To Single-Speed or not to Single-Speed...

Duffer65

Hello,

I'm going to buy a new bike in the next month or so but I am having trouble deciding what to go for, so would like a bit of advice.

I accidentally got bitten by the cycling bug a couple of years ago whilst teaching one of my daughters to ride a bike. I bought an entry level Giant hybrid from my LBS so that I could cycle with her (not realising how much I would enjoy cycling again after a very long break). I do most of my riding at weekends and a bit of light commuting, but plan to increase the amount of miles I do.

Now, after riding my bike for awhile I feel that I want to 'upgrade'. I have a budget of £700 and want to get something that will last me a few years as I am unlikely to be able to be in a position to spend out on another bike for quite awhile. My dilemma is this: I am drawn to the simplicity and looks of a single speed such as a Cooper Monza or Genesis flyer; but I'm concerned that this may be impractical. I live in South London, and whilst it's certainly not mountainous, there are a few steep hills in my area. Would getting a single speed be a problem? My other option is to go for a road bike such as a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Sora or a Trek 1.2. I really can't decide! Or perhaps I should just go for a better spec hybrid.

Any balanced Pros/cons and helpful advice would be much appreciated. I know ultimately that it's my decision but I would value your thoughts.
:?

Alphabet

depends whereabouts in south london. I'm in Bromley, so other than bromley hill, my route is *pretty much* flat the whole way. if you've got herne hill, sydenham hill and crystal palace to worry about, get some gears or find a slightly longer route around.

single speed is surprisingly fun though. it's really nice to not even think about gears and it's much smoother, quieter and easier to push. try before you buy.

if you've got 700 quid, I'd go for a Bianchi Pista and spend the rest on a brake for the front. i believe it has a flip flop hub so you can got single speed or fixed depending on your mood

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/bianchi- ... 50101.html

Clever Pun

Alphabet wrote:

depends whereabouts in south london. I'm in Bromley, so other than bromley hill, my route is *pretty much* flat the whole way. if you've got herne hill, sydenham hill and crystal palace to worry about, get some gears or find a slightly longer route around.

this or just MTFU

going around is nicer but going over is a challenge esp on 50-16

gtvlusso

50 x 16 and ride it fixed (on hills) = death to the legs!

Alphabet

i'm on 50-16 and it's fine. but i only have one real hill...

mudcovered

gtvlusso wrote:

50 x 16 and ride it fixed (on hills) = death to the legs!

Well yes but you live in Bristol which has real hills.

In the flatter environment of London it might be more workable.

Mike

Jimfrandisco

Do it...but don't spend £700 quid on it?

If you can only buy one bike for the foreseeable future then that's a lot to spend on something that you may not like. If you've never ridden a single speed then i'd recommend you buy a decent-ish geared bike that has slotted drop outs and then convert it to single speed, which is cheap and easy to do.
That way if you decide you hate it then you can just build the gears back up - it'd be a lot cheaper than finding out it's too hilly in S.London for a single speed and having to be stuck with it.

If you're only looking for one bike something like a Cotic Roadrat might work - slotted drops outs so you can run geared/single, flat bar/drop bar, discs/v-brakes....

And if you're still after the retro look then get your hands on an old steel frame and some cheap wheels and build your own single speed - if you can find a frame you can do it for peanuts...

iPete

Why restrict yourself. I'd quite enjoy a single speed but there are times when its not practical, especially if you want a do it all machine. If you can afford two bikes, great, get that stylish ride you want and the roadie you can ride at the weekends.

I hate that my practical head always wins because I so want a Lungavita but my Allez does my commuting, shopping, touring and weekend rides, a single speed can't compete in my 1 bike garage.
http://www.pinarello.com/eng/lungavita_420.php

cee

why not get something geared....but with horizontal dropouts, so it can be converted to singlespeed without a chain tensioner....then you could fairly easily change between the two?

andy83

I would get a geared bike to start with and then if you get the cycling bug and really want to continue then look to get a cheap ss / fg

I love riding my FG but it is nice to have the option to switch

I dont think i would be enjoying cycling as much if i started with a fg before i rode my geared bike for over a year

biondino

Assuming you don't want to go fixed, then there's no point in getting a SS bike. If you can only have one bike, and are prepared to buy one of decent quality, then buy a geared bike. You can do everything a SS can (you can even do it all in one gear if you like!), but you also have the freedom to take on nay route, any distance, without having to wonder how you'll be limited by your lack of gears.

Wiggle are selling the Focus Variado at a 30+% discount at the moment - full 105 on a good-looking road bike for under £600.

Duffer65

Thanks everyone! I think I'll stick with geared for now and maybe get an old frame and cobble together a SS.

spotteddolphin

Single speed's are excellent on the simplicity front, but if you ever want to do any other riding in the future, you might be best going for either a city hybrid, the new Whyte Bikes look good, or even a cross bike. Failing that, a nice road bike with 25 tyres (better comfort in the city), and at least then if you really get into riding, you can hit the open road and have the gears to cope with any gradient.

paulbox

I love the look of some of the single speeds but find that when I'm riding, even on flat ground I like to change the gearing slightly to give my legs a change. Is this unusual?

spotteddolphin

PaulBox wrote:

I love the look of some of the single speeds but find that when I'm riding, even on flat ground I like to change the gearing slightly to give my legs a change. Is this unusual?

Not at all, your legs probably want to keep spinning at the same cadence, quite natural and much better for your riding.

If you can keep the same effort, but modulate your gearing to keep your legs spinning at the same rpm you are comfy with, you will become a much better, and more fluid rider.

il_principe

You're gonna end up wanting both! SS wise the Pearson Touche is great. I run one and a Kinesis Decade Convert2 - which can be run as a geared or SS bike...

il_principe

spotteddolphin wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

I love the look of some of the single speeds but find that when I'm riding, even on flat ground I like to change the gearing slightly to give my legs a change. Is this unusual?

Not at all, your legs probably want to keep spinning at the same cadence, quite natural and much better for your riding.

If you can keep the same effort, but modulate your gearing to keep your legs spinning at the same rpm you are comfy with, you will become a much better, and more fluid rider.

mmmm or by having only one gear you will perfect your souplesse... IME riding SS has done my cycling a world of good.

gralegav

Il Principe wrote:

spotteddolphin wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

I love the look of some of the single speeds but find that when I'm riding, even on flat ground I like to change the gearing slightly to give my legs a change. Is this unusual?

Not at all, your legs probably want to keep spinning at the same cadence, quite natural and much better for your riding.

If you can keep the same effort, but modulate your gearing to keep your legs spinning at the same rpm you are comfy with, you will become a much better, and more fluid rider.

mmmm or by having only one gear you will perfect your souplesse... IME riding SS has done my cycling a world of good.

+1 to this, the boss is right, You'll love SS. Besides you can go spinny, I ride 42x18 cos of those pesky S London hills (I go over Telegraph hill regularly and Crystal palace occasionally).
If you want to hedge your bets, a cotic roadrat or Kinesis decade would be perfect. I love my roadrat, but it is one of 3 SSs (longside road and mtbs....)
Go SS, you won't regret it!

Canny Jock

gralegav wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

spotteddolphin wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

I love the look of some of the single speeds but find that when I'm riding, even on flat ground I like to change the gearing slightly to give my legs a change. Is this unusual?

Not at all, your legs probably want to keep spinning at the same cadence, quite natural and much better for your riding.

If you can keep the same effort, but modulate your gearing to keep your legs spinning at the same rpm you are comfy with, you will become a much better, and more fluid rider.

mmmm or by having only one gear you will perfect your souplesse... IME riding SS has done my cycling a world of good.

+1 to this, the boss is right, You'll love SS. Besides you can go spinny, I ride 42x18 cos of those pesky S London hills (I go over Telegraph hill regularly and Crystal palace occasionally).
If you want to hedge your bets, a cotic roadrat or Kinesis decade would be perfect. I love my roadrat, but it is one of 3 SSs (longside road and mtbs....)
Go SS, you won't regret it!

+2, I reckon commuting single speed has really helped my fitness levels and in particular made climbing a lot easier. I've actively started searching out hills on my commuting route - nothing too serious, but I'm quite proud of the fact I can get up the hill in Greenwich Park on a 48x15 gear.

My advice would be to get a reasonable second hand road bike for £500, and build yourself a single speed using a cheap road frame, normal (free)wheel and chain tensioner with a conversion kit - total cost should easily be under £200.

iPete

I've found it much easier to just have my gear cable break, I've been running single speed for 3 weeks now

Alternatively, don't change gear if you do buy a bike with working gears, voila!

Alphabet

Canny Jock wrote:

My advice would be to get a reasonable second hand road bike for £500, and build yourself a single speed using a cheap road frame, normal (free)wheel and chain tensioner with a conversion kit - total cost should easily be under £200.

defo. although if you're going to get an old frame specifically for SS, just get one with horizontal drop outs (pretty much everything 80s and before) and you don't have to worry about a chain tensioner. added bonus is that you can also go fixed if you want to - a big no no with a chain tensioner.

Canny Jock

Alphabet wrote:

Canny Jock wrote:

My advice would be to get a reasonable second hand road bike for £500, and build yourself a single speed using a cheap road frame, normal (free)wheel and chain tensioner with a conversion kit - total cost should easily be under £200.

defo. although if you're going to get an old frame specifically for SS, just get one with horizontal drop outs (pretty much everything 80s and before) and you don't have to worry about a chain tensioner. added bonus is that you can also go fixed if you want to - a big no no with a chain tensioner.

Good point.

Here's a good video on how to covert a geared bike to single speed:

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/page47.htm