sancle1

I just got my hands on a specialized langster single speed. went on my first long ride today 56 miles. i think i found my new love. just want to know if any clydes ride a single speeds or fixed gear bikes and what do you think about riding a single speed? 6'4" 259.

10 Wheels

That is a long ride.
Do you have many hills?

sancle1

no big climbs just a few rollers san clemente to south oceanside

TrojanHorse

ugh, my knees cry just thinking about a single speed. I really don't get the attraction. Although I did have to stop and put my chain back on my front chainring today, so I suppose you'd never have to deal with that.

RVH

Yeah, please explain the attraction! I don't get it either. Didn't they invent gears because it was easier on the legs? Don't we coach new riders to use their gears more and avoid pushing big gears up hills?

56 miles on a single-speed? Sorry, I think you are nuts!

breadbin

i had a singlespeed a while ago but after going out on it a few times i found it wasn't for me. it probably depends on your fitness and such but because i have been out of cycling for the longest time i found my left knee in particular to be giving me trouble and not to mention the struggling over the tiniest of hills i put a new hub on the back wheel with a 9-spd cassette and now i am way happier but each to his own hope you get many happy miles on it

fwiw i did love it the few times i was on the ss just for the simplicity and noiselessness or something. it felt rather liberating i think but alas i am too heavy for one - maybe again

Askel

You got it wrong, they invented single speeds because it's easier than gears!

Seriously... I love single speed mountain biking. And I'm usually faster on one. I've found that I'm strong enough that I don't need the smaller ring to get up hills, but I'm not quite strong enough to take advantage of the big ring in a race setting. As such, single speed for the win!

Sadly, it's hardly as simple and maintenance free as I had hoped. When you a dump a chain on a single speed (it happens more than you'd think!), you often need a wrench to get it back on or fix the problem properly. Single speeds are very sensitive to chain line and tension. Get them wrong and you'll be dumping your chain more frequently and likely bending some parts in the process.

Kneez

I don't get the SS/FG thing either but if you enjoy it, why not? Just listen to your knees. Be gentle.

sancle1

hey thx for the advice i'l throw in a chian tool in my pack just in case it snaps.

sancle1

before i got his bike last week i never thought i would be able to ride a single speed for that many miles. my neighbor has a santa cruz chameleon hardtail mtb, we had a bet that i couldnt keep up with him . not to toot my own horn but i kicked his @ss. i had to slow down every few miles to let him catch up. anybody who has rode on camp pendelton, ocean side knows it's petty flat only a couple of hills. if my 259# ass can do it anybody can.

10 Wheels

Last summer I rode from Julian to LA. Went through Camp Pendleton.
You have got to be strong to do that on a SS.

spthealien

You can't be caught walking a bike up Camp Pendleton. The Marines will laugh at you. The ride from Del Mar to San Juan Capistrano goes through that area and IT IS MY FAVORITE RIDE. Tons of protected bike paths and the occasional tank and Hummer.

sancle1

i almost stopped on first hill on the way back and ur right you will be laughed at

CliftonGK1

Last year I did the Seattle Tour de Cure century on my fixed gear. 101 miles, 6500' of gain, with a 9% hill for 0.3 mile at mile 91, just for grins.
I'll be riding at least 1 of my 200k rides on the singlespeed this year, and maybe a 300k to see if I can do it.

I try to put in 20% of my mileage on the singlespeed, and use it for my 30 mile r/t commute once or twice a week as strength training for the hills. (My hilly commute home has 2 climbs of 1 mile @ > 7% grade, and 1 climb of 2.25 miles with 625' of gain and a couple short sections of 10% grade).

sancle1

has ridding a single speed made u a better climber on a geared bike? the reason i bought it was for short commuting . but when i ride my geared bike i think i get lazy as soon as i feel a little tired on a climb. single speed forces me to get out of the saddle.

Askel

Most definitely, there are very few hills in midwest mountain bike racing that I can't climb on a 32x17 single speed 29er. As such, I usually pass most of my geared competition on them. (Then I say hi to them on the downhills again... )

Riding single speed has also taught me to better keep constant tension on the chain- important when climbing steep loose terrain. In fact, it's gotten to the point where I can pedal so slowly up a hill that I use it as an evil race tactic on single track where nobody can pass me. Just slow.... way..... down.... mid pedal stroke and listen to the guy behind me just reef on his poor drivetrain trying to shift into a low enough gear to keep spinning. Then pick up the pace again and drop his ass while he tries to spin 22x34.