Originally Posted by
Nickfrogger
On the other hand, what's the general consensus on single speeds/fixed in the winter? My first impression is "WHAT on earth is that guy doing with a fixie in weather like this??" but maybe I'm wrong
Single speeds in need of a little love can be had for fairly cheap out here (<$50), even if those ones do tend to weigh a ton.
Braking is hugely important in winter, so a brakeless fixie is undesireable. I've never understood the appeal of fixed gears anyway, but if you're using one in winter, please stick some brakes on it. Being able to leg-break is probably a benefit, but using it to add braking capacity instead of replace braking capacity seems like a better option.
SS is ideal if you have a flat enough route that you're not going to miss the flexibility of gears. SS or IGH are definitely the way to go in winter to avoid derailleur issues. That said, I've been riding (not daily) in winter for about 4 years with a derailleur bike, and only had trouble with it one day...I actually have more problems with the pawls on the rapid fire shifter not engaging in the cold than with the drive system itself.
Be sure to clear your drive train regularly, and do a thorough cleaning of the whole bike before putting it away in the spring. Winter gunk contains salt and will cause major oxidization problems if it's not removed.