Single speed what are the advantages?

Robbie1958

I rode with a couple of guys the other day, one was using a fixed wheel and the other a single speed freewheel bike. I am looking to buy a bike for the winter and they suggested that i ought to look at a single speed freewheel.

I guess my concern is, that after riding my ten speed campag colnago, that i will find a single speed far more difficult to ride particularly up hills and inclines. i know there is the obvious, less weight with a single speed, but i'm not overly concerned with weight saving. I just want a reliable bike for the winter, to get me out from my turbo trainer and onto the road when the weather permits.

so what are the advantages of a single/fixed wheel? and how much difference will i notice on climbs? any other comments welcome?

FunBus

No cable stretch
No gear servicing
no clogged up gears
No chain slap/frame chips

It will be good for fitness and you cant just slip into an easy gear and crawl up a hill

I've not got caught up in the whole singlespeed/fixie market, but can see the benefits - they're like grown up BMX's and they can take some abuse with very little maintnence

keef66

Slight weight saving, but the main attraction is the greater simplicity / durability of the drivetrain. Thicker chain, nothing to wear out or go out of adjustment etc. Climbing hills though is bloody hard work.

And riding fixed makes your legs go up and down like a sewing machine when going downhill

ride_whenever

cost for a full replacement ss drivetrain every 2-3 years: £100 tops if you get really pimp chains and sprockets.

cost for a replacement 10 speed campag drivetrain every year £lots more


That is the sole reason to have a ss winter hack. You will get fit pretty quickly with one, especially if you live in a hilly area!

Pross

The benefits have been listed above. I don't know North Norfolk so I don't know if it is the stereotype pan flat area but if so it can be a good idea for a winter training bike. Here in South Wales I wouldn't fancy it as I'd either be walking or spinning a lot!

Monty Dog

I've been riding fixed regularly for a number of years - before it became 'trendy' and despite a choice of 6 bikes in the garage, I'll often leave the Record-equipped Colnago and go for a blast on the fixed. It usually means I'm under-geared on the flat and over-geared on the hills - but I don't know any better way of building leg strength and fluid pedalling. Maybe it's because my regularly weekend rides are 150k in 5 hours with 2500m of climbing, including some at 25%. It gives a really 'honest' view of your performance - driving the bunch at 40k plus on the flat, hitting 60k+ on downhills and grinding your way around the North Downs. I also don't get precious about the bike, know that it's unlikely to go wrong and maintenance is a doddle. Next project is a single-speed crosser complete with discs - it'll be heavier than my 'cross race bike - but for commuting and night-time single-tracking in winter, should be ideal. White Bros ENO hubs also means you can easily convert that spare frame.

STEFANOS4784

Good if you're bored of your knees and want some new ones on the NHS

father_jack

Would buy one if I lived in Denmark or any other flat country..choose a high gear setup and should be sufficient.

markos1963

Robbie I live in N Norfolk and ride SS almost all year round. I know its a bit hilly round here but i can get up most hills using a 48/18 combo, around a 70 inch gear. I find the simplicity of it so refreshing and the running costs as well. I got a Boardman Comp SC on C2W for around £360, it weighs only 8kg and its a lovely ride. I don't know any other road bikes you can get for the same money that weigh so little. If you get a SS make sure you get a good fit so it's comfortable and you won't have any problems. All those tails of knackered knees are largely false I don't get any problems and none of my clubmates who ride SS complain of any either.

Robbie1958

Thanks for the replies folks.

It's almost certainly going to be a single gear freewheel. i really don't fancy the idea of pedaling constantly, and besides for me it would be an accident waiting to happen, as i stop pedaling to take in the scenery of the norfolk coastline. Obviously i do have concerns about whether i am going to be able to grind it up the hills., i have'nt walked up a hill yet and i don't really want to start now.

Less maintainance, less weight, and less moving parts certainly appeals to me.

As it's really only for the winter i really don't want to be spending too much so i guess at least if i hate it i can sell it on fleebay.

Robbie1958

markos1963 wrote:

Robbie I live in N Norfolk and ride SS almost all year round. I know its a bit hilly round here but i can get up most hills using a 48/18 combo, around a 70 inch gear. I find the simplicity of it so refreshing and the running costs as well. I got a Boardman Comp SC on C2W for around £360, it weighs only 8kg and its a lovely ride. I don't know any other road bikes you can get for the same money that weigh so little. If you get a SS make sure you get a good fit so it's comfortable and you won't have any problems. All those tails of knackered knees are largely false I don't get any problems and none of my clubmates who ride SS complain of any either.

I mentioned to someone on here that it's a bit hilly round the north Norfolk coast and they told me Norfolk is flat. I guess it's less hilly than most places, but still hilly enough for me to worry about getting up them on a single gear bike.

I can't run to £360 particuarly after i have spent what seems like a fortune on this cycling bug this year, and i think she might notice if a shiny new bike appears in the garage.

I guess if i don't like the single gear, i can always put it on the turbo trainer i'm now about to buy.

unclemalc

Robbie - I use a Spesh Tricross SS with 'guards and a big Brooks saddle almost all the time now - for commuting and increasingly for going farther out.
Around town its fun and simple. There is a bit of freewheeling but all I'm trying to do is get from A to B without getting killed.

On longer trips it makes you think about how you cycle in order to get the best out of your fitness. If you suddenly have a hill to climb you only have one gear - just do it. If you can't, do more flat work, get fitter then come back next week and try again!

What gear you pick will be important depending upon you: I use a 42/18 round town as I'm stop-start-stop-start in traffic all the time but on longer rides I use a 42/16 which means I'm out of the saddle a lot on slopes.

I don't have the knees anymore for 48/18 or more...

I personally would not use a fixie as I WOULD FALL OFF AT JUST THE WRONG MOMENT!! :oops: :shock:

Berk Bonebonce

Anyone who thinks that fixed gears are somehow 'good' should be made to ride them all the time.

aloadofpants

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Anyone who thinks that fixed gears are somehow 'good' should be made to ride them all the time.

I do..

mroli

I too purchased a Boardman Road Comp SC through cycle to work and it does exactly what it says on the tin - it is a good single speed/fixed flip rear wheel that handles an 8 mile each way London commute with the minimum of fuss and parts to wear out.

I would commute on it every day. But the past couple of Fridays I have rode my Condor Squadra into work as I've rode back to Oxford after work and I must say I do notice the difference (and appreciate my Squadra) so much more when I've been on the single speed.

Horses for courses though - as people say, I don't want to be buying a new chain and cassette for my squadra every 20 weeks or so as that would make life a little expensive and the single speed is perfectly adequate for my commuting needs. It is less conspicuous (especially with tape) outside pubs and has nutted wheels which hopefully makes them less nickable than quick releases. But for a long, enjoyable ride - squadra every time.

rolf_f

Of course, you could always get an old style geared bike with downtube shifters and no indexing.

Chains don't wear out (any faster than SS ones)
Minimal maintenance
Cable stretch not a problem
Can get all the parts for buttons (eg recently got a spare derailleur, perfectly serviceable, for £6 inc postage!)
Mechanically bulletproof

And, they actually have more than one speed (by which I mean that, unless the topgraphy (ie flat) and wind conditions (ie none) suit your single gear, you won't be moving at that 'single speed' but some other less than optimum speed) - which is good. 1930s technology; get with it

bigpikle

we (me and a couple of mates) ride singlespeeds quite often and recently did a 160 mile 2 day tour with well over 7000ft of climbing - it was huge fun, and we were carrying overnight gear as well.

Singlespeed riding is great in its simplicity, as you just focus on pedaling. Its quieter, smoother and takes away a whole element of riding with the lack of constant gear changes. Its funny how different 30-40 miles seems when you dont think once about gear selection, even on hills.

I have no idea if there is any real training benefit from riding a singlespeed but it has definitely made me a more 'flexible' rider, in that I can push through slight inclines much more easily than I could before, using the same gear and cadence and keeping speeds higher etc. Hills I ride up on a singlespeed I would never have dreamed of being able to ride up a while back. It also helps mentally as I've ridden some pretty steep hills on a singlespeed so there isnt too much I fear now when I'm riding one of my geared bikes!

I tend to be a rider that sticks to a narrow cadence range and change gear frequently to keep in that range. Since covering a lot more miles on a singlespeed I've found I can ride a broader range of cadence much more comfortably - no idea if this has any real training benefit but I'm convinced of the connection.

Its tough at first getting used to hills in a big gear but really doesnt take long to get used to. I'm bout to change my rear cog as what was once impossible is now too easy

Robbie1958

Well last week i bit the bullet and for £82 purchased an old (1989) single gear bike), i have to say it's a joy to ride. Like others have said, quieter by far. i thought i might struggle to get up the hills and inclines, but i don't seem to do these any slower. obviously more effort is involved, but thats just what i need.

I think it will be perfect for thewinter, now all i have to do is maintain an average of 16 miles per hour over the 50-60 miles for the Sunday club social run. Thanks for all your input folks. If anyone asks me now i would say, if you live in an area like me with not that many hills, go for it.

merlinghnd

I've got a Boardman SC for commuting and it is great, highly recommend it.

I've also got a nice Focus Cayo which is great too but when it is raining, I take the Boardman out, enjoy the ride and feel good that my good bike is dry and clean and not being ground down by a wet weather commmute.

I feel a stronger cyclists as well with the Boardman. Going up hill you have to grind it out but you do get there and you would be surprised how big a hill you can get up on a 48/18 which I have now reduced to 48/17.

Lot of bike for not a lot of money.

2Phat4Rapha

London Fixed-gear and Single-speed forums

http://www.lfgss.com

Fine bunch of couriers, commuters, polo players and single speed enthusiasts.

Looks like they're going to have a stand at the cycle show too.