Enlighten Me...Singlespeed?

TheDL

I'm a newbie to the myriad of cycling formats. I also just happen to come across an old Raleigh Capri that my family forgot we had. For kicks and giggles and experience I thought I might try a single speed conversion. But I'll admit I'm not quite sure what the mentality is behind owning a single speed bike.

So if you could all share your reasons/philosophies why you choose to ride a single speed over a multispeed bike that'd be great.

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"...on a steel horse I ride..."

Velo Serg

Low maintenance if the drivetrain is usually the number one answer. Also, you generally get a much lighter bike, but beginning with an old really heavy bike will only result in a not quite as heavy but still not light bike. In my mind, nothiing beats the silence and the lack of friction for a peaceful ride. Sometimes I want to go or get a great workout, so I hop on a regular roadie. Othertimes I want to cruise, or I don't want to bother with all those gears, derailers, shifters and brakes. Lastly, a sinle can be a great trainer for climbing. Mine is set up so my preferred cadence forces me into an aggressive climb, not daddling like some old man peddling swiftly to crawl up a slope. This way when I road race I find my times are better because I sprint up every hill. Races are won in the climbs, any fool can go down a hill fast with the right gear, but it takes training to go up as fast.

pomod

Sheldon Brown has some articles on the joys of single speed and fixed riding also check out the Dennis Larson's fixedgeargallery.com or oldskooltrack.com for some more articles and tons of great pics. Personally I'll never ride a geared bike again. Riding fixed especially, you are just way more connected to your the road, I don't know you gotta try it for yourself.

cheers

stina

I like the Wheeeee! factor. I feel like I'm a kid again, and I also feel a little stealthier without the derailleurs. I think it's made me a stronger cyclist up the hills, and a little more appreciative of my surroundings on the flats, where I don't have the option of mashing away at a higher speed (at least the way I'm geared). The simplicity is liberating.

Also, the process of building the bike taught me a great deal-- having sold that first bike (a fixed/free road bike), I now feel much more confident as I start the process of building my dream ride (ATB style).

Have a great time with your conversion!

HellonWheels

A friend who uses a racing bike with derailleurs was shocked when I told him I go up hills on my 3 speed bike (lol!)....its not easy but I do it. I bet a racing bike or even mtn bike would be a piece of cake after using only 3 speeds all my life.

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"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

Robbizzle

yeah when i first started riding again I rode an old grungy 3 speed (which I loved). It was hard as hell to climb but once I bought a new 24 speed road bike I got up hills sooooo much faster due to the 3 speed experience. I now mainly ride a fixed gear conversion (42:16) to ride everywhere, including the huge hill leading to my house.

Marx SS

Now that I use my single speed converted MTB for the hard pavement commute 5days a week, it makes jumping on my 27speed MTB on the weekends easier to ride in heavier going.
I seem to rely on the shifters less, but it’s nice to know that when worse comes to worst, I can just click down & power on.

DMax

I ride a SS probably 90% of my rides. I have gotten stronger, better leg definition, etc than when I only rode a normal road bike. You have to push harder on the hills and into the wind, which sounds bad but strangely, you get used to it pretty quick. I ride for fitness and fun, and I seem to get a better workout in less time; no solid evidence but a 1 hr ride on my SS physically feels like a 1:15 minute ride on my racing bike (which may be a reason not to ride a SS if high mileage is your goal).

It's lighter - no derailleurs, 1 chainring, etc. It's quieter - I don't have the click-click-click noise. And it feels different pedaling than a derailleur'd bike - like a more direct connection between legs and wheels.

Less stuff to maintain.

Plus it's really fun - you don't notice how much you think about shifting until you don't have to. Let's you enjoy just riding a little more.

As for one over the other - get one of each if possible. Otherwise, if you are riding for fun and fitness (and not a too hilly area) I endorse SS. If you are doing high mileage and long group rides like centuries, I would get a multi-geared bike. You could always just not shift it.

John Knees

Although modern chains are more flexible and forgiving than the 1/2" x 1/8" of long ago, I still believe that two important factors with single-speed are chain line and chain tension.
A good chain line exists when chainwheel and sprocket lie in the same plane, i.e. the chain runs straight between them rather than through an angle as it does on most derailleur ratios. Get your mate to hold the bike and check whether the chain runs straight from top of chainwheel to top of sprocket. You can get away with a bit of variation, but if it's bad, adjust by adding or removing packing behind sprocket or by replacing bottom-bracket axle.
Chain Tension. Chain must not be tight. Adjust the back wheel to give about 1/2" of up-and-down "slop" in the chain. If chain goes alternately tight and slack, either it is knackered or the chainwheel's distorted. Spin the c/wheel with the chain off, and strain it flat with a big screwdriver.
Finally If you're riding fixed, use a locking ring. Most of the time you won't need it as the sprocket jams tight on its thread - but in extremis........
Best advice? - get hold of a decent book or get an old stager to help you.
Happy twiddling!