I'll see you both at Race Wars.

If OP says he feels less tired on a singlespeed then he probably feels less tired.

I just don't understand why you feel everyone is the same. I've ridden plenty of SS and it is truly less tiring than my 30 pound road commuter. Granted this is all SF riding.

Its basic common sense. Regardless of the weight of the bike, there is a gear to compensate.

You've taught me so much about bieks here! Thanks!

Oh, and you're wrong.

Weight of the bike factors in a lot in a climb. Carrying 30 pounds up a hill vs. 17. Let's gear down and compensate. You'll just have to spin faster and gear down because the bike is heavier.

I'm really going by my own experiences. If you gear up the SS properly and speed is not a concern, I find myself less tired on a 10 mile commute over riding my heavy 30 pound steel rig.

Next you'll be trying to tell us that a lightweight car with one gear would get better gas mileage than a heavier car with a 5-speed transmission.

You have no understanding of gears, I take it.

Won't disagree in the case of a combustion engine that a multi speed transmission is more efficient.

On a single speed bike going 10 miles, depending on the effort of the rider, speed not being a concern, the lighter bike will tire me out less than a heavier multi-speed road bike.

Well then you're a weirdo.

I think we should just /thread

You realize an engine is an engine is an engine right?
Be it a combustion engine, or a person on a bike.
An engine is an engine is an engine.

I will agree with this.

All you damn cyclists are nutcases. Get a car like the rest of us, and get off our damn roads!

Yeah sure. Just like a one speed gokart is the same as a range rover is the same as a vespa is the same as a moped going up mount everest or down 3rd street SF.

There are tons of factors that play into this and you're just over-simplifying. Just because the bike has gears, does not mean it will be less tiring.

For the OP, I'd suggest a single speed, 65gi, 700x25, steel...

But he really just wants a bike with white DV's so none of this matters.

maybe, to some extent, trying to get your 30lb bike going just as fast will be more tiring. A 30lb road bike? Sounds like a touring bike. My touring bike was in no way more tiring unless I tried to get that thing to 20mph because that kind of speed isn't what it is meant for and it doesn't position you to go that fast very easily.

there more things at play that just weight. 10lbs isn't so much unless you're going up hills a lot

You're absolutely right.
They are all engines. Engines do work. I'm sure all of your examples have different styles of gearing to make the amount of work done be more productive.

You're over simplifying things. You're arguing that weight is all that matters. Tell you the truth, weight is probably one of the least important aspects of the scenario.

Also, I bet a range rover is heavier than a moped, but I bet it would have an easier job climbing mt everest.

weird. it weighs more.

Not over-simplifying things. In the case of a rider that is not concerned about speed, one of the most determinant factors here would be the weight.

First, a single speed bicycle has a much straighter chain-line and does not need to disperse its energy throughout a derailleur drivetrain. If you want to think about this concept in terms of gear inches, the single speed is more efficient. There is far less friction on the single speed.

Additionally, there is less mass to be moved in the rear, which makes start/stop easier. We must also factor in wind resistance and rider position. Already we have an easier start/stop over a geared bike.

Finally, it is impossible to measure fatigue since it is perceived mentally. The rider might just have an easier time regulating their speed through the simple concept of pedal more = faster, pedal less when tired.

If the OP is trying to go faster than 17 miles an hour (which I highly doubt given his "condition") over a distance of more than 8-10 miles, then I rest my case.

So much is wrong with this.

You know what gears do, right?

...




right?

Yes I know what they do.

Go ahead and explain to me how I'm wrong, since now we're talking about the concept of efficiency.

have you ridden a 9 or 10 speed cassette before?

Yep... I own a 10 cassette and an 8 cassette, and owned an older 7 speed, all road bikes.

Good trolling....

I can ride my 30lb touring bike with 40lbs of gear on it 70 miles to mount rainier and be less tired than if I did it on my fixed gear.

Rofl.

I can ride a 17 pound single speed with relaxed geometry going 13 miles an hour with 65 GI for 10 miles and be less tired than if I had ridden my 30 pound geared touring bike.

Read the rest of the thread before talking about your amazing touring adventures.

The point is that gigantor is trying to make in a nutshell, but is being too vague to express.

30lb bikes suck. Geared or not.

17lb bikes are great. Geared or not.