ooooh... singlespeed or 14 speed?

spatuluk

hullo!

I've got myself a nice old Carlton Cobra that needs new.. well, pretty much everything! :P

I thought that I would merely be modernizing the wheels and drivetrain, as it's currently a steel rimmed 5 speed, but as I've searched for info about choosing parts, I've read more and more about single/fixed speed. I've tried to ignore it (especially as I've always considered the singlespeeders to be a bunch of fad-following, skinny-jeaned losers. No offence!), but the more I read, the more it intrigues me! :x

So.. what do people think? Should I forget my prejudices and give it a go? I'd be commuting on it, but it won't be my only bike, as I already have a Specialized Hardrock. My commute is downhill in the morning, and uphill home (3% gradient), with a valley in the middle that has a 7% gradient. There is a lot of traffic lights. This is me: http://app.strava.com/athletes/994017.

Whatever I end up fitting, I suspect I might end up building the other option later. This bike malarkey is awfully addictive! :roll:

MattyyP

I'd go for the 14 speed just because of the flexibility it would offer... That's really all I have to say to be honest lol!

velvetytoast

....and I'd go for the single speed - I got one last year and its just great fun when it comes to commuting.

I'm not using it fixed and just using an 18t but think that its helped my pedalling efficiency quite a lot - particularly the sprints between the traffic lights I live in a pretty flat area but go up and down the only hill each day - one day I'll get to the top without having to stand :oops:

single speed - you know it makes sense!!

G.Green

I used a single speed to commute on for about a year and it was great having no gears to go wrong or maintain, I rode very muddy canal towpaths every day through winter hardly cleaned my bike and it still never gave me problems. It feels great pulling away from the lights on a single speed, everything is tight and direct. Noone on your commute is likely going to give a toss how many gears you've got so don't worry about that. How long is that 7% gradient though - think really hard about your gear, I ran 42-13 but didn't have many hills to worry about. Also if you have vertical dropouts invest in a decent chain tensioner.

spatuluk

aw, I thought that Strava link would show more. I should've checked it before I posted it! :P

Thanks for the replies!

The 7% bit lasts for exactly half a mile, but it's about the only part of my ride where I change gear significantly. There's also 4 traffic lights which're always red when I get to them, so getting off and walking might turn out to be faster!

Interesting point about things not going wrong.. i've always had bad luck with gears. Currently mine are jamming and/or coming off every couple of days (I think it's due to the cables stretching since its service)

My main worry is that I won't be fit enough for it - I haven't cycled in years, and have only been commuting for a month. Then again, maybe my inexperience is a good way to start, rather than getting too used to gears. :roll:

rolf_f

Put the gears on it. Aside from anything else, old bike gears are really simple and cheap to source so most of the arguments from the singlespeeders about cost and simplicity don't apply. Furthermore, you get the opportunity to get the hang of setting up simpler gears - ie downtube shifters ideally non indexed (indexing is pretty pointless with downtube shifters). That will serve you well for setting up modern bikes gears.

As for your commute - single speed bikes have rotten acceleration unless very low geared so the traffic lights will be as annoying as the hill. And, of course, Stockport does have hills and maybe you'll find more of them when you start extending your commutes. Because your commute is asymmetrical, in the morning your bike is likely to be too low geared and in the afternoon too high geared. Your one gear will never be the right one!

spatuluk

The gearing issue would be partially solved by a flip flop, but yeah - I forgot that traffic lights were also a worry. This morning was a prime example; there was a bit of a headwind, which slowed me down enough to hit almost every red light on the way into work! I just counted them on streetview.. 33 traffic lights! :shock: They are avoidable if I extend my commute, however..

People seem to talk about singlespeed like it's opened their eyes and made cycling more fun. The practical angel on my left shoulder says fit gears, but the curious devil on my right shoulder wants me to try singlespeed. She's also saying that I already have a bike with gears, and what's the point in having two. Curiosity is winning the argument at the moment! :roll: