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Should I get a single speed?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Should I get a single speed?

Old 03-11-15, 10:18 PM
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Should I get a single speed?

Hey guys new here trying to decide what kind of road bike I would like to get. I mostly mountain bike but wanting to do some road riding for fun and to increase my strength too. I'm thinking a single speed is what I'm looking for I have a buddy that rides a retrospec mantra and I tested it and really enjoyed it. By question is what would be a good budget bike to get? Also I live mostly near flat roads but I do have alot of large hills a few miles down the road is a single speed really feasible for big Hills or should I go with gears?
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Old 03-11-15, 10:49 PM
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I ride a fixed gear all over San Francisco, and I don't seem to have too many issues. I just figured out the right gear ratio for me and learned how avoid massive, monster hills.
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Old 03-12-15, 12:04 AM
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Originally Posted by mrblue
I ride a fixed gear all over San Francisco, and I don't seem to have too many issues. I just figured out the right gear ratio for me and learned how avoid massive, monster hills.
Curious about your gear ratio. I recently moved to Santa Cruz, and some of these hills are crazy.
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Old 03-12-15, 01:39 AM
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ss/fg. The forum itself tells you to flipflop your hub. Run a brake or two. Figure it out from there.
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Old 03-12-15, 01:58 AM
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Originally Posted by cartesian
Curious about your gear ratio. I recently moved to Santa Cruz, and some of these hills are crazy.
I rode a fixed gear in Santa Cruz for 2 years. I used a 42x16 ratio. It was fine for the most part. I was spinning pretty hard going down hills though. Biking up to campus kind of sucked, but then I got used to it after like 6 months of hating it (but I would always still be sweaty) - It was always just so slow. During my last year though, I ditched the fixed gear and switched to a freewheel single speed and was more comfortable. Anyway, it's definitely do-able if you wanna make it work. try 42x16 as a starting place?

Also, I wanna add that a lot the local scene at santa cruz don't like fixed gears. They're all into road bikes or mountain bikes. Fixed gears get associated with like "San Francisco liberal hippy rich kids" basically. I like the beaches and stuff at santa cruz, but I don't miss living there.

Last edited by nohandlebars; 03-12-15 at 02:01 AM.
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Old 03-12-15, 02:28 AM
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Originally Posted by nohandlebars
Also, I wanna add that a lot the local scene at santa cruz don't like fixed gears. They're all into road bikes or mountain bikes. Fixed gears get associated with like "San Francisco liberal hippy rich kids" basically. I like the beaches and stuff at santa cruz, but I don't miss living there.
Cool. Thanks for the reply. Riding around downtown is cool, but to get anywhere without getting a serious workout usually means that I have to put the bike on a bus, which pretty much defeats the whole purpose of the bike. I just love the simplicity of the single gear!
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Old 03-12-15, 02:36 AM
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Originally Posted by cartesian
I just love the simplicity of the single gear!
maybe try free wheeling around? it might change the ride for you, in a good way - it's easier to deal with the hills and traffic when you can coast around
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Old 03-12-15, 05:56 AM
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I got a SS last year as a cheap bike to attend a social ride I like to participate in. Since doing so, I probably haven't ridden my Roubaix 20 miles.
The simplicity and ruggedness of the bike, coupled with some wide tires gives me a feeling like I did romping around on a BMX as a kid. It took me a minute to get used to not having bail out gears, and I still have to walk from time to time (not in a while)...but I also changed the ring and freewheel to give very low inches.
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Old 03-12-15, 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by nohandlebars
Also, I wanna add that a lot the local scene at santa cruz don't like fixed gears. They're all into road bikes or mountain bikes. Fixed gears get associated with like "San Francisco liberal hippy rich kids" basically.

This is funny to me, seeing as how Santa Cruz mountain bikes sure ain't cheap, and the run of the mill roadie in California is usually decked out in no less than $2,000 worth of bike, not counting all the other ****(helmet fixed dentists mirror, scrotal chamois, etc etc). There are plenty of "liberal hippie rich kids" in Santa Cruz...
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Old 03-12-15, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by cartesian
Curious about your gear ratio. I recently moved to Santa Cruz, and some of these hills are crazy.
Like I said, I avoid really big hills, but at the moment I'm using 48/17. I also use a brake when going down steep, long hills that require me stopping at an intersection, at the bottom.
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Old 03-12-15, 08:16 AM
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I live where it is pretty hilly and use a geared bike for most of it. I have a fixed gear bike that I only ride on the flat riverside bike trails we have around here.

Originally Posted by mrblue
I ride a fixed gear all over San Francisco, and I don't seem to have too many issues. I just figured out the right gear ratio for me and learned how avoid massive, monster hills.
This works if you are young, light, and pretty fit. I am old, and fat. Make your determination based on where you're at on the spectrum.
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Old 03-12-15, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by nohandlebars
Also, I wanna add that a lot the local scene at santa cruz don't like fixed gears. They're all into road bikes or mountain bikes. Fixed gears get associated with like "San Francisco liberal hippy rich kids" basically.
Thanks. I've been getting so wrapped up in just riding my bike because it's fun, and riding a bike that I like because...well...it's just fun, that I totally forgot about the main point of riding a bike: to fit into the local scene.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:15 AM
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If you only own one road bike, it should be geared. Single speed bikes are not ideal for riding in hilly areas, windy areas and urban areas where you are constantly stopping and starting. IOW, most riding situations are better served by a geared bike. Now, if you already own a geared bike, then a SSFG type bike can be a lot of fun. I ride mostly fixed gear, but on really windy days I default to my geared bike.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by mrblue
...the main point of riding a bike: to get from point A to B faster and with less effort than walking.
fixed
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Old 03-12-15, 10:26 AM
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Dammit I'm doing it all wrong. I don't ride geared bikes and I live in a pretty hilly area. I do mostly urban riding and it involves quite a bit of stopping and starting.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by jlafitte
fixed
Pretty sure mrblue was being facetious.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Pretty sure mrblue was being facetious.
Yup, he was.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by franswa
Dammit I'm doing it all wrong. I don't ride geared bikes and I live in a pretty hilly area. I do mostly urban riding and it involves quite a bit of stopping and starting.
Me too, but as long as you're fitting in to the local scene, you're fine.
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Old 03-12-15, 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
I ride mostly fixed gear, but on really windy days I default to my geared bike.
So because you are a weiner, and need a bike with gears on windy days, then everyone needs to have multiple bikes?
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Old 03-12-15, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by franswa
Dammit I'm doing it all wrong. I don't ride geared bikes and I live in a pretty hilly area. I do mostly urban riding and it involves quite a bit of stopping and starting.
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Old 03-12-15, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by T13
So ... everyone needs to have multiple bikes?
Yes, EXACTLY!
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Old 03-12-15, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by JeremyLC
Yes, EXACTLY!

Haha well ok then. I haven't owned a bike with gears since i was a kid, and that was some short lived, hand me down, "ten speed"(how many gears it actually had, i don't know). Not saying that bikes with gears aren't useful. It's just never mattered to me.
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Old 03-12-15, 01:41 PM
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I hate statements like these

Originally Posted by nohandlebars
Fixed gears get associated with like "San Francisco liberal hippy rich kids" basically.
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Old 03-12-15, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Unkle Rico
I hate statements like these
+1
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Old 03-12-15, 01:53 PM
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That statement would work if it said Portland. haha

Originally Posted by mrblue
+1
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