trich

Hello,
I have a friend selling a KHS that he converted to a single speed, but before I do, I'm curious - what is the attraction to single speeds? I ride a geared road bike right now and love it, but I'd like to try a SS to see if it's for me... Why do you all ride them? Just for the simplicity? More challenging?

Thanks,
Tony

babychris

why not?

MrCjolsen

When you have only one gear, you learn to focus more on the "engine" rather than the "transmission." That makes you faster. Having a fixed gear bike enhances this effect because when you can't coast you don't coast. And when you don't coast, you go faster.

trich

Because gears make my life so much easier :-)

queerpunk

yeah, cause, in life, easy things are more satisfying.

operator

Face it, the #1 reason people ride fixed gear here because its the hipster thing to do.

Dumpsterlife

I'm surprised the thread lasted this long without it...

zippered

you only need one!

the rest just add cost/weight/maintenance/clutter/distraction.

i guess you don't have to worry so much about ice and snow however...

dijos

It's flat where I live. If I lived among crazy hills, I would ride geared.

pedex

Sheot, if I didn't sling pkgs for a living I guarantee I wouldn't ride fixed or SS, why people wanna emulate us messengers I don't have a clue, but they do. If I worked in an arid climate I probably wouldn't ride fixed or SS either, but I work where it rains and snows so fixed is the best way to go for me anyway.

moki

chixdiggit.

barba

I like to ride single speed bikes as a change up from my primary multi-speed bike. It provides some variety. That said, when I want to put on miles I go for derailleurs.

Pfutz

fixed gears are for jerks and lesbians

queerpunk

i didn't know about "hipsters" when i got a fix. a guy i know had one, it seemed rad, i found sheldonbrown... so i bought a disgusting conversion and started biking a lot. what appealed to me was the simplicity - i come from the hammer and duct-tape school of bike mechanics - and the affordability. and i found it was way more fun and efficient than shifting all the time.

now, why somebody would exclusively ride fixed is another, and i think far more interesting question.

Sizzle-Chest

it makes me feel like a big man

queerpunk

i like your style. can you swing a sack full of doorknobs?

fetch

+1 keeping it real doesnt go wrong with a fixie

eMwolB

I'm over 40 years old and have been riding all my life. I own several bikes. Road, mountain, hybrid, folding, etc.
About a year ago I saw an ad on Craigslist for a "track-bike". I said, "hey, I don't have one of these!"
I called the seller, hopped in a cab uptown, saw the bike, let him hold the cash while I took it on a ride up & down the block. (first time on a FG) I came back after the test ride, shook his hand and said "keep the cash, I'm riding this thing home."
I absolutely love the simplicity and control...I haven't touched the other bikes since.
I"ve ridden the bike to work in a suit on many occasions. Living in NYC, I have had the best time pulling along side messengers while ripping thru traffic on a fixed gear with my tie flapping in the air behind me...the looks are priceless!!!!!!!! And so is the grin on my face when I ride this thing.

dblock

he wins.

MIN 

FIXED.

I ride it for training because my road bike is too easy to pedal around. Seriously, two weeks on the new fixed gear and I am stronger than ever. I did a roadie group ride yesterday and I was shocked how much stronger I was - especially on hills since I got used to pedalling a track gear setup.

I did about 100 miles/week for the last couple of weeks on the fixed with lots of hills, for your reference.

buelito

if you gotta ask, you don't understand--

fixed is the way to go-

train safe-

Moto-Velo

Why hasn't anyone mentioned that there is a big difference between a single speed and a fixed? People are talking about both, but does the OP know the difference?

trich

yeah - the bike I'm looking at is a single speed... I'm just not "a big man" I guess, so no fixie for now. I have friends that ride fixies, but I'm not there yet.

nexus6

DITTO... except I live elsewhere and don't wear a tie to work.

jpearl

Here's why I like my singlespeed:

- Riding in any weather, any conditions, and all I have to do at the end is towel dry the bike. Not having to worry about fouling up gears and cables allows me to relax and do the kind of "beat the hell outta the bike" that geared riders would be hesitant to do.

- There's not much that can compare to the silky-smooth pedal stroke that comes from a straight chainline.

- Great training and conditioning. Pedaling a singlespeed (not fixed) forces me to ride the gear that I'm in, to be creative and adaptive with my pedaling style and technique for different riding situations.

- The action-adventure-survival aspect of having to get through everything with just one gear; it adds a whole new dimension to riding.

- Chicks do in fact, dig it, or at least in my mind.