I've said before, on here, I am the worlds worst SS rider. That said I do enjoy it.
I have to admit to being a bit green with envy seeing SS riders at MM and most recently seeing a chap in the Peaks on Swift out ride (up hill) a bunch of us with dangly geary bits 👿 😆
I've tried concentrating on maintaining cadence.
Riding fixed - which helped with the above.
Drinking more beer - helped a little.
Drinking less beer - didn't help.
Gearing up.
Gearing down.
I've got a SS to set up for winter use and I'm about to SS my Puffin.
It's very flat around here 😥
So to help me improve what are your tips, tricks etc
If it's flat push a bigger gear!
I was once told single speeds actually have three speeds: 1. sitting down 2. standing up 3. walking.
If you can do all of those you've pretty much got it dialled!
Ride more
Get rid of all your geared bikes and you will get better at single speed (you will have no choice/it will develop naturally)
I have ridden solely single speed (fixed and SS) for 13 years and put any strength going uphill down to that.
In no particular order: Cheese, stickers, gurning.
And MTFU and pedal.
Not really sure that a singlespeed is great in a flat place. They are best in hilly terrain where you can pick a gear that climbs well - nice out-of-the saddle cadence stuff. On the flat, you'll need a massive gear- useless anywhere else.
But if you want to stick at it anyway, then do just that - persevere and your singlespeed legs will come. I always think the moment I've ridden my singlespeed legs in is quite pronounced - suddenly the bike feels much lighter and you are happy out of the saddle for the entire climb.
You need the beard the **** up.
BE MORE SCOTTISH!!!
So, moar cheese, moar stickers, longer beard.
Cheers Elves.
asbrooks - Member
If it's flat push a bigger gear!
I'd suggest the opposite in this case.
Run a relatively easy gear and practise spinning out.
You'll be surprised how much stronger you feel on a higher gear after a few weeks of this.
SS is more about technique than strength.
I was once told single speeds actually have three speeds: 1. sitting down 2. standing up 3. walking.If you can do all of those you've pretty much got it dialled!
For me its this in a nutshell ^^^
'BE MORE SCOTTISH'
Don't think consuming copious amounts of battered pizza/Mars bar, gallons of tenants super and the latest haul from the local shortbread mine lends itself to been fit enough for single speeding. Plus with the added weight of a massive chip on one of your shoulders will probably make riding hard anyway.
😉