If you are wondering about a single speed, just go to your multi-geared bike and try to find one gear that CAN work in all the situations you encounter. It will obviously be less than ideal in many -or most- situations. If, however, you can find a gear that works - that would be about the ratio you would want on your singe speed, though the wheelset can also make a difference. If it is a different diameter wheel that affects the gear ration, or if you are going from road racing tires to baloon tires you will want a bit lower ration to push the extra rolling resistance.

From there on, it is mostly up to what you prefer. There can be a wonderful simplicity to a single speed - clean bars - coaster brake - uncluttered chain lines - and there is beauty in this.

Since you have a single speed, just go ride it (unless you are trying to decide whether or not to exchange it) and see if you like it.

What type of single speed have you been gifted? Cruiser? Track bike? Vintage? or ???

You are going to run into the usual Californian loudmouths here. SS is fun. Enjoy it!

I love single speed. I rode my SS for about 1500 miles last summer/fall. My geared bike now sits in the garage collecting dust.

Small hills aren't an issue if you're in any decent kind of shape. Steep hills will have you standing on the pedals for a long time, but you can make it if you're physically fit. I'm 47, and even I can do the steep hills.

There is a learning curve on single speed, knowing when to pump hard, and when to get your butt out of the saddle. But you catch on quickly.

Single speed is so much less to worry about that a geared bike. I love the dependability.

Yeah, no! Ridiculous questions get ridiculous and sometimes snarky answers. It is a bike it has two wheels and a way to make one of those wheels move by the power of the pedal. If you are able to move the pedals somehow your bike will move. You could attach rockets onto your bike and then my friends you would have ROCKET SCIENCE!!!!!