Single speed or gears ?????

rob0070
rob0070 Posts: 60
edited October 2010 in Training, fitness and health
What's better for general fitness on a daily commute?
Single speed or gears ?
Thanks :D

Comments

  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    I like SS bikes. Mostly, I like it's simplicity - no gears to faff on with. But unless you choose the gear ratio correctly I don't think it's better then gears for fitness. The big thing I like with gears is the ability to tackle 10% climbs that my old SS couldn't even attempt.

    On a commute, I'd take the SS. On weekends the geared bike.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • 58585
    58585 Posts: 207
    Just ride your geared bike in the same gear for a couple of months and report back with your findings :D
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    58585 wrote:
    Just ride your geared bike in the same gear for a couple of months and report back with your findings :D

    It's a whole different feel between a SS and a geared bike IMO. On a SS the chainline is straight and has no jockey wheels to run through so is so much smoother. The weight is less. The psychological temptation knowing there's gears all add up to a different experience.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    If its a daily commute year round and its not too hilly (by that I mean nothing above around 15%) then singlespeed or fixed would probably be my choice. I commute on fixed most of the time - the real advantage is how little cleaning and fettling you need to do.

    If its gonna be your only bike though I'd probably go with gears.
    More problems but still living....

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