stupid noob question
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33
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stupid noob question
hi everyone... i know this is a crazy question but then I was wondering which is a faster bike... given that you put as much effort into each... a geared bike or a single speed... the reason that I ask is because I am new to biking and would like to know which is a faster bike to get to school with but I didnt want to be all sweaty by the time i get there... I have a geared bike now but I never rode on a single speed... better to ask stupid questions here then a LBS... =) thanks everyone
#9
Not actually Tmonk




Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17,284
Likes: 6,073
From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Unless your route is completely flat and the stretch of road has absoltely consistent wind/weather conditions, the geared bike will be faster and you'll put out less effort for any given rate of travel.
Although I love riding FG, alot of kids I see riding them are very sweaty and very stinky so keep that in mind.
Although I love riding FG, alot of kids I see riding them are very sweaty and very stinky so keep that in mind.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: pittsburghadelphia
Bikes: types that go fast
uhh, not to be a dick but your REALLY clueless. first off, if your ride is flat and you really wanna be hip ride a singlespeed- thats the only reason anyone knows about theme these days that hasnt ever biked before. if its hilly, ride a geared bike, the wide range of different gear ratios makes it easier to climb hills while at the same time allowing you to get a gear ratio that is suitable for fast flatland riding. also, youll always sweat, just depends on your body. ive been an avid cyclist since before i was a teenager and today i race at a high college level and even on my 3/4 mile commute to class i sweat a lot, even in the cold pittsburgh weather- just happens. also, what bike is your geared one? if its a piece of **** old bike maybe invest in a new bike if you plan on riding a lot-old parts can be worn out and henceforth slower. but neither is "faster" it just depends on what gear ratio your using. only after you have ridden a lot of bikes and for a while can you tell if one thing is faster than another. read this website for EVERYTHING related to bikes EVER https://sheldonbrown.com . just browse and search and youll be a bike expert in 2 weeks, even if you cant ride well
#12
geared is faster! No matter if it is flat or hilly!!!
sorry....
You can accelerate faster off the line and reach a higher speed because you can change the ratio of your gears with an easy flip of your gear lever!!!
People attribute SS with faster (or good for training to ride faster) because you can't down shift, forcing you to power up hills in your high gear. This is nice (and good because I like to power my way up hills, luckily Tokyo doesn't have too many!)
But when it comes to flats, I find that I have a lot more torque to give, I don't want to spin my legs at crazy high speeds, I want to use that crazy raw power to go crazy fast. I could go higher ratios, but i am at 48/16 now, which many consider quite high for road use, also it will make accelerating off the line slower.
sorry....
You can accelerate faster off the line and reach a higher speed because you can change the ratio of your gears with an easy flip of your gear lever!!!
People attribute SS with faster (or good for training to ride faster) because you can't down shift, forcing you to power up hills in your high gear. This is nice (and good because I like to power my way up hills, luckily Tokyo doesn't have too many!)
But when it comes to flats, I find that I have a lot more torque to give, I don't want to spin my legs at crazy high speeds, I want to use that crazy raw power to go crazy fast. I could go higher ratios, but i am at 48/16 now, which many consider quite high for road use, also it will make accelerating off the line slower.
#15
this
become dominant on the bike
then yer ride to work can be at super-ez speed for you which will seem
like trucking along to someone else
but it is still quite hard to not bust a sweat anything above 15mph
#18





