Commuting - Going Single Speed

Today I spent an hour and a half cleaning the drive train on my 2x9 cross check and I am can't take it any more. This is the second week in a row that I had to pull my chain and cassette in order to clean all of the sand, salt, and gunk out. I am heading to the LBS tomorrow morning to pick up some spacers, a cog, and a chain and I am going to swap tomorrow night

I told myself that I wasn't going to jump on the single speed bandwagon, I enjoy having my gears back there always ready to help me out, but apparently the city had decided that instead of plowing the streets here, they are just going to spread thousands of pounds of sand and salt everywhere. Combine that with snow storms and temps just below freezing makes a disgusting mess in my drive train.

I have a very hilly 10 mile commute and use every single gear combo available, but I just can't take the maintenance anymore.

Anybody have any advice for me before I make the plunge?

i went single speed two years ago and now i went fixed gear. its not as fast, but its a lot of fun.

Sounds like you need an internal geared hub.

Sounds like you need an internal geared hub.

I assure you, if I could afford it I would go IG, but since I can go to ss for about $30 its a no brainer.

Sounds like you need an internal geared hub.
+1


I assure you, if I could afford it I would go IG, but since I can go to ss for about $30 its a no brainer.
IGH can get expensive, but if you are willing to go 3-speed they can be had for a reasonable cost - like this one (http://www.ebikestop.com/sturmey_archer_s30_s_rf3_3_speed_hub-HU2209.php) which includes the shifter, cable, mounting hardware, and a 16t cog all for less than 70 bucks.

I can tell you personally that it will be an entirely different commuting experience. I went single speed on my Fuji a couple weeks ago and like it alot. I cant take some of the giant hills around my house but I walked up some of those even with gears. Your bike will be alot more reliable with alot less maintenance which is a plus but it will take some time to build up your legs.

Even an IGH, ss or fg setup will need cleaning on a routine basis to keep from getting damaged by sand and salt. The difference is just that there's less cogs to clean than with a full geared setup.

Going ss will also save you from cleaning your derailleur and shifter cables. Weather plays hell on cable function especially when you introduce a corrosive material like salt

I used to commute on a single speed but I found it too limiting in terms of speed on both ends. Climbing the bridge in the morning on a bad day was difficult and top speed was limited as well unless you want to pedal like a hummingbird. Then I had a Shimano 4-speed internal hub, that was perfect, until it broke:( So I'm back to regular gears. I just carry a small brush with me and wipe the drivetrain after each messy ride, then I have less cleaning to do later. I replace cables in Spring anyway, if Winter was messy, so that doesn't bug me.

Adam

Last winter I got a new touring frame for commuting, so I converted my Italian racing bike to a fixed/single-speed. I really enjoyed it for a while, riding it to work 1-2 days/week. However, my knees didn't like it at all. It is very hilly on my commute route, and apparently my knees just weren't getting enough time to warm up. Long story short, I came close to seriously injuring my knees, and I lost 1,000 miles of riding while recovering. It was an expensive and painful lesson.

I think a lot of the people who get into riding SS/fixed either:
- Live in areas with few or no hills;
- Are a lot younger than me;
- Have much stronger knees than me; or
- Don't ride very much.

I must admit, however, that SS/fixed bikes are appealing. They look great and are easier to maintain due to fewer parts. They are fun to ride because you feel much more connected to the road. They can be inexpensive to build up and maintain.

Just pay attention to your body if you decide to go that route.

i have been seriously putting together a cheap fixie to see how I like it, then possibly commit to a primary ss/fg bike as well.

Singlespeed is all very well and good if you live somewhere that is as flat as a pancake, but if you have any sort of serious hills, you need gears. I second getting an IHG.

You spent an hour and a half cleaning sand out of your drivetrain? Were you using tweezers? :) Get a hose, clean out the major stuff, relube, and get back to riding.

Today I spent an hour and a half cleaning the drive train on my 2x9 cross check and I am can't take it any more. This is the second week in a row that I had to pull my chain and cassette in order to clean all of the sand, salt, and gunk out. I am heading to the LBS tomorrow morning to pick up some spacers, a cog, and a chain and I am going to swap tomorrow night

I told myself that I wasn't going to jump on the single speed bandwagon, I enjoy having my gears back there always ready to help me out, but apparently the city had decided that instead of plowing the streets here, they are just going to spread thousands of pounds of sand and salt everywhere. Combine that with snow storms and temps just below freezing makes a disgusting mess in my drive train.

I have a very hilly 10 mile commute and use every single gear combo available, but I just can't take the maintenance anymore.

Anybody have any advice for me before I make the plunge?

I too commute daily and suffer the road gunk problem, I am going to try the internal 8 speed Shimano hub with a single chain ring up front. Good fenders help. I also clean the chain once a week during the winter, this you have to do. I also converted to disc brakes, they make a huge difference in braking performance. Another thing you could do is go back to a 7 or 8 speed set up as the spacing is wider and won't gunk up as much.

I also have built up a single speed mountain bike 29" wheel and am having trouble finding the right gear combination due to the 29" wheel, anyone have any suggestions there. Right now I am running a 32X22 and it just seem a little to big of a gear for the pacific Northwest trails

Singlespeed is all very well and good if you live somewhere that is as flat as a pancake, but if you have any sort of serious hills, you need gears.

Tell that to the ss and fg riders who've done 1200k brevets. I know people who have ridden PBP, GRR, Cascade, and raced The Cannonball! and the S2S on fixed gear bikes. Heck, Deanna Adams finished the Great Divide Race on a fixed CX bike this year and Kent Peterson is racing it on a fixed 29er in 2010.
I put in about 25% of my yearly mileage on my ss/fg rig in the not-flat-as-a-pancake Cascade foothills. The key is to get your gearing comfortable, and realize that you're never going to max out your speed on the downhills, and yes, you may struggle on some of the longer, steeper climbs. I use a 44/18 combo (65.4gi) which at a comfortable 90rpm cadence puts me at 17.5mph.

That all said and done, I can't imagine spending 30 minute cleaning the drivetrain on any of my bikes. Even my brevet bike (2x9) is a 10 minute process: Pull the chain and repeat rinse it with mineral spirits until it rinses clean. Spritz the cassette with mineral spirits and scrub with a parts brush or floss it with the collar from an old t-shirt. Same for the derailleurs. Wipe the rings with an old t-shirt and some mineral spirits. Slap the chain back on and give it a drop of Finish Line per link.

Singlespeed is all very well and good if you live somewhere that is as flat as a pancake, but if you have any sort of serious hills, you need gears. I second getting an IHG.

My commute is 40 mi rt w/one 18% .4 mi hill. Depending, I'll do switchbacks or grunt my way up straight on 2-3 times per week. In my area I've got rides laid out from 20 to 120 miles that I do on singlespeed. There're several 5-14% grades within those parameters. This year a guy finished the Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen ( http://www.dannychew.com) on a fixie w/39x20 gearing. The easiest hill is a 24% grade grade w/t toughest being a thigh burning 38% on cobblestone. :eek: The rest fall somewhere in between.

IGH would be optimal, of course, but going to fx or ss is doable. One just has to select the right gearing. I use 46x16, but will go to a 48x15 fx asa I get the $$ for the components(wheelset, bb, cranks, etc) for my old Ross frameset. When I finally made the jump it took me about a week to adjust. My overall strength on hills improved as well as my technical skillset.

i run 42x16 and it works for me quite well.

Not everyone has the bodyweight-to-strength ratio to ride a singlespeed up steep hills. Kudos to people who can, I'm jealous ;) When riding a singlespeed (freewheel) I was unable to go up some hills no matter how hard I tried, I'd just stall :( I could have gone with lower gearing but then my top speed would be limited.

Adam

I commute on a FG road bike, but I live in a very flat city. I have a SS freewheel, but have used it very rarely. I like FG for winter because of the instant feedback on wet streets and because it does force you to pedal the entire ride.

As for knees, I notice that mine are very sensitive to proper saddle height. Whenever I've changed saddles/seatpost/pedals, I could tell within a few mm whether I was too high or too low. Also, going with a lower gear/ spinning a higher cadence can help.

If you have a gear in mind from your multi-gear bike, I'd suggest going one cog more (that is, easier), especially in winter.

Switching my bike to SS was the best change I ever made. The bikes that are just for fun still have gears, but a commuter or transportation bike does very well with SS. I started with 59GI two years ago and used 67GI this year. I wouldn't put gears on it even if they were free.

The riding will be different, but you will get used to it. Don't be afraid to run a low gear and learn to spin.

I agree with AdamDZ.

Kudos and applause to those that can do it.
I commuted from my house to US1 one beautiful Florida Sunday afternoon (7 miles approx) on a 20+ year old ss cruiser style oldie but goodie.

I rode the bus home.

*---as someone else has posted: MY KNEES HURT!---*

I just converted my Bianchi San Jose to an internal hub and love it. I had 42x16 gearing and found the SS to be a little too limiting, especially on the straightaways.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm262/matthewjones0224/DSCF4556.jpg

What you really need, is to convince the road crews to use magic salt ice melt (http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/magic-salt-ice-melt-using-vodka-distilling-product).







But Officer, really I was not cycling while drunk!

Not everyone has the bodyweight-to-strength ratio to ride a singlespeed up steep hills. Kudos to people who can, I'm jealous ;) When riding a singlespeed (freewheel) I was unable to go up some hills no matter how hard I tried, I'd just stall :( I could have gone with lower gearing but then my top speed would be limited.

Adam

6'6" and 230-ish pounds, here. The low gearing I've chosen allows me to use that weight to a mechanical advantage when slogging up the long grades.
You are correct about the top speed, though. I maxed out at 28mph on my fixed side once on a wicked downhill and I really found my zone. I was spinning up over 140rpm to do that, and honestly thought my legs might snap off if I tried to go faster! My comfortable average on the ss/fg rig (both sides with the same gear combo) is around 17 - 18mph, or hovering around 90rpm.

Where I live there are hills and it is harder to ride my ss up them but I feel alot more accomplished when I do. Gears are great if you need them but many riders dont. It is all preference but I do enjoy the workout on my way to work that I was not getting when I had gears.

Singlespeed is all very well and good if you live somewhere that is as flat as a pancake, but if you have any sort of serious hills, you need gears. I second getting an IHG.

I used to think that, and I definitely need gears to trailer my daughter, but otherwise all I can say is that it was a pleasant surprise to find that not to be the case around here.

I assure you, if I could afford it I would go IG, but since I can go to ss for about $30 its a no brainer.

I advice against getting a 4-8 spd IGH for your riding pattern. People tend to project all kinds of fantasy wishes into IGH's imagining them to be zero maintenance everlasting devices immune to wind and weather. IGH's have their uses, but they actually need maintenance just like any other mechanical device. The last official Shimano doc I have seen says that a Nexus 8 spd IGH needs an overhaul every 5000 km (3100 miles, but much lower intervals if used in bad weather), but someone well informed on IGH's on this forum says Shimano now recommends 1000 miles per overhaul, which is total in line what local mechanics in my country says. The 1000 miles rule is for all weather high mileage fast commuters, if you are a fair weather low mileage commuter the service interval can be much longer.

Overhauling a Nexus IGH isn't a trivial affair at all and probably isn't cost effective to do many places in the world, so now Shimano has a new procedure where you just simply dip the entire innards of the IGH in a special oil (70-100$ per 1 liter can).
IGH's need maintenance too, and if you don't, then the IGH will simply die. I know several people who wrecked their Nexus IGH's within a year or two and talked to dozens of people with the similar experiences. Eg. the bearing races on a 8 spd Nexus are easily pitted, but since the races are part of the hub shell that isn't sold as a spare part, this means buying an entirely new hub or rear wheel.

For all practical purposes Shimano IGH's are disposable items that aren't cost effective to repair; if the hub develops shifting problems you adjust cables or perhaps flush it in oil, if that doesn't cure it, you exchange the entire gear hub.

Here are some pictures of Nexus IGH's where road salt or water has entered the inside of the hub:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/photosfromthepast/nx7brokn.jpg
http://www.yellowjersey.org/photosfromthepast/alf8rust.jpg
http://www.astounding.org.uk/ian/hubgear/mangled.html

--
Regards

My commuter is an old Schwinn Continental converted to FG. I too have a freewheel which I've stopped using (one less moving part!). FG is really great especially in the winter, as has been mentioned above.

Currently I'm running 50x16, but that is just because 50 is the size of the big ring on the used crankset I slapped on. (See http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?603149-American-to-Euro-BB-Adapter-Problem for the full adventure.) 50 is really too tall for the stop and go of commuting, so I got a 46 which I will install as soon as I get the chance (after the holidays etc).

I was motivated by the exact same issue - winter maintenance. Before I caved in I was highly skeptical of the whole FG/SS "fad". Now that I'm riding one, I have truly seen the light! Go for it!

I should note though that I live in Chicago. For the most part, our only hills are bridges and they are pretty small and brief.

I should also note that a 3 speed conversion or restoration IS on my list of future projects.

I advice against getting a 4-8 spd IGH for your riding pattern. People tend to project all kinds of fantasy wishes into IGH's imagining them to be zero maintenance everlasting devices immune to wind and weather. IGH's have their uses, but they actually need maintenance just like any other mechanical device. The last official Shimano doc I have seen says that a Nexus 8 spd IGH needs an overhaul every 5000 km (3100 miles, but much lower intervals if used in bad weather), but someone well informed on IGH's on this forum says Shimano now recommends 1000 miles per overhaul, which is total in line what local mechanics in my country says. The 1000 miles rule is for all weather high mileage fast commuters, if you are a fair weather low mileage commuter the service interval can be much longer.

My 4 speed Nexus malfunctioned after less that two years of commuting which is way under 1000 miles. There was grit inside and it was skipping and grinding. The LBS said it'd cost me almost as much in labor to fix this one as 2/3 the cost of a new one. I looked inside and this thing has like hundred parts, impossible to overhaul it by yourself. I said forget it and had that wheel rebuilt for singlespeed. On my new DIY commuter bike I went with regular RD and cogs.

Adam

I just converted my Bianchi San Jose to an internal hub and love it. I had 42x16 gearing and found the SS to be a little too limiting, especially on the straightaways.


How did you do that? I've thought of doing something similar but every time I read about it there is the issue of different O.L.D. for IGH hubs and various frames. It seems they all use different dimensions (120 for SS/FG, 130 for road, 135 for mountain, and who knows what for IGH).

Even an IGH, ss or fg setup will need cleaning on a routine basis to keep from getting damaged by sand and salt. The difference is just that there's less cogs to clean than with a full geared setup.
My routine is to let the Spring Rains clean off the sand and salt from my Sachs 7 speed hub equipped bike, no other maintenance or cleaning besides a squirt of silicone spray about once a month. I replace the $5 chain about once a year with 5000 miles of use. I've changed the front and rear sprockets once in 35,000+ miles. I'd rather waste my time on the Internet that futzing around cleaning bicycle parts that don't need it.

I'd rather waste my time on the Internet that futzing around cleaning bicycle parts that don't need it.

I almost never agree with you, but this is spot on.

My routine is to let the Spring Rains clean off the sand and salt from my Sachs 7 speed hub equipped bike, no other maintenance or cleaning besides a squirt of silicone spray about once a month. I replace the $5 chain about once a year with 5000 miles of use. I've changed the front and rear sprockets once in 35,000+ miles. I'd rather waste my time on the Internet that futzing around cleaning bicycle parts that don't need it.

Sure, Sachs (Super 7) /Sram Spectro 7 speed IGH's have a better reputation than Shimano regarding durability, but consider yourself very, very lucky to have been able to ride +35000 miles over seven? years without even repacking the hub bearings.
I have seen several failed S7 hubs, in all cases water ingress had caused rust, corrosion, and pitting of the races. Nothing special about that, that is the most common way for all hubs to fail, but on the other hand hand it also a failure mode that can be prevented by maintenance like bearing grease repacking. There is nothing magical about IGH's, without maintenance they will fail prematurely just like any other hub.

--
Regards

This has gotten a little out of hand... IGH's and derailleurs require maintenance and are subject to destruction due to the winter elements. Plain and simple. Going SS will make your bike ALOT more reliable in the long run while requiring ALOT less maintenance. You still must clean and lube the chain, clean sprocket, repack bearings, etc. You will not however have to adjust the derailleurs due to cable stretching etc. You will not have to clean and lube the derailleurs to get all the sand and road salt off. You will also not have those parts to break on you during your commute. IMO, Its a great conversion if your body and commute are willing.

all in all, hills or no hills, singlespeed is just simple and straightforward. only 1 cog and easy to maintain as opposed to multiple gears. and you get a better workout if ur going uphills! lolz

Sure, Sachs (Super 7) /Sram Spectro 7 speed IGH's have a better reputation than Shimano regarding durability, but consider yourself very, very lucky to have been able to ride +35000 miles over seven? years without even repacking the hub bearings.
I have seen several failed S7 hubs, in all cases water ingress had caused rust, corrosion, and pitting of the races. Nothing special about that, that is the most common way for all hubs to fail, but on the other hand hand it also a failure mode that can be prevented by maintenance like bearing grease repacking. There is nothing magical about IGH's, without maintenance they will fail prematurely just like any other hub.

--
Regards
I doubt that S/S or fixed gear hubs are any less susceptible to water ingress and would "need" just as much cleaning and maintenance to avoid rust, corrosion, and pitting of the races as any other type of typical hub. Chain and sprocket wear should be about the same as any IGH.

BTW, 35,000+ all weather miles in seven years of commuting is correct.

all in all, hills or no hills, singlespeed is just simple and straightforward. only 1 cog and easy to maintain as opposed to multiple gears. and you get a better workout if ur going uphills! lolz
If a "better workout" is what you are after make sure to get the heaviest bike available; under inflated tires will help too. For added workout boosting, add a couple of sandbags to your messenger bag or rear rack; low maintenance is an extra benefit.

The appeal of converting to SS is substantial but, given all the variables (hills, limited warm up time, wind, etc) I've chosen to stay geared all these years. In addition, I've only recently started taking better care of my drivetrain. I used to do the bare minimum as on a year round commuter bike, cleaning seemed futile. Instead I'd replace the entire drive train every Spring. This year, as a means to improve performance more than anything else, I decided to start using a chain scrubber with an organic degreaser-big difference. Pedalling efficiancy is improved and I hope to lower wear and tear and extend the life of those parts. I know that SS would leave me wishing for more. More top end, more climbing gears, more choices to spin into a wind, etc. My 29er MTB is SS and I love it for all the right reasons but, for my daily, all-season commuter? I think that ship has sailed.

If a "better workout" is what you are after make sure to get the heaviest bike available; under inflated tires will help too. For added workout boosting, add a couple of sandbags to your messenger bag or rear rack; low maintenance is an extra benefit.


Do I have to apologize for laughing?
That was funny.

How about spending a fraction of that on a beater off CL or such. Something that you're not going to feel the need to perfect after sloppy rides. In the good weather I alternate a fixie & an 18-speed. Right now I'm riding a $10 yard sale rebuild, I keep it up but I don't sweat it.

if you ride ss/fixed exclusively for one year, starting with a 'soft' gear and slowly building up your ability to spin at +100rpms for an extended period of time while increasing your ratio every few months when you get back on a geared bike you will be a missile. trust me, not having the option to downshift or upshift greatly improves your physical range. power and endurance/stamina will increase dramatically.

i'll be commuting this year with my roadie converted to ss, my old fixed gear conversion will be relegated to 'family-bike' status[add brakes - pull kiddie trailer] and i'll be buying a proper track bike again.



edit: i noticed that i can climb hills on a fixed gear much more aggressively than on a ss. this probably has something to do with momentum and my less than adequate, non-peloton pedal stroke.

edit: i noticed that i can climb hills on a fixed gear much more aggressively than on a ss. this probably has something to do with momentum and my less than adequate, non-peloton pedal stroke.

There's no "dead spot" on a fixed gear. Wheel momentum carries your foot through it. I've noticed it too; I climb like a monster on my fixed, but there's some slogging when I flip back to the singlespeed side.

Well... Whatever you decide, dont get rid of your multispeed parts. I just went back to gears today and loved it. I think instead of converting your bike, you should wait and buy a separate SS bike.

i
edit: i noticed that i can climb hills on a fixed gear much more aggressively than on a ss. this probably has something to do with momentum and my less than adequate, non-peloton pedal stroke.
What have you noticed about your ability to aggressively descend hills, especially down hill curves on a fixed gear?

There's no "dead spot" on a fixed gear. Wheel momentum carries your foot through it. I've noticed it too; I climb like a monster on my fixed, but there's some slogging when I flip back to the singlespeed side.

exactly. it eliminates my inadequate pedal stroke. im riding to work, not in the peloton. haha




What have you noticed about your ability to aggressively descend hills, especially down hill curves on a fixed gear?

just fine crushing a downhill fixed. previously, on an actual track bike, pedal strike was less of a concern when cornering with the higher bb shell but on my conversion i have gotten a bit nervous on occasion.
i dont think its possible to corner as hard on a fixed gear as you can on a bike that freewheels with the ability for static foot placement and perfect body positioning without pedaling. we arent even factoring gnarly toe overlap here. truth?

My snow bike has 9 speed XT set up and it freezes sometimes. I would like to change it to a IGH, but I only have this winter to worry about. Besides, the guy who won my Cross Check on ebay flaked, so I have no dough for it anyways.

I have gone SS for commuting and I love it.

That being said, it really depends on the route you take. I have a route with just a couple of medium hills, only one where I have to stand up. If your commute is hilly don't do it. If it is reasonably flat with maybe one or two hills, go for it.

I rode a fixed gear in Iowa City in the early 80's (all year round, I was carless in college). I did have to add a frt brake, riding down Market towards IMU was too much when I had a Pagliai's pizza in one hand. You're young, it'll make you a better rider. I used to ride out Mormen Trek Road to BlackHawk Ave in the spring, that ride on a fixed gear will make you fit, straight into the wind with rollers!

Riders reported in the cycling periodicals of the day of covering up to 50,000 miles on their Sturmey-Archer three speeds with a hub maintenance regimen of only adding a little oil through the hub's oil port on a regular basis. They claimed they never opened the hub shells during this period of use. This was around 100 years ago. See "devolution".


It's actually pretty easy to add a lubricator (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturmey-archer/images/hsa106.jpg) to a new SRF3.

tcs

FYI, most of the posts on this thread about IGH service are old info. The newer Shimano Nexus (8R30/31 and 8R35/36 and Alfine are very well sealed as is the SRAM i-Motion 9. There's no need to drop $100 for Shimano's "special" lube, synthetic ATF is beng used by many folks with good results, only $5 per quart.

Here's a link that explains the differences between old and new Nexus hub's sealing:
http://www.astounding.org.uk/ian/hubgear/index.html