Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Single Speed road bike vs cruiser on timed run

Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Single Speed road bike vs cruiser on timed run

Old 08-10-21, 02:38 PM
  #1  
birdmove
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 15 Posts
Single Speed road bike vs cruiser on timed run

So, I'm a 67 year old cancer survivor with a bad right knee. My bike is a cheapo Thruster Fixie by Kent I believe. It's a flat baf road bike with C700 tires. Weight, as ridden (with a seat post rack, water bottle bracket on the handlebar, and an extendable baton on the rack for emergency dog protection) is about 31 pounds. I ride a 2.5 mile course every day, with a number of hills. The last half mild is so has 6 hills, the steepest I get down to very slow speeds, but I always clear all of them. Yesterday, I fixed a flat on my 39 year old daughter's Huffy Cranbrook cruiser bike, also single speed with coaster brakes. My bike has rim brakes all around. Fixed the flat, wired up the tires and lined the chain on the cruiser. I had done my ride in the am, and decided I'd read my run on the cruise to compare. The gearing on my bike is 2.66 gear ratio, don't know on the cruiser bike. Felt roughly the same. Weighed the cruiser in at about 37:2 pounds as ridden, so about 6.2 pounds heavier. Yesterday I set a time record for me on my bike of 11.01. When I began this about 3 weeks ago, I was at about 12:40 or so. Do, the 11:01 time run, everything went smoothly. Didn't have to stop or slow for cars, etc. So, the run with the heavier cruiser bike came in at a whopping 12:45. Due to the weight, and possibly s difference in gearing, rolling resistance etc, etc, and maybe I wasn't as strong after doing my morning run 3-4 hours earlier, though I did make all the hills, I was just generally slower. I know I can Gey my Thruster going faster in general. Is the cruiser rideable? Sure. Would I want to go on much longer rides with more hills? Not at this time. I should point out that, the knee is an obvious hindrance, but the two years of cancer treatment ending in October of 2018, really knocked my strength and stamina for a loop. I am working to gain back what I can. The daily ride, a daily walk, followed by some weight work right after the walk, and it seems to be helping some as shown by my improved times on my ride when riding MY bike anyway.
The Huffy has a steel frame, but so does my Thruster. I am considering getting s bike with some gears as I would like to do some longer rides for practical errands. Those rides would start at 15 miles or so, and if I can build myself back up to riding to Hilo and back, with a bit of running around there, that would be around 30 miles round trip. I had been doing rides like those on the Thruster about 6-7 years ago before blowing my knee up, but don't know if I'll be able to do it on a single speed bike again. I have read about bikes like my Thruster, with a weight of 21 pounds or so, and that would help. I won't buy a cruiser, I don't think. Think I'll stick with something lighter with skinny tires. I,'m looking at the Priority Classic, an internal hub 3 speed, 25 pound bike with belt dive, and one built to fight rust in general. It's about $700 shipped to me in Hawaii though. My current bike is super easy to work on, which I love.
birdmove is offline  
Likes For birdmove:
Old 08-10-21, 03:04 PM
  #2  
Broctoon
Super-duper Genius
 
Broctoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Muskrat Springs, Utah
Posts: 1,713
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 983 Times in 508 Posts
There are several reasons why you are faster on your bike than your daughter's. These may include the overall weight, weight of the wheels and tires (especially when you're going up the hills), tire rolling resistance, resistance of bearings in the hubs and drivetrain, and aerodynamic drag. There might also be some major inefficiencies related to bike fit (it's hard to ride well on a bike that is too big or too small for your body). I suspect your bike is better on every one of these points. There may not be big differences in some of them, but every little bit adds up.
Broctoon is offline  
Old 08-23-21, 06:42 AM
  #3  
Jax Rhapsody
Rhapsodic Laviathan
 
Jax Rhapsody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 1,003

Bikes: Rideable; 83 Schwinn High Sierra. Two cruiser, bmx bike, one other mtb, three road frames, one citybike.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 222 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times in 91 Posts
I think Cranbrooks have a 40t crank. when I finish my single speed, I might try this test myself. My LaJolla has a 48t crank and a freewheel vs a coaster. Both bikes will have a 48/17, both aren't that heavy, LaJollas are pretty light, probably the lightest walmart bike.
Jax Rhapsody is offline  
Likes For Jax Rhapsody:
Old 08-28-21, 02:57 PM
  #4  
birdmove
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 15 Posts
I finally got down to 11:00 flat about a couple weeks back. Then a run of a bit over, but very close to that number. Getting a good time depends largely on cars. Today, I did my morning run, with not having to slow or stop for any cars. It didn't feel like I was going particularly fast, but my leg strength is improving. So, I was a bit surprised that I smashed my 11:00 record with a 10:47. I was expecting right around 11:00. When I first started this, it was well over 12 minutes, with some around 12:40. I am having fun, getting good exercise, and am going to keep it up. I go in Get my six month PSA test early next month. Hoping it dropped down to the "less than .06" level it had been at for the last three years. At worst, I hope it held at the .08 from my last test. If it rises, it could mean the cancer is returning. I think if it goes up, I won't be buying another bike.
birdmove is offline  
Old 08-28-21, 03:34 PM
  #5  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times in 431 Posts
By my calculation, your 10:47 minutes for 2.5 miles is nearly a 14 mph average, which is excellent for a heavy bike on a hilly course. Good luck with your PSA results.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Likes For TejanoTrackie:
Old 09-24-21, 01:46 PM
  #6  
birdmove
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 26 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
By my calculation, your 10:47 minutes for 2.5 miles is nearly a 14 mph average, which is excellent for a heavy bike on a hilly course. Good luck with your PSA results.
​​​​​​ today, I had a smooth ride with no car interference, and took 8 seconds off my record. I did my circuit in 10.23 on the 2.5 mile route. I've also lost over 12 pounds and am down to 192.6 this morning. I'd love to get down to 175. I'm not starving either. My weight in high school was 155, but I have shrunk n height down to about 5'8". Two years of cancer treatment (lupron and 40 radiation treatments) put the weight on me and destroyed much of my strength and stamina. That and my bad right knee have been obstacles. My daily ride and afternoon walk followed by some barbell work are helping. The ride is fun, but the home stretch hills are tough for me.
birdmove is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.