Originally Posted by
chicharron
Gears were invented for a reason. It is much easier to climb a hill with the option of shifting down to a lower gear. A rider gets much more velocity and distance for the amount of energy expended going downhill if one can shift up to the upper gears. Gears just make life easier, and I can shift without even thinking about it, it is just second nature.
Climbing is usually where I pass everybody else. Downhills are where I get dropped (at least by skilled riders on geared bikes).
If you ride in a low gear like I do, climbing hills are a breeze. However, you do often end up spinning on steep downhills, which puts a ceiling on your top speed.
The problem of getting tired would probably only occur if you selected the highest gear than you currently use on a single-speed. But do whatever works for you -- riding single-speed isn't an evangelical religion.