Originally Posted by Thylacine
A lot of early safety bikes had multiple cogs on the back that you shifted when you got to a hill by stopping, losening the back wheel, putting into an easier ratio, then off you went, up the alps. I understand this was a common thing in some of the early races like the Tour De France etc, before the advent of the derailleur. I don't think there was any 'cult' or 'timetrial' aspects about it.
Before the advent of the derailleur. That is to say, before multigear, freewheeling bicycles were mass produced. When the ASC came out in the mid-50s, that was not the case.
I could equally say that I'm upset that there aren't any reciprocating drive systems on the market. Cultish? Hardly, before chain drive was developed, the velocipede used such a thing.
Originally Posted by Thylacine
Naw, fixed just practical on one hand because a lot of couriers/urban hip types aren't that well off, as well as it being a nice little niche people can belong to an act all cool and stuff.
One gear centainly isn't time efficient
Sure it is. My trip to work is a 5 mile, 20 minute commute. I make it faster on my fix than I do on my geared bike. Why? I don't waste time shifting. It may sound stupid, shifting only takes a split second... Unless you miss your shift, or you forget to properly downshift before a light, or don't have time to, etc.
And do you suppose the people who own multiple bikes (I just read a post where someone has a stable of 14) don't have enough money to get a geared ride? I can go to Craig's List ride now and buy a complete geared machine for less than a fix/SS buildup unless I happen to be lucky enough to come into a frameset for free.
Originally Posted by Thylacine
and as for 'simple and comprehensible'......well, err......hands up anyone who rides fixed or SS coz they couldn't understand how to operate gears?
Operating and understanding are two different things. How many people can operate a computer? How many understand how it works?