Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My first single speed road ride

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pathdoc
05-07-06, 02:52 PM
I met up with a few local road guys this AM on my new singlespeed. These guys were lead by a very strong rider on a Lightspeed (sp?). I joined up with them for a few miles and was able to keep up. They had lots of singlespeed questions. I think singlespeeds will continue to grow in popularity.
Our top speed was 24.5mph according to the leaders speedometer. I was pushing maximum cadence and had no more top end left. Needless to say I have to have some sort of tailwind to keep up that kind of pace.
This proving to be an interesting diversion.:rolleyes:

tspinning
05-07-06, 03:00 PM
i just took my first real road ride on my new single, wow, this is going to really do things for my legs!! I caught up with and held onto someone on a trek 5000 today and he was rather shocked when after passing me a mile back i stormed up a couple hills with him... course it was probably his 40th mile to my 15th!
gregg
05-07-06, 03:20 PM
Keep the freewheel on for a week if you must, but flip your rear wheel over to the fixed side and start having some real fun out there

pathdoc
05-07-06, 03:24 PM
Haven't got the balls for that just yet.
genericbikedude
05-07-06, 04:50 PM
what is the appeal of an un-fixed road singlespeed? If you can coast, you may as well get some gears to go with it.
hyperRevue
05-07-06, 04:52 PM
No derailleurs, so still less maintenance and cost.
Jerseysbest
05-07-06, 04:53 PM
what is the appeal of an un-fixed road singlespeed? If you can coast, you may as well get some gears to go with it.

Not wanting to spend the money to fix a broken derailer and 99% of my riding I only need one gear.
iamtim
05-07-06, 08:47 PM
Haven't got the balls for that just yet.

Ok, I wound up getting a BD "Dawes" Lighting SST, which is -- essentially -- the "bottom end" version of what you got. Do yourself a favor -- flip the wheel and ride fixed. You've got two brakes, keep them on until you are more familiar with riding fixed.

Ees mucho better, mi amigo.

IMHO, riding single speed (i.e. freewheeled, not fixed) invalidates the benefits of both riding fixed and riding geared, and puts you in some bicycling nether-limbo.

Although I would recommend dropping your chainring down to a 44 or so. The stock 46 (47?) tooth chainring is killer to start out on, especially for urban riding.