Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
Try commuting for a week or so without ever shifting gears. If that appeals to you - there's your answer.
Pretty close to riding without shifting now, this would be an easy test.
Originally Posted by
PatW
There is a problem with a fixed gear bike for commuting or any road riding. The bike is a direct drive. Your speed will force your feet around. In order to keep your feet from rotating, you have to be at a complete stop. If you are one of those people who does about 12 pedal revolutions and then coasts for a second or two, a fixed gear bike is not a good idea. Now I am not saying that a fixed gear bike is not a decent thing to use for certain riders. But the fixed gear is not for everyone. The advantage of a fixed gear bike is that you dispense with the rear cluster, the shifters, and the two deraillers resulting in a cost and weight savings. Also, a fixed gear bike being much more mechanically simple is more reliable than a multigear bike.
I've already decided against fixed gear, would rather have a singlespeed freewheel hub. One of the joys in riding hard is the ability to coast afterwards. Plus, I don't want to be glued to the rotation.
Thanks everyone for your insight, much appreciated.
Honestly, I don't know how practical a singlespeed is or even if there is much of a cost savings. It should be slightly easier to maintain over wet and dirty roads.