Originally Posted by
MadCityCyclist
Terrain makes a difference. Just test ride both types of bikes on the same route you normally go and see which works best for you.
One advantage to a geared bike is it can "grow" with you if you end up cycling more than your original intention. Most of the social rides I go on, even the casual, conversational rides, will leave the single geared riders in the back of the pack, or worse, in the dust.
I agree with the test ride idea.
And realy? On group rides I leave the geared guys behind because they will keep spinning but go to low gear to talk for safety and ill end up ahead. That's why I go geared on group rides. In fact a friend asked me why I never ride my ss when I ride with him and he called bs so the next night I took the ss to ride with him and the entire ride I kept hearing how is your ss faster than my 21speed? We even did a race (his idea) and he felt butt hurt because while he'd take off faster I'd always pass him.