Advise me on singlespeed commuting
barry_kellett99
Posts: 480
My shortest commuting route:
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8100 (homeward direction)
Would this be considered hilly? (Elevation image in my sig, or click the elevation tick box on the bike hike window)
I currently ride it on a Trek 1200 road bike, It's 17.5 miles and I have done it in 50minutes on a perfect morning and usually about an hour to 1 hour 10 on a slow evening home.
I was thinking of getting a pompino for the winter but am not sure I could cope with Single speed.
Maybe I could mix it up with mostly single speed but take the road bike in on dry winter days to take the pressure off?
Anyone riding a similar style route single speed? Advice?
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8100 (homeward direction)
Would this be considered hilly? (Elevation image in my sig, or click the elevation tick box on the bike hike window)
I currently ride it on a Trek 1200 road bike, It's 17.5 miles and I have done it in 50minutes on a perfect morning and usually about an hour to 1 hour 10 on a slow evening home.
I was thinking of getting a pompino for the winter but am not sure I could cope with Single speed.
Maybe I could mix it up with mostly single speed but take the road bike in on dry winter days to take the pressure off?
Anyone riding a similar style route single speed? Advice?
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Comments
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Well you could just leave your Trek in the same gear to see if you can cope.0
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snailracer wrote:Well you could just leave your Trek in the same gear to see if you can cope.
I have no idea what sort of gear would even be suitable0 -
How steep are the hills? To give you an idea my ride home used to involve a 10% hill and I was running fixed 42x16 with a GI of 71. I had to use my brakes on the way down to control my top speed as I max out at 30-35mph ish.Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.
Felt F55 - 2007
Specialized Singlecross - 2008
Marin Rift Zone - 1998
Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali0 -
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I run 70" and 74" FIXED.
74" is OK for my normal commute routes - have a 1 in 12 climb home - not too steep. If I go the long route, then this involves a 1 in 10 and that needs the 70.0 -
Mapmyride says 3% is my steepest hill so I just need to MTFU i think0
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barry_kellett99 wrote:Mapmyride says 3% is my steepest incline so I just need to MTFU i think0
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I run a 49x18 (71.5") gear on my hilly commute over 8.5 miles each way. The uphills are fine (include a few sharpish climbs, though I DO now have to avoid the 20% hill that I used to use on my road bike). More annoying are the downhills when there can be a tendency to spin out. I'd go for it if I were you. It is liberating in all kinds of ways and I find I pace myself better on the inclines...0
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barry_kellett99 wrote:My shortest commuting route:
Would this be considered hilly?
By most people yesI was thinking of getting a pompino for the winter but am not sure I could cope with Single speed.
Riding single speed is relaxing and fun.Maybe I could mix it up with mostly single speed but take the road bike in on dry winter days to take the pressure off?
Anyone riding a similar style route single speed? Advice?
I do a 15 mile ride on the Devon Somerset border over the Blackdown Hills every morning. This time of year I use the single speed about half the time (when it is wet or I want a huge saddlebag) and a Orbea racing bike the rest of the time. Both are fun and there is no "pressure"
Your whole question seems to assume that riding a bike is somehow difficult and taxing0 -
vorsprung wrote:barry_kellett99 wrote:My shortest commuting route:
Would this be considered hilly?
By most people yesI was thinking of getting a pompino for the winter but am not sure I could cope with Single speed.
Riding single speed is relaxing and fun.Maybe I could mix it up with mostly single speed but take the road bike in on dry winter days to take the pressure off?
Anyone riding a similar style route single speed? Advice?
I do a 15 mile ride on the Devon Somerset border over the Blackdown Hills every morning. This time of year I use the single speed about half the time (when it is wet or I want a huge saddlebag) and a Orbea racing bike the rest of the time. Both are fun and there is no "pressure"
Your whole question seems to assume that riding a bike is somehow difficult and taxing
lol
I guess I am just worried I wouldn't be able to enjoy the single speed aspect of it, but having never tried it I am willing to give it a go, especially after everyone's advice on here. So I am on the lookout now for a second hand Pompino, and for the poster further up, I will definitely not be riding it fixed.
Cheers My Dears
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rear sprockets are so cheap it is not an expensive problem if you get the wrong gear at first. when i started i was going to use an easy gear to 'get used to it' but after advice on here i used a gear i thought was too difficult. after 6 weeks, i was fitter and the hills were not a problem anymore (well on road, off road totally different)Cotic Soul rider.0
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scottgeniusltd2005 wrote:rear sprockets are so cheap it is not an expensive problem if you get the wrong gear at first. when i started i was going to use an easy gear to 'get used to it' but after advice on here i used a gear i thought was too difficult. after 6 weeks, i was fitter and the hills were not a problem anymore (well on road, off road totally different)Bike/Train commuter: Brompton S2L - "Machete"
12mile each way commuter: '11 Boardman CX with guards and rack
For fun: '11 Wilier La Triestina
SS: '07 Kona Smoke with yellow bits0