Since April when I picked up a Bianchi San Jose. No pics here, but I'll post some later. Just switched to a Campy Veloce crankset this morning, Commute is about 5 miles one way, running 43/17. The original crankset had on of the chainring bolts right behind the arm and it was impossible to tighten. For road rides I swich to a 49T chainring and road tires. Now I am looking for a Campy 49T.

Normally I ride a geared bike, but if I wake up feeling particularly good one morning, I'll take this...



Mid '80s Detel Marathon 6000. I have one climb on my commute that damn near kills me when I ride this thing, makes me appreciate having extra gears on normal days.

I used to ride my road bike then I realized that my fixed gear is actually easier to ride on the hills on my commute. Generally I take the MAX then ride the six miles in to work to minimize my time spent travelling and the sweat factor since I don't have a shower. I'll ride the 25 or so miles on my way home though.

I have a Raleigh Rush Hour with 46/17 gear ratio (fixed) and flop-chop bullhorns. I ride it about 12 miles each way from a parking lot midway between my house and work for my "short" commute. Otherwise, I ride door to door (21 miles each way) on a geared road bike.

My two main commuters are SS. Both are 1980's steel bikes I converted to SS with Hardcore Freddy Fenders. The bike I have commuted on for the past year is a Specialized Hardrock with North Road bars, 35x16 gears, and 26x1.5 street tires. My recently completed project is a Raleigh Pursuit with moustache bars, 48x17 gears, and 27 x 1 1/4 tires.

Edit: MTB has a rear rack. I use a messenger bag or waist bag with the road bike.

Invention of the devil! I hate those cranks.

I've been commuting on my SS Gunnar for 4 years, gearing is 42x16. I only take my road bike if I am meeting friends for a training ride before or after work. I love riding it at how easy it is to maintain.

I don't understand the appeal of a single speed except for it's simplicity, but to go without multiple gear ratios does not seem like an equal tradeoff...not even close. Besides the simplicity, what exactly is the appeal of a single...especially on longer commutes?

ride a fixie 9 miles each way. 42x18. i know it's a granny gear but that's where i'm at right now.

Well, for one thing, a single speed has very little attraction for the average bike thief.

For good reason, I would suspect. Probably couldn't get a Pinto stolen by a car thief if you left the keys in it and a cold six pack on the front seat. The market for such vehicles is rather thin.

Well if you live somewhere relatively flat, there's really no reason to be hauling around a lot of gears and their associated equipment - if you only have one gear you have a lighter more efficient bike which will serve you better than a multigeared bike so long as you don't live amongst many hills. I know that fixed gears are all the rage right now, but a freewheel (and/or coaster brake) is more practical/safe/less tiring for general street use (more so if you do have some hills to face).

and, chicks dig it.

They are very enjoyable to ride.
And you don't miss the gears, even with big hills.
Al

And paradoxically, the Hour Record was set on a bike with how many gears? That's right, boys and girls: One gear.



And damn right the chicks dig it. Once I started riding my fixie to work I had to get my old stick out of storage to beat off my female admirers.

That bike looks about perfect for getting around town on, lugging groceries home with, etc.

Al

25 miles for me round trip.
If you dont have any major hills you'll do your commute in
the exact same time as you do on your gearie....Only you'll
have more fun

See my sig line ?

See whats for sale below it ?

Reliability and ease of maintenance are enough reason for a bike that is ridden daily and with purpose. By purpose, I mean you got somewhere you gotta be.

Simple = less things to break or fall out of adjustment.

Simple = I can debug and fix it myself in 25 minutes. Heck, I could strip it to the frame and rebuild it completely in 2 hours.

There is a cost advantage too. Last fall I overheard a lady buying a SS bike at a COOP / used bike store. She just walked in and said I want a single speed. The sand and salt on the roads last winter ruined my gears on my derailleur bike last winter.

I replaced the freewheel on my SS MTB after heavy use through the winter. $19 for the freewheel. $12 for the chain.

I rode my old mtb ss conversion for months before the chain stretched and wouldn't stay on. Of course it's a cheap chain, and I'm still using a ramped cog from an old cassette I tore apart. I'll deffinately have a new setup by the time the weather changes.

simple = simple

And the person who rides it must have arms the length of an orangutan...

I dunno.. my Sputnik kinda screams steal me with its happy carbon fork.

I need to break it in about 6 months so it isnt so shiny

Or eyes on their back.

I have my own server through the web design company I work for but most people are using photobucket. It's good for hosting images for forums like this and it's free.

https://www.photobucket.com

I don't know, you'd have to ride one for awhile then you'd probably get hooked. It's very smooth and quiet and really... (I hate to sound all tree hugger on you) it's like a zen thing. Just so simple, light and smooth. Hard to describe. lol. Just build one and ride it.

Besides, Chicks dig it. lol.

And...? BFD! Irrelevant.


Not irrelevant! First good reason I've read yet. Especially if true.