Did your single-speed miles make you stronger on all of your bikes?
#51
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Been riding MTB since the 90s.I rotated SS into my MTB lineup for a few years in the late 2000’s.
I don’t think it improved my fitness overall, but it improved some of my riding skills.
Same is true of my periodic return to rigid bikes and flat pedals.
I don’t think it improved my fitness overall, but it improved some of my riding skills.
Same is true of my periodic return to rigid bikes and flat pedals.
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#52
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Great guy, he single handedly ran the club (CRCA) until he was no longer able to, and then it took a bunch of folks and committies to fill his shoes. I switched to Kissena after his passing.
#53
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Novel idea -
Just keep your traditional geared bike in one gear for the ride... use different single gears for different rides. Work on all aspects of your pedal stroke - grinding, spinning, whatever... then shift gears like a normal human being when you are tired of all of that nonsense!!
Just keep your traditional geared bike in one gear for the ride... use different single gears for different rides. Work on all aspects of your pedal stroke - grinding, spinning, whatever... then shift gears like a normal human being when you are tired of all of that nonsense!!
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#54
Another advantage of the simple single-speed bike is it's simplicity. I am not talking about the reliability, but the simplicity of operation. Kids generally grow up with single-speed bicycles, not to mention the BMX that has a huge following. So one of the things I was looking for in single-speed riding was a return to the simplicity of youth. If you think about a coaster-braked bicycle then you are talking about a cycle with only two controls, the pedals for power and braking, and the bars for steering. I have seen a lot of cyclists who are young or not experienced riding around on multi-speed bikes and not using any of the gears properly on the flat or going up hills. If you have a single speed, fixie or otherwise that is geared to work well on the hills in your area, and you are not worried about setting any speed records and just traveling at your own relaxed pace, a single-speed bike could give a unique and simple cycling experience. Also nothing is more pure in looks than a single-speed coaster-braked bicycle without all the gearing, cables, derailleurs and brakes hanging on it.
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#55
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
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Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
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I briefly commuted on a single speed a few years ago and noticed I was using harder gears on my multi speed bikes after about three months.
sort of related; this past Sunday the wife took the kids and bikes to their school at the bottom of a big hill in our neighborhood to ride in the parking lot, so I hopped on my early 90s Schwinn BMX to join them. The ride back up the hill (130' up in 1/2 mile) was interesting. I paper-boyed it! haha I was thankful to be able to do it at 59 years old.
sort of related; this past Sunday the wife took the kids and bikes to their school at the bottom of a big hill in our neighborhood to ride in the parking lot, so I hopped on my early 90s Schwinn BMX to join them. The ride back up the hill (130' up in 1/2 mile) was interesting. I paper-boyed it! haha I was thankful to be able to do it at 59 years old.
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#56
Last year I picked up a single-speed road-style bike locally used and cheap, this year I put 1800 miles on it using 44/15 gearing. No way for me to objectively judge, but my strong feeling is that it made me an all-around stronger and faster rider for the miles I was on a regular road or mountain bike, anyone else have a similar experience with their single and multi-speed bikes? I think it taught me how to spin better and faster, got me used to using my legs to accelerate a bike so shifting is less necessary, and the extra grunt work seems to have made me stronger than in recent years where I just rode multi-speed bikes. Some love single-speeds, some won't ride without a few dozen speeds at their fingertips, but I have learned to respect them both. None of the other old guys I ride with has one and they don't want one.
The reason is simple and its not imaginary; a coach explained to me and showed me evidence that riding a single speed bike over time even if its not all your rides converts your fast twitch or type 2 muscles from anaerobic (poor endurance, sprint only) to aerobic metabolism increasing their mitochondrial density because you use them so much. So basically riding a single speed helps you sprint harder faster longer.
I have a 34/17 Salsa Stormchaser I absolutely love. Very simple, great city, family, bike path or commuter bike. I bought it to ride in rain to put away wet after riding hard. I clean it and oil the drivetrain maybe once a year original chain lasted me 2,500 miles and its not bad on hills as long as I am not dealing with monster climbs of excess length. But hills up to 7-8% up to 1/4 mile or say 4-6% at 1/2 a mile or less no problem can do that all day because that's the area I live.
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#57
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i been singling/fixing all my life cause derailleurs were too complicated for my tool set and i consider myself stronger for it ....................................................but if you"ve read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" you'll probably think I'm much weaker for it
#58
I briefly commuted on a single speed a few years ago and noticed I was using harder gears on my multi speed bikes after about three months.
sort of related; this past Sunday the wife took the kids and bikes to their school at the bottom of a big hill in our neighborhood to ride in the parking lot, so I hopped on my early 90s Schwinn BMX to join them. The ride back up the hill (130' up in 1/2 mile) was interesting. I paper-boyed it! haha I was thankful to be able to do it at 59 years old.
sort of related; this past Sunday the wife took the kids and bikes to their school at the bottom of a big hill in our neighborhood to ride in the parking lot, so I hopped on my early 90s Schwinn BMX to join them. The ride back up the hill (130' up in 1/2 mile) was interesting. I paper-boyed it! haha I was thankful to be able to do it at 59 years old.
#59
Today I finished getting a fixie put together from an old Nishiki ten-speed frame in my size a friend gave me a year or two ago. So I am looking forward to having fun with it, will take some photos of it and put them up soon.
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#60
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
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I'm no expert on BMX bikes, but it appears to be a low end model I think. It's a chrome steel wheel coaster brake called a Phantom. I did a patina preservation on it. The biggest challenge was the potato chip rear wheel. Looked like it was run over by a car.
prior to being fixed:
after:
thanks for asking. Apology to others for the highjack.
prior to being fixed:
after:
thanks for asking. Apology to others for the highjack.
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#61
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Location: Ohio
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Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB
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There is something else ss gave me.
Better balance.
It gave me the opportunity to do what I wouldn't put any rear derailleur through.
It gave me the knowledge that cold is about clothing and mind over matter.
It gave me the confidence that I can in any weather.
(I obviously geared down for winter) that was a 46t
Ps, I wouldn't advice clipless in snow to anyone else, but I wouldn't change it either!
#62
There is something else ss gave me.Better balance.It gave me the opportunity to do what I wouldn't put any rear derailleur through.It gave me the knowledge that cold is about clothing and mind over matter.It gave me the confidence that I can in any weather.(I obviously geared down for winter) that was a 46t
Ps, I wouldn't advice clipless in snow to anyone else, but I wouldn't change it either!
Ps, I wouldn't advice clipless in snow to anyone else, but I wouldn't change it either!