Why singlespeed?

[Irulan]

gleaned from various sources, aren't YOU intrigued now?

Riding a singlespeed regularly will bring you to a whole 'nother level of fitness and make you a better, stronger rider all-around. Singlespeeding requires you to stay off the brakes to keep your momentum and it requires you to charge up hills harder than on a geared bike.
You also gain an important mental edge as the suffering (yes it hurts - bad sometimes, that's one reason it's not for everyone) you endure makes you stronger between the ears too. As you endure more, you become more confident in what you are capable of.

SS is not for everybody. But on the right bike in the right terrain its a hell of alot of fun. If you do alot of climbing it can be brutal lungbusting misery, on nice rolly curvy terrain it is a blast.

It's hard to explain really, but you just have to work with the bike more...rather then changing the bike to work with you by shifting gears. The lighterweight and less component noise is a benefit, but for me I just love having to strategize my pedal stroke rather then when I shift gears.

1) The bike is lighter, quieter and more efficient.
2) Because gears are the most delicate and complicated part of the bike, get rid of them, and everything is simple.
3) No screwing around with stupid derailleurs.
4) No derailleur hangers to shear off when you get a stick in the chain or hit a rock.
5) It makes you a more well balanced and efficient rider.
6) When you are riding slower than your buddies on FS rigs, you have an excuse.
7) It whips your *** into shape.
8) Because it it more fun than biking with gears (not that biking with gears isn't fun)

last but not least The Tao of Singlespeeding by Corvus Corvax

[snowtulip]

I've got the single speed buzz right now. I have my new mtn. bike http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4601, and am turning my old bike into a single speed. It should be ready in the next week or so.

Everyone I know loves it, they all seem to feel more peaceful when they are on their single speed. I've also seen amazing fitness improvements from people on their singlespeeds. My hubby used the single speed to train for our mtn. bike tour this past summer and he kicked butt! I look forward to giving it a try and am excited to take a new look at mtn. biking from the singlespeed perspective.

Next step, fixed gear mtn. bike (ok, I don't think I'll get to that point, a little too scary for me). http://www.63xc.com/faq/faq.htm#whytake

I hope your single speed experience goes well!

[Irulan]

what gear ratio are you going with? My brain starts to fuzz over when I try and read pages and pages of technical drivel about this stuff.

[pkq]

I rode my new for me fixie Monday and love it. It is a blast! It brought back childhood memories of simpler times. It takes a bit of adjustment since your legs are constantly moving.

My buddy, who put it all together for me, said I'd be sore but I wasn't. It is a real sweet ride.

The fixed gear is a 19t and the coaster (flip flop hub) is a 23t.

[snowtulip]

We have lots of hills on all of our trails (and not rolly hills), so I'm going to start fairly easy with a 32 front and 20 back. They usually run a 2:1 ratio for gearing and so if I'm feeling I can handle the hills without killing my knees I might switch to a 16 in the back.

The difficulty with the 32, 20 will be smooth, slow pedalling on the flats since that is easy gearing, but I'm sure I can benefit from this as well.

My hubby is waiting on some horizontal dropouts and when those arrive, I'll be ready for single speeding.

There is so much info. out there it's hard to keep everything straight.

[fixedgeargirl]

All that stuff in the OP goes double for fixin' !!!

Is my handle showing ?

Here's my (heavily edited) take on things: Scorchin' for Starters

That's me on the left. The little guy on the handlebars is my now-6-year-old.

[Irulan]

here is so much info. out there it's hard to keep everything straight.

no kidding:
eccentric bottom brackets
tensioners
half links
cassette spacers
ratios
crank arms

...................................
someone just tell me what to do!!

[RoadRaven]

I am in complete awe of anyone who rides a fixed gear bike

One of the men in my partners training bike rides a fixie sometimes... and those guys cruise at 35-40km/hour on the flat and climb (and descend) some really steep hills...

Nah... not for me at all

Good luck all of you...

[tattiefritter]

The SO has recently gone mtb singlespeed, he bought a cheapie to try it and now has a very nice "Spot Brand" singlespeed frame with all sorts of bling on it. He has sold the cheapie to his mate and they now regularly ride it on our short midweek rides. It is true they have to attack hills all the time and on the shallower gradient climbs they can generally pull away though I tend to catch them on the 17/18% gradient hills as they weave all over the place. Seeing how much fun they have does occasionally tempt me to try it, however the long and/or steep road and offroad climbs that we ride our mtb's on round here kind of put me off (cos I don't want to go back to getting off and walking up them I suppose). I did consider buying a singlespeed for commuting to work in the winter as my route is fairly flat, however I was put off this by the SO who pointed out that I would struggle with riding into the prevailing wind all the time (I ride out to the coast), but the seed has been sown, maybe next winter. I will also be looking for a replacement mtb hardtail frame at some point this year and will probably go for an On One Inbred frame with sliding dropouts as it can be used singlespeed or with gears.

[CorsairMac]

Snow: let me know how you like the SS. I"m thinking very seriously about building one of my bikes out as either a SS or a fixie. I have a buddy here that rode a fixie all winter so he can teach me how to ride it - I'm leaning towards the "scorcher" LOVE the term FixedGearGirl!

[snowtulip]

Corair, I'll keep you posted, you're always welcome to borrow it (admitedly a little small, but you never know). Hubby uses his fixed gear to ride around town and he loves it, I'm not quite ready for that. But singlespeed, here I come!