Single speed bikes, what are they good for?
09-26-15, 05:49 AM
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Single speed bikes, what are they good for?
Why do people even get them? I live on a pancake and even I need multiple speeds for the wind.
09-26-15, 06:21 AM
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09-26-15, 06:37 AM
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Why do people get them? For fun. For the elegant simplicity. I bought mine just to have something fast and easy to jump and ride around the neighborhood.
09-26-15, 06:57 AM
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Choose a slightly lower gearing and learn to spin, spin, spin. I put almost as many miles on the roads using one of my track bikes as I do on my road bikes.
09-26-15, 07:03 AM
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They're good for bike riding.
09-26-15, 08:03 AM
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Simple, low maintenance commuter.
09-26-15, 08:22 AM
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I'm with the OP on this.. Why would you intentionally suffer a bike with no gears? Might as well get an old car with a 2 or 3 speed automatic while you're at it.. Simplicity.. LOL
09-26-15, 08:37 AM
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chain doesn't fall off when it gets crusted with slush
09-26-15, 09:06 AM
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I use mine for commuting, touring, group rides, charity rides, family rides in the park, workout rides, and a few team triathlons. Other than that, it just sits.
09-26-15, 09:08 AM
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Foolish to laugh at things you don't understand. Simplicity is indeed a factor. Less to maintain, break or be damaged, especially by the salt and other crap on the roads in winter. In addition riding in a fixed gear can be excellent training, it develops strength on the climbs and souplesse on the flats/descents.
09-26-15, 09:19 AM
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Fixed gear can definitely solve a lot of cadence problems. When you can get bucked off the saddle and over the bars when you stop pedaling, it will teach you really quickly to always pedal and smooth out your stroke. For a commuter/around town bike it is surely less to maintain. For CX racing where people crash and drop their bikes several times per race it makes a lot of sense especially at amateur level for people that don't want or can't afford to have a back up bike. You crash in a CX race and mess up derailleur or hanger and you're done for the day. As others pointed out, single speed/fixed doesn't mean your married to one gear ratio. If you can't deal with a headwind or some hills than you are doing it wrong
09-26-15, 09:37 AM
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Personally, I just like the variety. I ride derailleur bikes, fixed gear bikes, road bikes, mtn bikes, tandem bikes, touring bikes and anything else I can get my hands on. I am seriously thinking about getting a recumbent. It's all fun and isn't that the point.
09-26-15, 10:10 AM
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What a sad situation to experience the world only on one type of bike. How can people be so close-minded??
They're light, fun, easier to maintain, more affordable and often times more sexy. Also, it's fun to drop roadies on the hills with a SS
They're light, fun, easier to maintain, more affordable and often times more sexy. Also, it's fun to drop roadies on the hills with a SS
09-26-15, 10:13 AM
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Nothing better than cruising through Cape May NJ on a single speed beach beater! It tells me that summer's here and the time is right for racing in the street.
09-26-15, 10:19 AM
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09-26-15, 11:48 AM
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Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 09-26-15 at 11:57 AM. Reason: H/L, same diff.