Originally Posted by furiousbob
Maybe I've had a bit too much to drink for dinner tonight or maybe I've just had a long day but are you saying that a singlespeed (not a fixie), can keep up with say...a multiple at top gear? Cuz if you are...I'm saving up for that Sabrosa. You are right about that limited fitness level part, however. I've only started commuting again for about 2 months. I'm only worried because I ride low gears going to work so I don't pass out from exhaustion after trying to keep a moderate pace.
You dont need to go as fast as you can all the time.
What i say is that in my experience variable gears where useful for a while, but I found myself shifting less and less. Hills, in then rural Pennsylvania, where a concerned. My hybrid was aluminum with a suspension fork. After riding all summer long I came to realize that the suspension was robbing me from my enjoyment experience, since it was slowing me down on the uphills. I came to realize that the roadies going around my routes where hauling ass in those skinny tires, and then I realize that I rarely saw one having a flat.
One day I bought a decently shaped 1971 Schwinn. Wheels where chromed, 10 speeds, atrocious saddle, same approximate weight than the aluminum mountain bike. Bike was 25$
After fitting the bike to my height and getting used to the new geometry, I was really hauling ass (measured with cyclocomputer). Wheels were a problem, since 27 inches of non tueable steel where heavy.
Slowly, I started replacing stuff. A steel frame, once peeled off, was not really that heavy. I bought a used 700 set of wheels. I bought a handlebar that was aluminum instead of steel. Seatpost was replaced with aluminum. Gears went away, so shifters, so rear brake. Braze ons went away, so cable guides, so gear hanger.
Guess what happened? I was left with a durable, maintenance free 18 pound bike.
And a hybrid.
One afternoon many months later i took the hybrid for a spin. I went to a 10 ish mile ride and measured the overall time and mentally noted the speed on the hills. I am a pretty strong fella and I can spin rather well, I was familiar with the bike and i can shift without problems.
It was almost 7 minutes difference. 7 whole minutes. That is over an hour in a century. The properly fitted, multy geared hybrid gave me slower times. And ... I did the first effort in it.
The bike that started at 25 dollars ended up costing like 400 after all was said and done. Shoes, pedals, etc are also taken into account.
I was forced off the sadde for a while due trave for work. Moved to texas. The Hill Country. Wonder why is it called like that??
I made some phonecalls - mind you, one year of the saddle - and located a single speed bike. New shoes and gear and stuff - 1,200 dollars. For a single speed. On the Hill Country. Yeah.
The bike fits me right off the shelf. I replaced the handlebars for some off my liking, the very same day i bought it. I have all tools needed in a pouch under my seat. I have an airpump, some lights. Two brakes.
18 pounds, versus 18 pounds (naked) of my dear (
) steel frame i left behind in PA.
Did I have the money for a Trek 1,000? Yes. Could I have bought a Lemond? Yes could I have chosen for the same money to have a entry level 27 speed bike? Yes.
Did I do it?
No.
To me, I get a upper and lower body workout by climbing off the saddle. I get a thrill of trying to keep up with the recreational roadies (most can kick my ass all day long, but the chase is fun) I get , if i choose to, more workout per mile than most people. Or I can take it easy. I have learned to spin smoothly (because the fixed gear) so to save my knees. I have variabe speed on the bike, it is called percieved effort. I came to appreciate all the kinestetic ability that a single speed (in my case, the fixed gear variety) demans me to develop.
I am ever in pain? ... ony if i choose to go like a madman.
Do I ride with appropiate dressier clothes if i want to? Yes.
All in one gear?
Yes.
Is it better?
It's just more fun.