Single Speed Joy

attica

Got myself a shiny new single speeder in October, been commuting on it loads - even took it on a club run last weekend, I'm absolutely loving it, I flew up the hills on the club run and am just as fast on one gear as I am on 20.

I'm just loving the lack of maintenance, the simplicity of hill climbing (don't think about gear choice, just get on with it!!!!) and the fact that my fitness levels are skyrocketing as a result.

I have to admit, mine came with a flip flop hub and I'm going to keep it on the freewheel side, been riding too long with a freewheel, my first reaction in a "traffic situation" is often to stop pedalling - don't fancy being thrown off at that moment! (I will play with that later and get some confidence at it)


So I was wondering, is anybody else getting as much pleasure from the simple things in life?

william79

Yes!

I've recently bought an On One Pompino. After years of riding geared bikes I wanted to give the Single Speed a go. Mine came as a fixed gear with a flip flop; I had the intention of fitting a freewheel, but gave the fixed cog a try for a few days and love it!

You do have to think a bit more about things in traffic & approaching junctions, but it gives greater low speed control.

I agree with the fitness & hillclimbing comments.

Great, simple fun.

redvee

I wanna go fixed but with vert. dropouts I'm gonna have to play with the gearing first, once that is sorted then I can make the change. Any advice on what would work to give me a tensioner free drivetrain? I've got 420mm C/Stays and running at present 46/16.

william79

I run 48x16, with 48x18 on the other side. I found the 18 too low, but the 16 seems to suit my daily route.

My Pompino has the horizontal / track ends, so it is straight forward as a fixed gear bike. Sorry, I can't help with conversion tips on the vert drop outs.

Yes, one gear is enough.

attica

Check this page out

http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

The link to the Eric House website seems to point to a website which has sadly disappeared, but the great man has a fair bit to say himself.

william79

redvee,

The Eccentric ENO might solve your problem, but at a price:

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/white/white.htm

I've bought toe clips from Hubjub; well packaged & quick delivery.

redvee

Thanks but I need a disc hub on the rear, no V mounts. 1/2 link coming at the weekend so that will cure the slack.

graham_g

How are you guys finding the hills?!

I moved to Bristol a couple of months ago and have managed to stick with the single speed bike (fixed wheel) with a 66" gear, although I'm looking forward to fitting the lighter tires and losing the dyno hub come spring!

secretsam

Ok. But who's this "Joy" bird who's only got one speed? And how fast is that?

redvee

Only had to walk uphill the once since making the change but not done that many hills at the mo. So far ridden upto Horfield Common from City Centre and Muller road to the M32 with no probs apart from those nasty things called cars/buses etc. The hill that I failed on was Redland Road just down from the green.

william79

I don't live in Bristol, but I have one long hill on my route home.....it does get easier after a couple of weeks.

Today I've been riding the geared mountain bike offroad, for the first time since commuting on the fixie....what a difference! I stayed in one gear (38x18) and my increase in fitness is incredible, flying up hills, great fun.

I think I may convert the mtb to single speed in the near future.....

attica

No real hills on my commute, but I did take it up Brockley Combe the other week (It's about a 600 ft climb over 4 ish miles http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Clevedon-Airport .)

It's a nice test that I use every once in a while as part of my training. Nothing too steep just a steady slog - I just flew up it!

Single speed makes it harder work initially but you'll definitely feel the benefit in the long run, especially if you then go back to a geared bike for any reason.