Why singlespeed?

[Done]

Disclaimer: This is probably--even likely--the stupidest question than I've ever asked on a forum.

But here goes: what is the attraction of fixed-gear bikes?

I've never ridden one (other than my BMX bike as a kid), so I'm clueless. But I do know that I like gears, and I can't imagine giving them up! Enough reasonably sane people do it though, that there must me some good reason that I don't understand...

Should I give a singlespeed a try, and if so, why?

Thanks!

Cheers,
Toby

[Pivvay]

There are a ton of reasons I could give you (cost, weight, maintenance, simplicity, mess with people's minds) but the only one that really matters to me is that I've been having a ton of fun doing it so I keep at it.

Just FWIW, singlespeed typically refers to coasters, fixie refers to those who can't stop pedaling like Mr.Nice. Now that's crazy to me, I like coasting down hill and in technical sections

[Done]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the fixie vs. singlespeed explanation. No coasting sounds REALLY painful!

I certainly understand the reduced-maintenance argument. Fewer moving parts = fewer problems. But I'm not sure about weight, since it doesn't seem like it would save that much--and losing the mechanical advantage of gears seems like it would outweigh the weight savings.

Anything fun sounds good to me. But why is it fun? Isn't shifting to an easier gear to spin up a hill, and then shifting to a faster one to blast down more fun than walking up and coasting down?

Puzzled,
Toby

[Pivvay]

It probably saves 2 lbs on the average MTB which is on the order of 10%. Whether that's worth it, well that just depends.

As to why it's fun? I think you just have to try it. It's a pretty engaging riding style in hilly terrain, less so on the flat dirt roads. It's certainly not for everyone but it's interesting that most people who try it seem to really love it, pro/con arguments aside.

[Done]

Kind of like Coke vs. Pepsi, eh?

I was hoping that there was a compelling argument for why people like it--but I'll take your word that it's simply fun and give it a try sometime.

Thanks Chris!

Cheers,
Toby

[Pivvay]

There really isn't one I've ever heard. It's just different because you're forced to attack the hills and at first you think you're going to die and then with time you get stronger All the little benefits are great if you like the style. If it's not for you then they won't matter.

Funny enough, for many race courses both short and long the SS isn't as big a disadvantage as you'd think.

[Done]

...at first you think you're going to die and then with time you get stronger...

Now that I understand! As long, of course, as there isn't any permanent or long-lasting damage.

[Slowerthensnot]

Now that I understand! As long, of course, as there isn't any permanent or long-lasting damage.

Lasting damage?  ummm maybe it rewires your brain to a degree?

Why SS who knows like P says cuz its fun!  A diffrent challenge, another way to ride a bike.....

[naked indian]

I LOVE SS and FIXIE as well.

For me, it comes from wanting to expand my skill set and test my limits against various different variables.  I also have some derailleur equipped bikes in my stable.

In my opinion its FUN to test your skills talents and abilities.

I live in Florida and the first time I ever raced in the MOuntains I raced Single speed.  When you ride Single Speed you tend to focus more on doing the work vs letting the bike work for you.

It shifts the focus of your ride.  SO in the end what it did for me, was make me a better all around rider.  Even when I ride a geared bike,I ride it like a single speed and hammer a harder gear and work it.

Heck, sometimes I forget when Im riding my gearey that I can coast and still pedal all the downhills.  Fixie riding also taught me that you can really maintain lots of control by pedaling thru the corner.

So there.. thats my story and im sticking to it.

[Done]

It shifts the focus of your ride.

Pun intended? 

I'm sold on giving it a go. Maybe I'll try riding my geared bike like a SS and see what happens. I may have to tape down the sifter to avoid temptation!

[Pivvay]

That's what I did at first. Just put your geared bike in the middle ring and something around 20t in the back and don't shift.

[bmike-vt]

started riding a fixed crosscheck with some wider tires (than my ld machine) a few years ago.
thought i'd swap between ss and fg but never flipped the wheel.
3 winters later i still love it - but kept putting larger tires on.
and riding the crosscheck more and more - even doing a dirt road century on it.
then started moving into the woods.
now have a proper ss / fg mtb built up.

am running ss at the moment just to give it a go. 32/18 currently for some tame(ish) local town trails.*
really miss having all that wheel control with the fg. and the way a fg just climbs and climbs.
so i may go back to fg with big big tires.

but damned, its fun. long road stretches can be a drag now that i've really lowered my gearing - but i'm working out a dinglespeed for freewheeling with 2 options, and i already have a dinglecog with 17/19 set up for 2 fg options.

really enjoy it, to the point that when i have some extra $$ (after spending it all on mtb specific stuff...) i'll probably build up an ENO hub for my ti IF long distance road bike...


long story short - its a ton of fun, so far.
i haven't spent a ton of time in the woods - but rolling dirt roads, some trails, even paved - i'm digging it.
and i really like it in the snow / ice. put some studs on, and with a fixed gear you can ride all winter (esp. in the east...)



*now - wet leaves, snotty roots, and too high a gear - well - thats part of the challenge and i'm learing how to better pick a line. and running small gears all winter has really worked my pedal stroke - and keeps me honest come spring and the gears come out - i'll often spin through parts where i can back off, relax and coast... and i'm definitely pushing harder gears on the road machine.

[Majcolo]

It probably saves 2 lbs on the average MTB which is on the order of 10%.

And far more if you go from dual suspension to rigid.

[DaveH]

Why singlespeed...?

It's harder, easier, faster, slower, more fun, sometimes boring, different yet unchanging.

I started out simply as a means to force myself to do improve on self-perceived limiters, namely riding with a cadence of anything outside the range of 85-100.  It's wonderful for that, but became so much more.  I didn't expect to be taken over by the SS bug, thought it would be a fad for a few months.  But damn, it is so engaging.  It requires use of more than just your legs.  It improves bike handling as the need for momentum increases greatly - and that translates to geared riding.

Give it a shot, there's nothing to lose really.  Someone will buy it if you decide it's not for you.  If you need a lot more, go to the MTBR singlespeed forum and you'll find that the Rules? thread was actually short and tame.

[Done]

... go to the MTBR singlespeed forum and you'll find that the Rules? thread was actually short and tame.

Why do you think that I asked here?

I'm going to give it shot. Gonna be tough to avoid the shifters, but I'll try a few rides without them. Maybe some duct tape to keep my thumbs under control!

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!

Cheers,
Toby

[Slowerthensnot]

Why do you think that I asked here?

I'm going to give it shot. Gonna be tough to avoid the shifters, but I'll try a few rides without them. Maybe some duct tape to keep my thumbs under control!

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!

Cheers,
Toby

A ziptie around the downtube, chainstay, or were ever the cables are exposed does a good job pretend ss'ing your rig

[paxton coyote]

 I built up a KM ss in '06 & I love the simplicity of it the most. Can I climb everything on it? Heck no, but I guess I don't mind pushing it uphill or I'd go back to gears, mine was built up & rode rigid, ended up putting a REBA on the front for the Dakota 5-o & blew the seal last winter, have been back to rigid ever since, the only time it really gets to me is rough, rocky trails which I have to travel out of state to get to so not often. I do remember my palms being bruised after 3 days west of Fruita, bought Ergons & it helped out a ton.

 I'm considering a geared Fargo for dirt touring but I'm turning 44 in a month & want to see some high country so will make it a little easier for a graybeard, but I'll never swap or sell my ss, it's been my "go-to bike" since I built it up & will remain that way.

[dario]

I've been lurking on this site. I have enjoyed the different threads and post, and thought I'd jump into this discussion.

Posters have identified some really good reasons for going singlespeed or fixed, Toby. So give it a whirl!  Simplicity is key, but riding singlespeed and fixed, paradoxically, teaches you versatility and adaptability. that will serve you well when you ride a geared bike, similar to how mtb skills can help make you a more confident road cyclist. We have bikes for every kind of terrain and "event" and we frequently fuss about which bike for a given ride, gearing, etc... (That can actually be a fun problem!)  What happens when you take a minimalist bike (1 gear) and you try to use it on different types of terrain and for different kinds of rides? I've been riding fixed for 20 years, at first as a winter training thing (even though I have never raced), and for many years now as my "go-to" ride for almost all kinds of riding. You'd be surprised where you can venture off-road with a fixed. And when you can't turn that crank over because of a hill, hop off, shoulder the bike, and jog up the hill, like European cyclocross in the old, old days. Riding fixed can test your limits, physically. There is a minimalist aesthetic (which either you like or not). And, above all, it teaches you to make do with what you have. And that is where the fun begins because you don't know how far "you can do with what you have" until you're actually at that point.

Sorry for being a little abstract, but then again we fixed gear afficionados tend to get gooey and all Zen-like.

-- dario

[naked indian]

LOL...

When I ride my fixie its Art In motion, LOL...

[phil_rad]

I have to chime in with the other single speeders out there, its just plain fun. It's the bike I ride the most and it always puts a smile on my face when I ride it. I've only been riding SS for about eight months now so I'm not the big expert, I'm alredy thinking about selling my full suspension geared bike.

Ride on!

Phil