Sonic wrote: I just don't get the appeal of a single speed. I'd hate my car if it had one gear, why would I want that on my bike?
Plus, you can ride French Creek from your front door. Doable on a SS, but some of the climbs in that park are grinds even with gears...
02Pilot wrote: I love the idea, and I loved riding them when I wasn't grinding up a hill, but the gearing compromise necessary to make it up those hills meant spinning like crazy anywhere else.
I have an idea for a 2 speed build - use a single crank, and load the cassette with only 2 gears - low and hi, and use a spring loaded chain tensioner to keep it in gear (simple tension, not positioning like a derailleur). Spin around in Hi until you reach a big hill, manually move the chain to low. Spin up the hill, swap back to hi, haul ass back down - no shifter to clutter the bars, no cable stretch to adjust out of the drivetrain, no derailleur begging to jump out and catch a stick. Dead simple, reliable as gravity.
I have an older Bridgestone steel MTB frame I want to try this on when I get a chance...
Spoolpigeon wrote: What John said. I did something similar and found a ratty old road bike at the peddlers mall for $25 bucks. Took off all the derailuers and even the rear cassette. I had an old bmx freewheel gear that just so happened to thread on to the rear axle. Threw a couple new tubes and new brake pads and had a single speed for under $50.
What kind of drop out am I looking for on the frame when buying a ratty old bike?
jonnyd330 wrote: What kind of drop out am I looking for on the frame when buying a ratty old bike?
Horizontal
4cylndrfury wrote:02Pilot wrote: I love the idea, and I loved riding them when I wasn't grinding up a hill, but the gearing compromise necessary to make it up those hills meant spinning like crazy anywhere else.I have an idea for a 2 speed build - use a single crank, and load the cassette with only 2 gears - low and hi, and use a spring loaded chain tensioner to keep it in gear (simple tension, not positioning like a derailleur). Spin around in Hi until you reach a big hill, manually move the chain to low. Spin up the hill, swap back to hi, haul ass back down - no shifter to clutter the bars, no cable stretch to adjust out of the drivetrain, no derailleur begging to jump out and catch a stick. Dead simple, reliable as gravity. I have an older Bridgestone steel MTB frame I want to try this on when I get a chance...
For this I'd build a wheel with a 2-speed kickback hub and call it done. Then you can shift on the go, and you still remove all the clutter from the bars and frame.
Grtechguy wrote:jonnyd330 wrote: What kind of drop out am I looking for on the frame when buying a ratty old bike?Horizontal
No. No, no, no, no no.
Unless you live in a flat city and want a bike to use as a you would a skateboard or razor scooter.
I've been a cyclist forever - raced crits and track, was a messenger, worked in shops. I actually have 2 fixed gear bikes still:
One is my old track racing bike so it has 165mm crank arms, no place to put brakes, high bottom bracket. I used it to ride 1000 meters at a time on a 333 meter high banked track, 2+ laps slowly to motionless, 1 lap or a bit less at 35mph+.
The other is a cheap Raleigh Rush Hour I used to commute 5 miles to work in downtown DC on a bike path in all sorts of weather.
A fixed gear bike is can be in the correct gear only when the terrain, your fitness level and motivation are all aligned. Otherwise you're either spinning faster than you want, or pushing harder than you want.
In my case my knees need every bit of my 39-23 small gear to get up the short climbs between my house and the local roadie loop that's done almost entirely in 53-17/18/19.
motomoron wrote: A fixed gear bike is can be in the correct gear only when the terrain, your fitness level and motivation are all aligned. Otherwise you're either spinning faster than you want, or pushing harder than you want.
In truth, this.
If its pretty flat, you'll be fine fixed. If you have to do hills, you'll either a) bulk up in a big hurry because you're motivated to bust your butt or b) decide that it sucks and go back to geared because you're not motivated (NTTAWWT).
I was digging a big old bicycle - introducing the Genesis (Wally World) 32".......
JohnInKansas wrote:motomoron wrote: A fixed gear bike is can be in the correct gear only when the terrain, your fitness level and motivation are all aligned. Otherwise you're either spinning faster than you want, or pushing harder than you want.In truth, this. If its pretty flat, you'll be fine fixed. If you have to do hills, you'll either a) bulk up in a big hurry because you're motivated to bust your butt or b) decide that it sucks and go back to geared because you're not motivated (NTTAWWT).
Next time you're in Colorado, we'll see how "motivated" you are 
There's a limit to what legs can do without torque multiplication, especially when the climb is too long for momentum to be a help and/or has technical spots in the middle.
In reply to Keith Tanner:
I won't do any of our local roads for the simple fact that I'm not strong/motivated enough to deal with the hills, and this is Kansas. Thinking about riding Colorado fixed makes me want to curl up in the fetal position under my desk and whimper softly.
Try it. If you like it, post pictures of your bike. Make a build thread. Whatever. If you don't like it, sell the bike for more than you have in it to a kid with skinny jeans, cig tucked behind the ear, and ironic glasses.
On that note, I never understood how some people manage to fit in skinny jeans if they really ride fixed. My legs got gigantic in a big hurry.
I have an old Triumph Spitfire roadbike (yes i bought it because of the name), previous owner converted it to a Single speed. I really enjoyed riding it but now i don't really have a use for it. My feet always cramp up on me when i ride it and i don't live in an urban environment anymore.
And i have no idea on the skinny jeans, my thighs don't have a chance in hell of fitting in those.
Go with a freewheel though. This is my Trek Soho S.
This is what 12 stitches look like when your fixie throws you.
I live in east central Illinois, one gear is all I will ever need.
I grew up with a ten speed, and rode everywhere in top gear. And to get most places required a good sized hill. Then, I got to play rugby and my huge legs were great in a scrum. Then, I didn't play, and haven't ridden in years. Now that I won't be working until midnight every night I need to get back to riding, but I think that I want gears now, just enough hills here to make them useful.
motomoron wrote: No. No, no, no, no no. Unless you live in a flat city and want a bike to use as a you would a skateboard or razor scooter. I've been a cyclist forever - raced crits and track, was a messenger, worked in shops. I actually have 2 fixed gear bikes still: - One is my old track racing bike so it has 165mm crank arms, no place to put brakes, high bottom bracket. I used it to ride 1000 meters at a time on a 333 meter high banked track, 2+ laps slowly to motionless, 1 lap or a bit less at 35mph+. - The other is a cheap Raleigh Rush Hour I used to commute 5 miles to work in downtown DC on a bike path in all sorts of weather. A fixed gear bike is can be in the correct gear only when the terrain, your fitness level and motivation are all aligned. Otherwise you're either spinning faster than you want, or pushing harder than you want. In my case my knees need every bit of my 39-23 small gear to get up the short climbs between my house and the local roadie loop that's done almost entirely in 53-17/18/19.
Remember, OP said "singlespeed" and not neccessarily "fixed". Mine's a singlespeed. I have to coast and I have nothing against brakes.
In reply to jonnyd330:
Though I am replying quite late to you but if you're still in search of a fixie bike than I could suggest you some that are good for both exercise and commuting purpose moreover they are not going to cost you much. You can go either with saint urban or beta series fixed gear bicycle as they are cheap i.e. $249 & $279 respectively. I too am using beta series fixed gear bicycle. I have been using it since September 2013 and its working great. Try them once and do let me know how do you feel.
A single speed bike makes sense. A "fixie" IMHO does not. The freewheel hub and single brake lever don't weigh enough to matter, and having the option of being able to coast is a good thing. I can understand the simplicity and lightness of a single. I don't get the fixie thing at all. Of course I don't have a huge beard, and I don't wear giant gauged earplugs either...so what do I know.
Single speed> fixie (unless you are going for the hipster thing)
I have a SS 29er I bought off CL. Its a Origin8 which was a company out of FL but I don't think they are around anymore. Riding in TN has lot of rocks and roots, I kept bashing and breaking rear dearauilers and figured I'd give SS a try. When I was riding everyday (pre kids) I LOVED the SS. Its like riding a big wheel, just fun. No worrying about "am I in the right gear" or "do I change now or wait one more stroke". On a SS you go until you can't go anymore and then get off and walk or climb... I've ridden SS from FL to PA and some out in Phoenix AZ area. I really enjoyed it.
But...if your legs aren't in shape, you will hate it. My personal example is that my life got busy and I don't ride anymore. Now on a rare weekend when I do get to ride if I take the SS I can't make the climbs that I used to. It sucks but it is what it is.
Also, I've only ever ridden an SS on the trail or in my neighborhood with my kiddo, no daily commute stuff or downtown hipster stuff for me. So YMMV
Joe Gearin wrote: A single speed bike makes sense. A "fixie" IMHO does not. The freewheel hub and single brake lever don't weigh enough to matter, and having the option of being able to coast is a good thing. I can understand the simplicity and lightness of a single. I don't get the fixie thing at all. Of course I don't have a huge beard, and I don't wear giant gauged earplugs either...so what do I know.
Joe, I might disagree with you a little as I think fixie is for all those who love to ride bikes in speed and not just for hipsters, moreover I personally love it because it is solving my two purposes that are exercise and commuting.
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