Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Why you like single speed

What is the main reason you like single speed bikes?

Fun is not on the poll, why?

Fun is not on the poll, why?

yeah, bad poll.

I can clean my rear gear with a single tooth brush. Within 10 min, I can replace my chain; no need to pull deraileurs.

Fun is not on the poll, why?

I suppose it comes under 'culture' - the culture of fun (?)

Low maint. My 20 speed road bike weighs alot less than my lugged steel SS though.
I park at an elementary school, and on recess kids climb on my bike, and balls hit it all the time. I need something without many parts to break off of it.

It's fun, but I use mine for training

I like mine because it is simple, nearly-silent, and fast.

I like mine because it is simple, nearly-silent, and fast.

+1, I have to admit my bike looks fast but the engine is kinda slow :o

I like mine because it is simple, nearly-silent, and fast.


so when he says ss does that inclue fixed?
because a freewheel and brake noise is loud and annoying.

a fixed gear bike is a single speed
but all single speeds are not quiet

Fun?

so when he says ss does that inclue fixed?
because a freewheel and brake noise is loud and annoying.

a fixed gear bike is a single speed
but all single speeds are not quiet

Im sure that every member knows what Single Speed pertains to on this forum. But maybe they should change the name to "Freewheel and Fixed Gear" my SS/FW is uber quite, the freewheel and brakes make almost no noise at all :)

cuz im dying to be cool

so when he says ss does that inclue fixed?
because a freewheel and brake noise is loud and annoying.

a fixed gear bike is a single speed
but all single speeds are not quiet
I'm talking about my non-FG SS. Brakes aren't very noisy if you keep them clean, and I only coast through turns, really. Is it as quiet as a brakeless fg? No, of course not. But while I'm cranking, the only thing I hear is wind in my hair and tire noise.

so when he says ss does that inclue fixed?
because a freewheel and brake noise is loud and annoying.

a fixed gear bike is a single speed
but all single speeds are not quiet


What freewheels are you using?

My 105 and Ultegra hubs are completely silent. Toe in your brakes right and it's like a whisper when you use them.

Still quiet.

I like my SS because I hate constantly thinking about gears, dealing with gears, dealing with adjustments, additional cables, stuff to clean, etc...I just want one, it's less to worry about. Yeah, and it's fun.

cuz im dying to be cool

anyone else ever notice that the people who consider themselves to be cool are usually ****ing ******bag idiots?

anyone else ever notice that the people who consider themselves to be cool are usually ****ing ******bag idiots?
hey no personal attacks

All of the above.

Apparently I like single speed because I'm white.

I'm pretty lazy, so just being able to get on and ride is nice. I rarely need to adjust anything. I need to get different brakes- Right now they take more time than anything other than cleaning, and most of the filth is brake dust. I like just riding and not worrying about anything.

I like the sound (besides the craftsmanship) of the White Industry freecog.....both the 36 and 72 pawls. :D

because its simply my kind of ride... i love the way it looks, how its simple not much cables,etc

It makes me feel cool, probably the same way that hells angels feel when they pass a dude on a touring motorcycle. haha.

it helps me retain my girlish figure.

I can't lie. I like to ride bikes, preferably downhil. It's really, really simple and needs no furthur analysis.

Low[er] weight and a general lack of mechanical complexity mean I can set it and forget it. I also find that it has benefits in terms of fitness, due to the lack of efficiency. The bike itself is efficient, but because I have optimal power levels at certain RPM, the inability to match my optimal range to loads via a variable-gear transmission means that I have become stronger due to the inefficiency of the system [me+bike]. In short, riding a SS is more challenging than riding a geared bike, but it's a good thing.

Haven't got an SS right now unless you consider my antique coaster bikes as being such but am working on building another SS because...

SS + MTB + singletrack = fun

For the road I ride fixed.

I bought mine to ride as a commuter while in Japan, something that I wouldn't have to worry about adjusting/messing with while I was there. Now I just ride it for fun, errands, or cruising around. It's quiet, and the lack of derailleurs makes it relaxing. Not very fast though, but I have a geared bike for that.

Actually, for me is really threefold:

- Close to 100% efficiency.
- Simple and CHEAP to maintain.
- I'm stupid, I forgot how to use gears.

I can clean my rear gear with a single tooth brush. Within 10 min, I can replace my chain; no need to pull deraileurs.

Those, too.

I like the sound (besides the craftsmanship) of the White Industry freecog.....both the 36 and 72 pawls. :D

They don't have 36, let alone 72 pawls. Try 6.

My super-cheap freewheel has 4 pawls. I guess the 2 additional in the WI freewheel really make it worth to pay 8 times the price I did.

EDIT: actually, only the Trials version of the WI freewheel has 6 pawls. The normal one has only 3. Meaning, my cheapo freewheel has more engagement points (48) than the 8 times more expensive WI one.

The Trials WI freewheel is even more expensive.

They don't have 36, let alone 72 pawls. Try 6.

My super-cheap freewheel has 4 pawls. I guess the 2 additional in the WI freewheel really make it worth to pay 8 times the price I did.You're right.....I meant engagement points.

You're right.....I meant engagement points.

OK. I just realized that even the cheapest of my freewheels (took it apart a few days ago - I still have to muster the courage to put it all together, but I will, because I am cheap) has more engagement points than your WI (unless you hate the Trial version, which I doubt). Isn't that fascinating?

Okay, I have the official results in and it turns out you are all wrong.

The correct answer was, "Because I am white."

OK. I just realized that even the cheapest of my freewheels (took it apart a few days ago - I still have to muster the courage to put it all together, but I will, because I am cheap) has more engagement points than your WI (unless you hate the Trial version, which I doubt). Isn't that fascinating?

I think I paid about $90 for the 18T trials version. I run this on my dedicated single speed.



http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/jojisan/LitespeedClassicWIfreewheel.jpg

Really, that's cheap! I see it can be had for about $120 in most places.
By the way, do you know if they come in 1/8" or only 3/32"?

Clean looking, light, easy to maintain, simple, fun.

Fun is not on the poll, why?

I would assume because 'fun' is implied. ALL riding is FUN! The other reasons are secondary. So therefore, the question is interpreted as, "Besides fun, what is the main reason you like single speed bikes?" :D

I haven't ridden one, am in the process of shopping, so I can't vote. My reason for buying is low maintenance though.