He's selling his allez sport which he's just got used too (gone from avid down hill rider to roadie commuter since moving up north and leaving his full face helmet friends behind) and bought himself one of these pista single speeds. Anyone got one? Pretty spontaneous purchase tbh based on "it looks shit hot". He's never ridden one before which should bring with it some funny stories for his first few commute's. They look pretty good for the money imo. . . . I'm tempted myself now i've seen it but by the time i get one the weathers going to have turned. What are single speed's like for commuting in the wet and cold months? Should I hold off until next year?
Here is your action plan.
You will initially not know the benefits this plan will bring you but believe me you will learn down the line that i was right.
1/ He is no longer your mate.
End of plan.
double post gremlin!
Dont buy one, he'll be bored in a few weeks once he realises you can neither ride up or downhill on them, then you can either laugh at him, or buy it off him.
😯 huh?
I can't do that spoon he's a good mate i want him to enjoy his new toy but it's not looking like he's going to have much fun to start with, poor bugger he's overly excited as well. . . . .
I used to commute on a singlepeedo road bike
it was fine
no more, no less
it does limit where you want to ride though, not where you can ride, but where you want to ride
What are single speed's like for commuting in the wet and cold months?
not as good as fixed.
One thing that fills me full of fear for the lad is the fact it's only got a front brake which obviously he's going to use instead of controlling his pedal stroke. . . . .might advise him to dig out his old full face for the first week or two. 😐
There's singlespeeds and there's the Pista. It's such a lovely looking bike but it's a track frame so could potentially be lethal and uncomfy.
He's probably got a 7 mile commute in to work, 7 miles back. I've come to the conclusion already he may have made a big mistake after doing some research on this 'ere inter****t. . . .
my mates got a pista, simply to look at. he commuted on it once, he couldn't walk for two days afterwards. as above its a track frame, so the position is so low its mental.and its got no brake bosses has it?
Fixed is the way to go.
You can go up and down hills. You might surprise yourself. You will become a better cyclist.
Fixed though, not SS.
Consider something like the Genesis Flyer - a road bike which is fixed/SS - rather than a track bike.
What are single speed's like for commuting in the wet and cold months?
Things I learnt from commuting on my single speed from July to December last year.
1. It's good, until you get a head wind and then hell but generally that is true on most bikes...only issue is you can't shift down!
2. They are low maintenance though, if your riding fixed and have decent wheel bearings and/or decent freewheel. (my brakes got gunged up with road salt on my single speed last winter, whilst my wheel bearings and freewheel are still alright-ish).
3. Skinny road tyres on snow are ice are 'interesting'! 😉
4. Don't wash it! It's less likely to get nicked.
Not sure on the track geometry of the Pista he could have saved himself some cash and bought an old steel road frame with forward facing horizontal dropouts and it would have been/will be more comfortable.
I think I remember reading you* can drill the brace between the seatstays to fit a rear brake then get some vintage-esk Campagnolo cable guides for the top tube.
*Mmm, Sunday afternoon job with a cheapo cordless drill from B&Q going through that nice finish 😯
I've got a Pista and I enjoy riding it - on the [url= http://www.foresttowntrack.co.uk/ ]track[/url]!