I just put a deposit down on a new bike made by Redline, model 925 (read "nine-to-five.")
It's a single-speed urban commuter, cool geometry, nice road tires, fairly light, cromoly. You can flip the wheel over and it becomes a fixed gear bike.
I commute 16 miles each way to my day job, and was doing that previously on an entry-level aluminum Trek mountain bike (with road slicks and a straight fork that i put on.) I gradually became very frustrated with that ride for many reasons.
Anyhow, The Redline looks like it was very well thought out and seems to be well built. Certainly felt GREAT on the test ride! Since this will be my first single-speed (adult) bike, I'm banking on a paradox a knowledgable mechanic once described: that the single-speed is actually more efficient than a multi-speed bike (in the right conditions)...having dispensed with the weight of the derailers, shifters, cables, extra sprockets & longer chain, in conjuction with the gear train running straight from spocket to chain wheel. Additionally, I must admit, the Redline single-speed has a Zen-like appeal to me.

I have been eyeing that bike myself. I like many things about it, such as fender/big tire clearance, SS/fixed, eyelets for fenders/rack. It seems very practical.

Let us know how it rides, and if possible, post many pics!

what are the advantages that a single speed possesses over multi-speed bikes? (for commuting or anything else?) or do you single-speeders have monstrous thighs? :lol:

Single-speed bikes don't have derailleurs which make them lighter, cheaper, and easier to maintain. They also require less maintenance because of this. Using an internal geared hub would make my argument relatively pointless, but a good one will cost a lot.

agreed Ken Wind! very much agree with that.

I also checkout out a Bianchi that had a hub in the back with 7 or so speeds in it. Seemed like a cool idea, but it was just too much for me to get anxious over. and it was a much heavier bike.

i will post pics of the Redline as soon as I pick it up. probably next week or so. got to do a few more gigs, get some cash together for the balance! ;)

I like that bike. Saw one in Minneapolis last weekend for $500.

Single speeds might be a little more efficient. I don't think it is that significant. The real benefit of the singlespeed is robustness, durability, low maintenance, and cost for similar quality. If your commute is not too hilly, you can simplify your ride and save a little time and money on the weekend maintenance. Mostly these advantages come into play in crappy weather and road conditions. Sometimes I think I should be commuting on a beach cruiser. The roads in Minnesota are covered in sand and salt this time of year.

singlespeeds rule for commuting and in general for us slobs who ride bikes way more than fix them.... i ride my singlespeeded crosscheck or fixed gear 15 miles to philly daily. it is amazing what you can ride on a singlespeed with the right gear ratio, fitness, and frame of mind! ;)

i feel the mechanical advantege is definitely there; without haning to run your chain through all them damn pullies, and constantly having perfect chainline. plus it feels good to just have smooth consistant smooth power input.

hills are very possible if you work your way up to them! if your commute has hills, your gear ratio will always be a comprimise between ease of climbing and speed on flats/downhills.

i really like redline's! had a moncog for two seasons off-road and never had any issues (only gave it up for a custom built singlespeed). some peoeple say the redline hubs aren't so nice but mine held up beautifully. good bikes, cheap prices... i bet you'll love it!

whats your gear ratio? you riding fixed or free? welcome to the club (we'll show you the handshake soon)....

Thanks Max-a-Mill! The one time I tried a fixed gear bike, I almost killed myself. I had never ridden fixed before, didn't realize how difficult it would be to STOP if you'd never taken one for a spin.... it wasn't a good experience! So, at first, I will be riding the Redline as a single-speed. When I have some time on a weekend to experiment, I flip the wheel over and try riding fixed in a parking lot somewhere. Everybody raves about fixed, so I'm sure I could get into it if I practiced, and I'm grateful that this bike has that option. In time....all in good time.

oh - - i'm not sure what the gear ratio is on the redline... i believe the crank is a "42 T" but i'm not sure what the other ring is. i'm not that techincal yet. ;)

Fixed seems scary when you first try it....I've been commuting fixed for about two months now and after the first few rides, it doesn't seem any more scary or dangerous than riding with a freewheel. You subconsciously learn to start slowing down sooner, and you quickly lose the instinct to glide. It is addictive...I recently made several hundred dollars worth of upgrades on my geared road bike, and I still don't ride it...my cheap fixie is way more fun. I predict that you'll eventually end up riding the 925 fixed and hardly ever switch back to the freewheel.

mihlbach - i hear that alot, and suspect the same. i'm still wondering how it's possible to come to an emergency stop with a fixed gear bike....

i use 'clipless' pedals - which is a weird term to me, since my riding shoes have the thing on the bottom where i 'clip into' the pedal. it took me awhile to get used to kicking out of the pedals when coming to a complete stop. i imagine that would have to be learned even more carefully with a fixed gear bike. i fell over several times before my mind trained me feet to PREPARE and not get caught kicking out AFTER the stop!

yeah i like fixed! but riding downhills fixed definitely seems to be the hardest part. i mean riding slow downhills would be no problem but wheres the fun in that????

lately i been learning to just let my legs go limp and use the front break for control. i am still not as fast as on my freewheel bike but i am working on it. i always wonder what cars think when they pass me going downhill legs spinning at mach12....

igloo - if you didn't already know you can just count the teeth on your cogs to figure out the ratio. according to the website it's 42x16. not too bad, but maybe a little steep if you have any big hills.

i currently ride 44x17 freewheel and 46x18 fixed. i can keep up with geared people OK but with faster riders i really do have to spin quite quickly.

Use the brakes. :p You can use just a front brake, and use your legs to slow the back wheel in an emergency, or you can keep both brakes to take the pressure off of your knees. Some people insist on riding completely brakeless, but I am not one of them.

Someone mentioned Redline's hubs. The 925 comes with Formula hubs which are renowned for their quailty in their price bracket. If you have ever heard of IRO, their hubs are actually rebadged Formulas. I think the hubs are part of what make the bike such a good deal.

Fixed gears are fun and you'll get into shape very quickly, but more efficient? No. Look up the definition of efficiency. They are a little lighter, but the difference in weight doesn't even come close to making up for the added efficiency of the right gear for the right time.

It's nice to have both, especially if you live in a hilly area. The nice thing about single speeds is that they are a lot cheaper.

Az

About brakes...I run a front brake on my fixed..I hardly ever use it, but I've HAD to use it enough in emergencies to realize that running brakeless is really stupid. the 925 has brakes..thats great, keep em on there, at least the front.

about clipless pedals...Oddly enough, the first time I started riding fixed was also the first time I started riding with clipless pedals. At first i thought this would be suicide...trying out riding fixed and clipless at the same time. But I found that snapping in and out of clipless pedals with the cranks moving is not that hard. You just have to remeber to twist your foot sideways when you come to a stop. It became natural after a ride or two, along with the whole fixed experience. I've never tried it, but I'd bet that riding fixed with with clips and straps is harder.

well, i'm definitely looking forward to this ride, and when the time is right, i'll be challenging myself to learn to ride fixed gear! one thing i do feel good about: i really don't think there is a better bike for the money in this category. it feels great, and seems very smartly put together.

By the way - - does anybody think I should invest (maybe next autumn) in an extra set of rims so I can mount bigger, studded snow tires?

you can mount em on those rims.... tire clearence at the frame might be your only issue.

i recommend the nokian hapil______(whatever). 35c and just enough studs to keep you upright on nasty roads.

i got a set but unfortunatley i just never mount them cause on the few days (like this one) it would be worth it i just don't find it worth the hassle and take the bus instead.

btw - i really like that avatar :)

I think it might be worth it to have an extra wheelset. Ben's Bike and IRO both offer affordable singlespeed/fixed wheelsets. The stock wheels have pretty wide rims, so maybe you could use those for the studded tires and your new wheels for skinnier tires.

Look up the definition yourself. Singlespeeds are in fact mechanically more efficient than geared bicycles. You are either not thinking about efficiency at all, but about how hard you must work to move a certain distance (this is unrelated to efficiency, which is the amount of energy input that gets turned into useful work), or you are thinking about the biomechanical efficiency of being in a certain gear under certain situations. For example, in order to climb a hill on a singlespeed, it may be necessary to pedal much harder in order to keep moving at a reasonable speed and cadence, which could push you over the anaerobic threshold. Anaerobic, powerful muscle movements are a very inefficient way for your body to turn energy into work. So climbing a hill may cause your metabolism and body to become less efficient for a short period of time, but the bicycle itself is no more or less efficient than it was on the flat before the hill, or will be going down the other side.

It is true that the efficiency gains of a singlespeed (either fixed or free) drivetrain are pretty small, but they do actually exist. I'm a gearophile, but I see no reason to deny what is factually true. The 925 looks like a great bike, by the way. If I could justify the purchase of a singlespeed along with the geared bike I want, I wouldn't hesitate. It looks like a really fun machine!

I agree Marquee Moon (great album by Television, btw!) - I will surely invest in a wheel set in the future.

Grolby - interesting and well stated. I'll be checking that out I'm sure as I plan on riding this thing a lot. Haven't ridden s/s since grade school.

I see where we're failing to communicate. You are looking at the drivetrain as the entire system. And yes, it is slightly more efficient.

I'm looking at the whole package. With 1/4 to 1/2 horspower moving around 200 lbs of weight over mixed terrain, multiple gears allows the motor to be far more efficient with a slight loss of drivetrain efficiency. Think in terms of calories used per mile.

Az

It occurred to me after making my post that you were likely talking about the entire system. Generally speaking, when people talk about the efficiency of one bicycle versus another, however, they seem to be talking about the mechanical efficiency of the drivetrain. I don't think I've ever heard anyone claim that it is somehow more efficient, in terms of Calories per mile or any other measure you can think of, to run a singlespeed drivetrain. What is generally referred to is how easy is to push, for example, a 75 inch gear on a SS versus a geared bicycle. The claim is that you can run a push a slightly higher gear at the same cadence for the same amount of effort, thereby moving a bit faster in that particular gear on the SS versus the geared bike. This is a reasonable claim, and I believe that it is what most folks mean when they talk about efficiency.

I havent seen one in person, but on paper I
am really intigued by the 925. If you get one,
I hope a report will follow...........:D

picked it up tonight! at the bike shop, right then and there i IMMEDIATELY had the pedals switched out for shimano clipless (they fit my shoes.) this thing is SWEET!

will post pics in a little bit.

WOO HOOOO........

http://deephousepage.com/smilies/eusa_dance.gif http://deephousepage.com/smilies/party5.gif http://deephousepage.com/smilies/spinning.gif

Ride that thing up to Vermont and let me check it out !!!

Some pics! :D :) :p ;)

Couple of more!

Ni i i i i i i i c e......
And Im not the slightest bit jealous........... dammit !

:D

Report to follow ?
Gearing for MA hills ?

Very nice indeed! My next commuter was definitely going to be an internally geared Cross-Check, but now I don't know. I'm definitely tempted by this one. And the low price is especially appealing...
There's a dealer seven miles from me! I'll have to see if they have any in stock :D.