I was losing interest in cycling so I sold my record 20speed, super-light ride and bought a singlespeed lemond filmore.

I'm now -
stronger (my legs are huge), figuring out momentum better, more in tune with my body's capabilities, have less cleaning and mantainence to do, have less noise, with less resistance (not sure what a drivetrain pulls), without a care about weight (finding out there's more important things)

and there isn't a hill I've encountered that I cant attack harder than before, and get up. And there isn't a down hill, flat, or sprint I cant hang with if not beat the geared bikes on better than before.
Maybe when I get old I'll go geared again. Or when I rip a leg off.

You my friend are a fix wheel candidate.

I too have a Record 20 speed blah blah blah bike. It gets ridden once a week at a race or fast group ride. The rest of my commuting and 'training' (I use the term loosely) is done on my 1980 Carlton fixte. Why? Well all the same reasons you mentioned.

If you think SS is great, you have to try a fixte wheel. There is no cooler feeling in cycling that riding a fixed wheel bike with a tailwind.

Go on.

alone? I see a couple fix gears on rides I do and I used to do it myself.

Do you also have a wringer washing machine at your house ? What about one of those crank phonographs ? Fixies are fine for training or track work, but you limit yourself to riding alone.

I used to ride fixed a couple years ago. lots of fun and great for hills but I miss the fast downhills and turns. I'm working on a handlebar button that will instantly convert from singlespeed to fixed gear.

So, you ride in fixie packs ? Track workouts will keep you awake.

So, you ride in fixie packs ? Track workouts will keep you awake.

I ride a fix with two brakes (i might consider taking one or both off when people learn how to drive their cars) and I have no problems riding in small groups. I wouldn't take my fixte into the middle of a surging, fast, large group ride, but riding in a small group of people who are JRA is fine. With two brakes I can stop as quickly as anyone else, the only difference is that I can't coast. I don't see any safety issues involved in this?

I was losing interest in cycling so I sold my record 20speed, super-light ride and bought a singlespeed lemond filmore.

I'm now -
stronger (my legs are huge), figuring out momentum better, more in tune with my body's capabilities, have less cleaning and mantainence to do, have less noise, with less resistance (not sure what a drivetrain pulls), without a care about weight (finding out there's more important things)

and there isn't a hill I've encountered that I cant attack harder than before, and get up. And there isn't a down hill, flat, or sprint I cant hang with if not beat the geared bikes on better than before.
Maybe when I get old I'll go geared again. Or when I rip a leg off.


Singing the praises of the simplicity and harmony of single speed is fine, but if you haven't encountered a climb, descent, flat, or sprint where a geared bike and rider is faster, you're riding environment is very tame or you ride very conservatively.

I was losing interest in cycling so I sold my record 20speed, super-light ride and bought a singlespeed lemond filmore.

I'm now -
stronger (my legs are huge), figuring out momentum better, more in tune with my body's capabilities, have less cleaning and mantainence to do, have less noise, with less resistance (not sure what a drivetrain pulls), without a care about weight (finding out there's more important things)

and there isn't a hill I've encountered that I cant attack harder than before, and get up. And there isn't a down hill, flat, or sprint I cant hang with if not beat the geared bikes on better than before.
Maybe when I get old I'll go geared again. Or when I rip a leg off.

I have two bikes--one geared, one with a BMX freewheel. I love 'em both, but if I had to get by with just one bike, it would probably be the singlespeed. It's light, it's fast, and I can keep up with younger folk on geared bikes. I haven't taken it on any long climbs, but it can be pretty steep around here.

geared bikes arent really faster. honestly. I ride with some of the fastest around philly I can hang just fine on anything flat or hilly.
on a 2 mile super-steep climb it might be different, or anything really steep that is pretty long. but I think you learn to attack things and use momentum. I like the diversity in cadence I'll find myself in. As long as you can mash and spin you do it all on a singlespeed, and if you cant mash and spin you'll learn quickly.
The last race I did had spots that were really steep, down hills, all kinds of stuff and I hung just fine on my singlspeed. If I didn't race like a fool, trying to start breakaways and getting overly excited, I feel I could've placed much higher

"I ride with some of the fastest around philly I can hang just fine on anything flat or hilly."
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What's your gearing ??. 49,50,51 ? 16,15,14 ?...........and rev range ?
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Did some checking....Did you change the gearing ? Standard gearing is 44-16
With 74 gear inches, you must be spinning 150-160 rpm to keep up with the "fastest around Philly"

that's it
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Did some checking....Did you change the gearing ? Standard gearing is 44-16
With 74 gear inches, you must be spinning 150-160 rpm to keep up with the "fastest around Philly"[/QUOTE]

that's it
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.
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Did some checking....Did you change the gearing ? Standard gearing is 44-16
With 74 gear inches, you must be spinning 150-160 rpm to keep up with the "fastest around Philly"[/QUOTE]


Are you looking for validation or something? Personally, I don't understand riding SS. I ride fixed for my commutes- 40 miles round trip and race with my geared bike. I really like having both- both SS seems to me to be the worst of both worlds.



Are you saying you raced on a SS? Road race?

"I ride with some of the fastest around philly I can hang just fine on anything flat or hilly."
.
What's your gearing ??. 49,50,51 ? 16,15,14 ?...........and rev range ?
.
.
.
.
.
Did some checking....Did you change the gearing ? Standard gearing is 44-16
With 74 gear inches, you must be spinning 150-160 rpm to keep up with the "fastest around Philly"


Hear's my $.02

Last winter I built a SS using an old lugged steel frame I found on a deal. Had most of the parts already. I ended up with a 39/18 to make the chain length work since it has a semi -horizontal dropout. Of my fleet, it has become my favorite ride. It's simple and gives a good workout here in the Blue Ridge. Compared to my geared bikes, I can average a higher speed on most rides from 20 to 40 miles from an average of 15 to 17 on my geared bikes to a 16 to 18 on my SS. Go figure...! The SS makes you work harder on climbs because it requires you to turn a higher low gear and you lose a bit on the flats because of spin out but my overall times and workout is better... I can pass and and pull for many geared riders on the climbs and even have to wait sometimes for the rest. I might be reaching a leverl of exertion that is close to my limits because if the gearing limits but it isn't impossible to out climb or out decend a geared bike with a SS. Fixy's have a little different scenario on a decent simply because of spin limitations but they too are a good ride any day.

I got blasted a few months ago when I dared to offend the local "pack riders" because of their riding behavior and got chastised and called a loser because I showed up for a "Group Ride" with the local "hot dog" wanna-bes simply because I felt "social" and wanted to try the local group thing again in lieu of riding alone. In fact, in a reply from you you commented that you "new what was happening" and I was pretty much a lier and could not have kept up with the group, nis calculated the possibilty of a group of 20 riders riding an "inverted wedge" and was a danger to the ride because of my ride choice. The subject was about group ride behavior and my intolerance for dangerous and stupid practices and not about the bike or my ability to ride. Remember!

I still ride alone except for a few close friends and still ride my SS when I can and even though I may get left behind on the flats for a bit I catch back up on the decents and I still manage to complete the ride at the same time or with a better time than with my geared bikes. Always! The SS version keeps the cadence high, 95 to 110 as indicated on the computer and I may be more "spent" when I end the ride but it's a better workout and a more relaxing experience to ride the SS or my fixed. Unless you ride one regularly you can't understand the experience or the ability of the rider. My very first road bike was a fixed geared no named POS but it was the bike that got me hooked... AS far as I am concerned, a good SS or FIxy is all you really nead to enjoy the ride which is something many don't because they are too caught up in being the biggest and most expensive or the most arrogant ride/rider in the pack. Gears don't make you always faster or always better!

Cheers...

Are you looking for validation or something? Personally, I don't understand riding SS. I ride fixed for my commutes- 40 miles round trip and race with my geared bike. I really like having both- both SS seems to me to be the worst of both worlds.



Are you saying you raced on a SS? Road race?[/QUOTE]
validation, no. just telling it as I've experienced it. everydayrider below speaks it well. Yes it was a road race on my ss. I just say to show that it's fast and I believe it.

the first road bike i had was a ss too and now I'm happily back. Silver KHS with the bent seattube. gears are too confusing and I used to shift a million times (and replace g springs 3 times) because I used to spin at about 120 all the time. now I dont think about shifting. I can think about everything else and the everything else has incorporated a new element that's more exciting..

Are you looking for validation or something? Personally, I don't understand riding SS. I ride fixed for my commutes- 40 miles round trip and race with my geared bike. I really like having both- both SS seems to me to be the worst of both worlds.



Are you saying you raced on a SS? Road race?
validation, no. just telling it as I've experienced it. everydayrider below speaks it well. Yes it was a road race on my ss. I just say to show that it's fast and I believe it.

the first road bike i had was a ss too and now I'm happily back. Silver KHS with the bent seattube. gears are too confusing and I used to shift a million times (and replace g springs 3 times) because I used to spin at about 120 all the time. now I dont think about shifting. I can think about everything else and the everything else has incorporated a new element that's more exciting..[/QUOTE]


I see your point that riding a geared bike can make you reliant on constantly changing gears in the search to remain in a comfort zone. I returned to riding after an 8-month lay-off and I'm definitely shifting way too much and it's slowing my progress in gaining strength. I'll keep an open mind on your ability to keep up with geared bikes and high quality riders. We never really know what we're capable and what's possible until we let go of conveniences and crutches.

I rode a fixed-gear for commuting for four years. This wasn't commuting when it was convenient. I haven't had a car since 1995. Here are the bad points first.
I think it actually hurt my spin because it worked in the exact opposite way that Power Cranks work. The rear wheel turning would actually drive the cranks around if you soft pedaled, so you never develop the ability to turn the crank over. All the work is done for you. So for training, and developing the instinct to spin quickly, a easy-geared single speed would be better than a fixed gear.
But I did immensly enjoy the simplicity. Zero maintenance. You don't have to worry about spending hundreds for a broken derailleur, shifter, or freewheel or freehub. A track cog is thicker and lasts longer than the same tooth count cog of a cassette. You can run a thicker chainring which is stiffer and again, lasts much longer.
You're only concerned with the ride, steering, momentum, etc., I agree that it is impossible to convey the satisfaction of being free from the distraction of gear shifting. The silence of the system was a huge plus. I couldn't imagine riding with a buzzy King hub, especially if you're riding alone.

Are you looking for validation or something? Personally, I don't understand riding SS. I ride fixed for my commutes- 40 miles round trip and race with my geared bike. I really like having both- both SS seems to me to be the worst of both worlds.



everydayrider below speaks it well. Yes it was a road race on my ss. I just say to show that it's fast and I believe it.

the first road bike i had was a ss too and now I'm happily back. Silver KHS with the bent seattube. gears are too confusing and I used to shift a million times (and replace g springs 3 times) because I used to spin at about 120 all the time. now I dont think about shifting. I can think about everything else and the everything else has incorporated a new element that's more exciting..

Double Cheers.... (By the way, I'm everydaybike because that's what I do!)

Starting out on fixy/fixie gives you a different base and a differnt outlook. Spin fast/high, you go faster. Spin slow, you relax and enjoy the scenery or recover form the effort of making a climb that some need to shift down to complete. To me, regardless of the bike or the gear or gearing, the fact that I'm on a bike, can get from point A to point B under my own power, the physics and mechanics of the two wheeled contraption that I'm using
leaves me free from the attitude and the attitude that the contraption or the money spent makes me a better or stronger rider. (Strong meaning will and determination.) I will never try to compete with Jan or LA or Tyler or Ivan or anyone else. I't ain't my thing. I ride for pleasure and satisfaction only. Butt if you talk to any of them, you'll find that they train/ride and enjoy on a SS or Fixy. (That's my spelling!) Something profound about that!


Life is good!... As long as there is a bike sitting waiting for a partner, the company of a good woman and good bottle of vino.... would love to find the complere combo. Have lots of good bikes, good vino but the other is lacking. (sorry, got distracted for a moment)

Cheers again!

"gears are too confusing and I used to shift a million times"
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I don't get it ??......If you're happy with SS, that's just fine.
How many RPM's do you have to throw at 30 mph...How many at 14 mph ?

I have an old Centurian road bike that I converted into a singlespeed. I find it makes me a better climber. Sometimes you just have to force yourself up a hill that you normally would climb in a smaller gear. After a while I found myself climbing faster and in bigger gears on my geared bike.

The single speed is usually the first one out of the basement for me. I use it on errands, commuting and short trips. I am faster on my geared bike, and will use it on long rides. If I only could have one bike, it would be geared. But is it nice to have a singlespeed.

geared bikes arent really faster. honestly. I ride with some of the fastest around philly I can hang just fine on anything flat or hilly.
on a 2 mile super-steep climb it might be different, or anything really steep that is pretty long. but I think you learn to attack things and use momentum. I like the diversity in cadence I'll find myself in. As long as you can mash and spin you do it all on a singlespeed, and if you cant mash and spin you'll learn quickly.
The last race I did had spots that were really steep, down hills, all kinds of stuff and I hung just fine on my singlspeed. If I didn't race like a fool, trying to start breakaways and getting overly excited, I feel I could've placed much higher

Nope. you would get shelled in any decent category riding a SS.

I am contemplating my options for getting a simple road bike. Single speed sounds like the way to go but fixies apparently have some points too. As far as I can tell, you cannot coast on a fixie and sharp turns might be tricky. On a fixie I could probably do with just a front brake. On a SS, I am not so sure.

Can somebody give me some points about why to pick a SS instead of a fixie? Or fixie instead of a SS.

I commute (and will continue to do so) on a geared bike. My mountain bike is geared, at least until something seriously wears out.

PM

I am contemplating my options for getting a simple road bike. Single speed sounds like the way to go but fixies apparently have some points too. As far as I can tell, you cannot coast on a fixie and sharp turns might be tricky. On a fixie I could probably do with just a front brake. On a SS, I am not so sure.

Can somebody give me some points about why to pick a SS instead of a fixie? Or fixie instead of a SS.

I commute (and will continue to do so) on a geared bike. My mountain bike is geared, at least until something seriously wears out.

PM

A fixed gear bike is exactly what the name implies... the chainring and the cog are fixed to both the crank and the rear wheel with no freewheel or freehub. When the cranks turn so does the wheel and as long as the wheel is turning the cranks are turning. No coasting... Thats why there can be a clearance issue when in a hard tight turn because the pedal may hit. I've never had it happen but others have. Sometimes folks use a shorter crankarm to increase the clearance.

A singlespeed has a fixed chainring and a freehub that lets the real wheel spin without the crank spinning. Hence, freehub. It allows you to coast. As for brakes, on a Fixie, some use a front brake only and some use both front and rear and some use none and depend o n the ole legs to do the stopping. Mine has a front but no rear. I think it's better to have at least one brake but thats only my opinion. Definately have both front and rear brakes on a SS. It's the ony way to stop short of hitting something or dragging your feet.

Personally, I love both bikes. They are simple and easy to ride but I think my favorite is the SS. Sometimes I just want to relax and coast to give the legs a bit of a rest or take advantage of a long decent... Basically, it's your choice. Try to find a friend or LBS that has both and check them out. They are both a lot of fun to ride.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers...

A month or so ago I chimed in here with a similar message - SS bikes are fun, and if you give yourself over to the concept, they can be a lot of fun.

But I don't think I'd say they're "better." They're simply different. What I like about them is that they force you to be a different rider. Hills, wind, people up the road you want to catch, being tired - all these things that are part of our regular riding experience demand different strategies than what we use when riding geared. And that's what makes SS so alluring - you get to use a different part of your brain.

I don't really buy the simplicity argument - a properly built geared bike needs very little maintenance aside from filling the tires and oiling the chain. I rarely have to make adjustments to the transmission on any of mine.

But I do like the fact that SS puts me into a different mindset, and that's why I've put a lot of miles on mine this summer. And it has improved my ability to spin fast at higher speeds. However, knowing myself as I do, I'm pretty darn sure the bloom would go off the rose if I rode it exclusively. Because, I'd just be trading one style of riding for another.

Variety seems to be the thing that drives me. Next stop, a flip/flop wheel for another SS I'm building so I can try fixed without marrying it.

I am contemplating my options for getting a simple road bike. Single speed sounds like the way to go but fixies apparently have some points too. As far as I can tell, you cannot coast on a fixie and sharp turns might be tricky. On a fixie I could probably do with just a front brake. On a SS, I am not so sure.

Can somebody give me some points about why to pick a SS instead of a fixie? Or fixie instead of a SS.

I commute (and will continue to do so) on a geared bike. My mountain bike is geared, at least until something seriously wears out.

PM


What some people may count as a negative point of fixed-gear bikes may be a positive. Sure, you can't coast on sharp turns, but look at it the other way. You're forced to pedal through turns. You learn to have confidence in your pedal clearance. I'm willing to bet most of us on geared bikes or singlespeeds coast through turns that we could very well pedal through just because we never learn how far we can lean over and how must clearance we have.
Another benefit of fixed-gear bikes is that I found it easier to learn and perform track stands. You don't have to worry about feathering the brake to control forward or rearward movement. You can just put backpressure on the pedals. You can control your balance the same way a unicyclists does, by slightly rocking the bike forward and rearward.
From an astetic point of view, I think fixed gear hubs are available in more beautiful configurations.
On a fixed-gear, you develop better balance and smoothness on the bike because you're forced to pedal while doing EVERYTHING, reaching for a water bottle, adjusting shorts, scratching your nuts, etc.

I cant find a ride fast enough in philly. although the local "drives" ride is fast and I used to do it and really liked it, there are so many crashes these days I avoid it. Come to my neck of the woods and we'll go tire to tire up and around anything you'd like.

just so you dont think I'm being a jerk. I mean the challenge in the healthiest competative way. It would be great fun even if you did happen to drop me. But...I think it would likely be otherwise.

just so you dont think I'm being a jerk. I mean the challenge in the healthiest competative way. It would be great fun even if you did happen to drop me. But...I think it would likely be otherwise.

Well, you better be a National caliber road pro if you think your gonna hang on a SS.

and I'll put a tener on it that you wont lose me on a 30 mile loop of my choice.

I have an old 5 speed Italian bike that I tend to lapse into single speed mode on, using the third cog unless a really tough climb catches my attention. I've had this bike for almost 35 years and I'm considering putting a flip flop on it since it has horizontal dropouts. I also enjoy riding an old 3 speed hub shifter with big tires. With riders being equal I don't see how a fixed or SS bike could win a race with a 20 speed. I enjoyed watching The Little 500 race at IU on single speeds last year.

and I'll put a tener on it that you wont lose me on a 30 mile loop of my choice.

I can't believe this thread died here. Is noone going to challenge ishmael?

Jim <--- with popcorn in hand.

I built up a nice steel bike with a flip-flop rear fixed/free this spring. I have to agree with most of the guys who love their SS/fixed. Its my preferred ride now. I have been very surprised at the hills I've been able to climb with my 46/18 or 46/19. But there is no way I could keep up with my riding buddies if they are hammering on some types of terrain. I can do fine on most climbs but spin out at 26-28 MPH and we routinely hammer down some long gradual hills at 35-40. As far as fixed gear- I can't go over 25. Not enough fast twitch muscles I guess. My favorite workout is to ride fixed at first then towards the end of the ride flip the rear wheel at the top of a long climb so I can enjoy the descent. Still love carving those turns at 40 coming down the mountain. The geared bike still has its place though. I could not have done the ride we completed today- 65 miles with a 4800 vertical climb (almost all in one shot) on my SS. The 39/25 was stressing my legs plenty and I couldn't have turned the 46/19 over for that long of a climb on the steepest parts. SS is great for powering over short hills and I love racing the geared bikes on those conditions, but long mountain passes are a different ball game. Forget the fanaticsm- different bikes for different rides and terrain. All three versions (geared, fixed, SS) are great under the right conditions.

Next stop, a flip/flop wheel for another SS I'm building so I can try fixed without marrying it.Ah yes. A fixed side with a gearing that lets you go fast and a SS side with a bigger cog for limping home after a too hard ride, or otherwise taking it easy.

The hills in my area are mainly pretty gentle, so a single or fixie should be OK for a recreational ride. I guess cornering with a fixie would not be a major problem either: where there is a corner, there is also traffic which forces me to slow down anyway.
I have a 3 km (2 mile) climb to work which I prefer to do on a geared bike.

I am wondering what the fixie equivalent to coasting feels like. Is it like you are working all the time or does it just pump fresh blood into your muscles and make you recover better?

I hear that there are people who like fixie mountain bikes. That would not work for me: it is hard enough to avoid hitting rocks and roots with the pedals of a geared bike.

PM

What kind of pedals do you use on your fixie?

Ah yes. A fixed side with a gearing that lets you go fast and a SS side with a bigger cog for limping home after a too hard ride, or otherwise taking it easy.

The hills in my area are mainly pretty gentle, so a single or fixie should be OK for a recreational ride. I guess cornering with a fixie would not be a major problem either: where there is a corner, there is also traffic which forces me to slow down anyway.
I have a 3 km (2 mile) climb to work which I prefer to do on a geared bike.

I am wondering what the fixie equivalent to coasting feels like. Is it like you are working all the time or does it just pump fresh blood into your muscles and make you recover better?

I hear that there are people who like fixie mountain bikes. That would not work for me: it is hard enough to avoid hitting rocks and roots with the pedals of a geared bike.

PM

The fixie equivalent of coasting is more of a controlled pedaling motion, or the ultimate soft pedaling, where you're only trying to keep up with the cadence the wheel-driven cranks force on you. If you completely relax your legs, you get choppy and it's kind of hard on the joints. You're using your muscles to just stablize the spin. If you completely relax your legs while sitting on a bike, your legs tend to splay outward, not remain inline with the pedal stroke.
The downside is that if on lone rides you're used to coasting while standing, and really flexing your ankles to stretch out your calves, you can't do that on a fixed gear. And if you're used to coasting while seated, and shaking out your thighs by wiggling them side to side, you can't really do that on a fixed gear. It messed with your knees to be shaking your knees size to size while your pedaling in the opposide axis.

When I first started out I put on clips and straps because I was concerned about being able to clip in with the pedal going around. I rode with C&S for years when I was younger- prior to the invention of clipless. However, I didn't like the feeling of not being locked in. Tightening and loosening the straps was difficult with the pedals rotating and I pulled out a couple of times accidently because I'm used to pulling up with my clipless. I tried the Time MB pedals from my cross bike and they worked great. You really feel like part of the bike when you are clipped in solidly and can use your hamstrings and quads fully w/o fear of release. The advantage to MB type pedals is that you don't have to flip them up. Works for me and I'll be more used to them when cross season rolls around. I'd encourage anyone to try fixed/SS. Two more types of riding in addition to road, TT, cross and MB.

I'm disapointed. I'll take anyone on.