Single Speed for the masses
 

I am so glad that bike manufacturers, both high-end and low-end, are making more road and MTB single-speed bikes for adults. This is so awesome.

Remember, most people with bikes aren't "Cyclist". They are just people with bikes. Just like most people with cameras aren't "Photographers", so why should they buy a full-featured camera when a point-n-shoot is good enough for the job?

Most riders don't need gears and lots of them have trouble with them either using them or maintaining them. How many times have you explained to a less experienced friend/girlfriend/whatever how to use gears. My favorite question that I hear is, "What's the best gear to use?"


I think that all bike manufacturers will have at least one single speed in their line ups soon. Yeah, they make more money on the geared bikes, but I think that more people will buy bikes that are easier to use and they'll make more money on volume.



Oh yeah, I don't want this thread to tarnish my Track/FG cred. Let it be known that I do ride Track. I ride brakeless. I do ride a track frame with all track specific parts (except bars). I ride in a big city. I got a bike crew. Word. ;)

Most bike manufacturers have been making singlespeed bikes for the masses for AGES.
they're called beach cruisers.

yeah but I also like the prospect of road geometry singles being available. Fast singlespeeds is what he's talking about, I believe

Congratulations, you just summed up the first few paragraphs of Sheldon Brown's fixed-gear diatribe.

you also just summed up half the people on this board: people with track bikes, not cyclists.

"half"...?

You are too kind.

i can vouch for that. or rather, janie can.
http://static.flickr.com/55/140809927_b998aacae5_m.jpg

was that supposed to be an insult?

cyclist
noun
a person who rides a bicycle.

Get real, being a "cyclist" is not that big a deal. riding a bike is not hard. I've been doing it without training wheels since I was like 8 and I was a late learner. SO get over your elitist bull****, and ride your bike.

is that supposed to be your attempt to represent your mad street cred? holla back!!

When I wrote, "most people with bikes aren't "Cyclist". They are just people with bikes." I didn't mean that as an insult.

I meant that to say that, in my experience, most people just need a bike for simple things like riding to class, through the park, to the coffee shop or whatever and aren't interested in being a full-on cyclist.

How many times have you heard someone talking about their bike and you ask what kind or brand of bike they have and they reply, "I can't remember. Trek, I think. Not sure."

Beach cruisers are cool for what they are. But, they tend to be large, heavy, and cumbersome. A SS road or MTB bike with QR wheels can easily fit in a lot of places and are light enough for just about everyone to carry or lift without help.

To continue my camera anology, notice how amateur, semi-pro, and pro photographers get the high-end cameras but most people just want a disposable to take a few snaps. And most of those that do have fancy cameras rarely use any other mode that "Auto".

thanks webster.

http://wee-debz-2k5.tripod.com/siteb...chrisynjaz.jpg

Chill with the elitist crap and untie your panties.

Most people here understood what I meant without you muddying the waters.

You are missing the entire point of my post.

Ok, so for those who think a "cyclist" is something more than the strictest dictionary definition of the word, what do you think a "cyclist" actually is?

Again, you guys are wordsmithing and missing the POINT of my post.

If you want, exchange the word "cyclist" with the phrase "cycling enthusiast".

I'm sorry that you guys felt threatened by what I thought was an upbeat post. But, I'm sure that some people (is that an OK word to use???) can find fault with damn near anything.

RELAX!! All he was saying is it's cool that there are more single speed/possibly fixed road bikes out there for people to ride!!

Enhance your calm, citizen.

I *get* your post. I was talking more to the people who don't get your post, and I was asking what they considered a "cyclist" to be for my own edification.

So rinse out your Cheerios bowl and make sure to get the piss out of it before you have another.

LOL! I gotta admit, I had to laugh at that. Good one.

Ain't no love lost.

Right on. :)

Aw, shucks.

*blush*

...


Heh.

I agree with you carelton. My little bro just picked up a used fg1(cannondales ss mtb) and all he wants to do is ride now. He isnt a real stong rider but this bike is alot of fun for him. I think a few of us have forgotten how fun it can be just to go out and ride

I agree with the spirit f the thread. sorry about the pissy response. Making bikes more accessible is great. Where I get annoyed is when people act holier than though about knowing how to shift gears, or ride fixed, or pull a wicked natty fab (I still can't natty fab I suck). Thing is it's great to feel good about your accomplishments I'm all for that, and I like to challenge myself as a cyclist, none of it's really all that hard, and this whole I'm a real cyclist, and they're not just smacks of elitism to me. The whole "we're the twue cyclists and they're not" boo*****. is obnoxious, and it's especially silly since all it really takes to be a cyclists is a bike, at least one good leg and a halfway decent sense of balance. As far as being a "serious cyclist" why bother. cycling is fun. An 8 year old could tell ya that.

isopoop thinks it's only people with celeste ’80s pistas

Oh Killer Burn

No love lost here, either.