SS v Gears? Should I buy a 29er?

expandingmaan

Hi,
I currently ride a standard hardtail bike (24 speed). I find my gears useful as i tackle hills when commuting to work.
Im thinking of buying a single speed 29er on as budget if anyone could recommend me one? maybe the Vitus Dee?

Would you guys recommend buying a single speed to commute over a geared bike. As I love the idea of simplicity and cleaner looking bike with the single speed 29ers.

What are your experiences?

Thanks!! much appreciated

cooldad

Gears and no.

Chunkers1980

I'd try doing your rides in a gear similar to what you'd buy in a SS and see how you get on. Then you'll realise.

BigAl

Odd.

First you say 'I find my gears useful' then you suggest ditching them :?:

I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?

The Rookie

Either you can manage your commute single speed or you cannot, you may find you have to gear down so much for the hills you then loose a lot of speed, remembering the days you'll have tired legs and a heavy duty headwind.....

I do my commute on a 1x9 with an 11-28 cassette (46T up front) I could lose the top 3 gears without issue really (only use on 2 shortish downhill stretches) and struggle through without the lowest (but it would hurt) but for my commute it would probably add about 5 minutes (onto 26) if I had to do the whole lot in what is currently my second gear (46/25) which is probably the tallest I could get away with as a single speed.

craker

So is this just a commuting bike? Why a 'ATB' as opposed to a road bike of some sort?

What's the commute like?

I do 15 hilly miles each way, sometimes ss sometimes geared as the mood takes me. It's nice to have a choice, but always on a road bike.

Edit - @ TheRookie I regeared the SS from ~69" to 74" recently. I did wonder how on earth I'd make it up the steepest hill on the commute, 1:10 for a 20 metre section, but it does seem to happen. I think it's easy to imagine a hill couldn't be climbable in a certain gear but when it comes to it, it's not so bad.

passout

There is something to be said for having a dedicated commuting bike (whatever you go for) - puncture proof slick tyres, rigid forks, mudguards, rack, decent lights & not too flashy so its less likely to be nicked. Low maintenance through single speed or hub gears does make sense but it'snt a major issue in my experience. This way you also keep a dedicated off road machine with chunky tyres, suspension set up for off road etc - ready to go.

In other words think what you need the bike(s) to be good at 1st and worry about this other stuff second.

Personally I've used s/s on my commute and it was fine. Good around town but less good on the open road or offroad. Gears offer flexibility. As far as MTBs go I wouldn't worry about wheel size either way despite the seemingly endless deabate about it, tyre choice is more important.

The Rookie

passout wrote:

There is something to be said for having a dedicated commuting bike (whatever you go for).

This - very much.

pesky_jones

BigAl wrote:

I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?

They do come in quite handy.

cooldad

Pesky Jones wrote:

BigAl wrote:

I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?

They do come in quite handy.

Especially when you walk.

blinddrew

Pesky Jones wrote:

BigAl wrote:

I find my arms are useful - should I keep them?

They do come in quite handy.

I see what you did there.

rockmonkeysc

Single speed is good, takes a bit of getting used to but as long as you attack climbs rather than trying to just plod up them it's fine.

thelonegroover

Sounds like you need the gears, if you like the look of single speed why not look at an 8 speed Alfine.