently acquired a 531 horizontal dropout frame so hopefully will soon be going down the fixed route (crikey)

il_principe

I use a singlespeed (Pearson Touche) to commute on and can't fault it really. It's pretty much maintenance free and a joy to ride.

house_trained

I'd have to agree with el_presidente on the pro's and con's.

I started a few years back when my cassette and derailleur were shagged and I couldn't afford to get new ones. Left the setup in one gear and just got used to not changing. After that I bought a singlespeed conversion kit that worked a little better. A couple of years ago I got an on-one sliding dropout frame and love it. Minor maintainance - although do keep an eye on the chain tension. Move the back wheel back a bit from time to time when the chain starts getting a bit slack. I've had a nasty moment when I went flying in heavy traffic 'cos the chain was slack, I was standing on the pedals accelerating and the chain came off (must've gone over a pothole...in London? Who'd'a thought it?). God knows how I didn't end up under a truck. Anyway, that taught me to make sure the chain is never slack.

Winter can be a bit difficult though. I've started looking at geared bikes with a bit too much longing recently. I commute about 30 miles a day though, so it isn't impossible on a singlespeed....some days you just have to make friends with the pain.

Fixedweasel

I moved from a geared to fixed about 2 years ago and have no regrets. Yes, in a headwind pain becomes a friend !

As it happens I also own a Cotic Roadrat, which I purchased as a frame and built from acquired odds and ends. Run it as a fixed with TT drops, and it speeds me along on my (circa) 30mile daily commute.

The great thing with the frame is that if you choose that single speed is not for you, you can simply run it with gears and still have the same great frame.

Eulogy over ………… honestly it’s a great frame and single speed/fixed is great fun.

william79

I agree with el presidente on the pros & cons.

I'm going to take the plunge and go for a Single Speed bike. I've considered the geared options but I fancy something a bit different. I like the idea of simplicity & such direct drive, plus the extra challenge. Apparantly it's hard work but you adjust over a couple of weeks. I think you need to spend some time finding the right gear ratio for alround use; trial & error following a bit of research seems to be best.

I intend to ride my normal commute (10 miles per day), plus weekend rides. Don't be put off by covering a distance, look at this: http://pompinos.blogspot.com/ (3000 miles around Europe on single speed bikes, in 3 mths).

CheapSkate

14 miles a day for the last few years, mostly on my Pompino singlespeed but occasionally on the fixed, and I wouldn't go back.

My commute is flat enough that I can grind up the few small bits of hill I encounter, and I'm currently riding 41*16 which is still big enough to make (if not maintain) an easy 23mph if I need to accelerate at any point.

el_presidente wrote:

Advantages imho:

Simplicity. No need to think about what gear you want - just pedal. Might sound obvious but it is quite a step-change if you are used to gears.

This is absolutely spot on. When you say you want 'faster and more agile', this is where you'll get some it from - and it reduces what you can do to what's in your legs, not what you're on and what gear you are in.

The difference between rolling into a junction watching the traffic waiting to pick the gap then blasting into it, and doing all that but then having to fumble for gears just as you get going but before you start to spin out is a beautiful simplicity.

Random Vince

the mountain bike has been singlespeed since building it, used to ride everywhere on it (tis a 32 16t) until I re-built my road bike, not sure what gearing it is, but its a 3 speed (5th and 1st don't work) so i just ride it in 4th occasionally dropping to 3rd or 2nd every once in a while for steep cycle lanes through underpasses shared with pedestrians, currently deciding to put a 7spd block on the new wheel or singlespeed

i know i'd be able to hump it up most hills in the gear i've got, but it'd be nice to have a higher gear for long flat or downhill bits.


not sure if that helps at all?

PHcp

£20 will buy you everything you need to convert your present bike to SS.
That way you get to try it before spending any serious money.

chronyx

If I didn't want gears I'd walk. :P

secretsqirrel

I use a singe-speed (non fixed) for commuting 15 miles (average) a day. I have a 36x18 gear, and the route is quite hilly and the bike is always loaded with luggage. The result is I am mostly in the 'wrong gear', too high or too low.
The result, however, is that I have learned to spin at a high cadence for much longer than I could sustain before, and when it come to climbing I have learned to grit my teeth and attack.
A very uneconomical way of spending energy, until I go out on a geared of a weekend and find that my climbing has improved no end, and when on the flat and can afford the luxury of a higher gear, I feel like I am flying along effortlessly!
I don't want to use anything else for commuting.