Why?
 

I have a question.
I couldn't find any other thread inhere that gave me an answer so I started a new-one.
Please try not to take this as an insult or something like that and please do not flame me for asking this.

Why do you want to ride a bicycle with just one gear?
Please enlighten me :)

simplicity

a) simple, don't have to think about what gear you are "supposed to" be in, just pedal
b) simple, less **** to break
(for some people) c) it's trendy

There are actually two gears.

it's something you would have to experience for yourself.

Euh? "fixed gear" and "single speed" means two gears? I don't get it.

quiet and max. fitness potential. (second only applies to fixed)

SS/FG does not mean "one gear" it means one gear ratio (with or without a freewheel).

There is a gear in the front (the chain ring) and one on the rear wheel (the cog).

Less gear to freeze in the winter.
Less gear to corrode from my toxic sweat in the summer.
Makes passing geared roadies so much sweeter.

Enjoy

Because I can





But really, I like it. I have my 9 speed road bike for training and racing and then my SS/FG for fun/commuting/errands. I've crashed my road bike on my way to classes and it really sucks to be stranded with a bent derailer hanger, this won't ever happen with my SS/FG. I may get another geared bike for commuting (heavy loads?), but SS/FG will be my main ride. Spinning down hills for several miles is also fun.

Street cred.

for me, i never shifted anyway. just left it in the highest gear. derailleur was always jumping/needing attention so i said goodbye

less cables, less squeaks/clanks/rattles, no more jumping gears when hitting potholes, ahhhh

Its fun.

You dont NEED gears unless you live on the mountains somewhere.

Its fun.

Yeah its hard to understand the appeal without actually trying it. Borrow a friends or go to a bike shop and try out a FIXED gear (its fairly easy to imagine what single speed is all about).

Why try to confuse him/her?

EDIT: also, not necessarily most fitness potential on fixed, I rode singlespeed today and discovered how off my pedal stroke was. Fixed tricks you into thinking you are being super efficient.

This.

Simplicity, I quit chasing technology in bicycles about 15 years ago and bought a 24" Cruiser, I've gone though 4 single speeds and am now on my first Fixie in 25 years....

Try it, you will have your answer.

I enjoy it. It's nearly bulletproof. I don't have to worry about a derailleur snagging something, and ripping up half of my bike.

Bicycles were simple, reliable, easy to maintain and repair, then some damn fool decided to add derailleurs and multiple gears, making the bike no longer any of those things. ;)

Well, when I ride fixed, I just fall down into the ride and enjoy it. It also has greatly improved my spin on the road bike, and my power and hill climbing. It doesn't hurt that it attracts college girls to flirt with this dirty old man, either. ;)

You can track stand in front of sorority girls. ;)

When you have not done it you have to think about it...to ask the question. When you do it you won't think about the question again.....nor the answer. You will have it.

why not?

I switched to SS/FG because I never really changed gears in the first place, when I had my old 12 speed bike I mainly just stayed in the same gear. It's pretty flat around here so SS/FG seemed a bit more practical... it's incredibly simple and easy to work with. FG is just a more enjoyable ride as well.

If you're going to be picky about semantics,

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SCUutbkkCn...2008-08-28.jpg