Singlespeed – should I?

spinning out on the downhills will annoy too much.

😆 You’d have to faster than you normally do to spin out on the descents.

I’m thinking of singlespeeding this winter, but if it’s going to slow me right down getting to the Pentlands and back, I’ll probably not bother…

cynic-al – Member
I’m not talking about invention, just bringing it to the likes of you and me.
Proof of your statement?

I don’t know if Juan can provide proof, but there’s plenty pics in British cycling mags of the 1920s showing French riders doing descents & jumps on what we would call mtb singletrack and some of it looking like downhill track.

Next time I’m looking through my collection I’ll scan some of the pics.

remind me again what the advantages are supposed to be

This is where you are in error. There are no direct advantages compared to geared bikes, apart from weight saving and less maintenance, although overtime you will develop more strength.

Its just different riding, ligke the difference between FS and a hartail.

Some of your other comments suggest that your mindset is perhaps not flexible enough to accept the differences yet.

Its not for everyone.

I think it makes you a better rider. You can’t just sit and spin up a climb so you learn to feel how much grip you have and judge your effort accordingly and use your body postion to get you up and over stuff. When descending you have to learn how to pump, use your brakes as little as possible and corner properly.

Scienceofficer – Member
…Some of your other comments suggest that your mindset is perhaps not flexible enough to accept the differences yet.
Its not for everyone.

On the other hand, TJ is so determined not to be beaten that he’d make a good sser 🙂

Kit IME you will spin out on the (well my) way back but I don’t think you lose significant time at all. I need to work it out but I suspect I spin out in the late teens.

Lack of maintenance wins it for me.

I wonder if you quite realise what sort of people you’ll be mixing with and what might happen to you.

Before touching any tools I suggest you read The Outcast. (from Just Riding Along)

It’s the funniest mag I have ever read.

And yes, I too am tempted by the dark side…

I need to work it out but I suspect I spin out in the late teens.

I spin out/along at 20kmph on my 32:17 SS on the road, whether slightly uphill or slightly downhill.

I was spinning out at well below the speeds I would normally be riding at along the north edinburgh cycleway

I remember riding with Al once – he could only keep up with us on the tandem on the way back by slpstreaming but he was spinning along at high teens

a simple answer to a simple question

“yes” 😆

My first go at SSing about 15 years ago didn’t last very long as I found it frustrating on the road sections between the rather thinly spread bridleways. It was fun off road though.

Having moved to the Surrey Hills/North Downs, I can ride from my front door for hours only crossing the odd bit of tarmac. I bought a cheap old SS Inbred off here a year and a half ago and love it.

I do seam to fly in the face of convension however and put an Alfine on for the winter (where it appears lots go from gears to SS for winter) as on the steeper hills that you have to attack, out of the saddle and give it full beans find I loose traction.

I also find it can be a bit anti-social if riding with friend on geared bikes as you have to ride at your own pace, so miss out on the conversations you have sitting and spinning up the long climbs.

I remember riding with Al once – he could only keep up with us on the tandem on the way back by slpstreaming but he was spinning along at high teens

HTF do you know I couldn’t keep up without your slipstream?

😀 etc

Oh it appears a cadence of 120 gives a speed of 19mph at 2:1.

And apparently R4’s More or Less debunked the cycling helmet doubters…will see if I can find the episode.

Surely, the singlespeed experience goes as follows:
Climb on bike at bottom of hill and pedal like mad until reach terminal speed (about 7mph, give or take 0.1mph). Slower, slower, slower, beads of sweat and burting blood vessels on temples, lots of grunting, slower, trackstand, wobble, keel over and unclip. Get up and brush yourself down. Gaze proudly at the 12 metres of uphill section completed so far and push the rest. At summit, mount the bike and clip in. Faster, faster, faster until reach terminal speed (about 7mph, give or take 0.1mph), faster, faster, faster, “f**ketyf**k!”, legs flailing out of control as the force of gravity ups your speed to 20mph (about 6000rpm at the crank, give or take 500rpm). Wobble, keel over and slide.Unclip and spend the next 30 minutes brushing gravel out of butt cheeks, elbows and face. Push the rest of the downhill section until reach the flat. Proceed at 7mph until meet another incline. Repeat.
I say this not having tried it (if you disregard my experiences on a Raleigh Chipper aged 7yrs)

i like the idea and simple(ness) of a singlespeed…and Steven is proof of a quick rider,catching me on my local trails and failing to keep up with him on his trails while geared 😮
however.. i dont realy see whats to go wrong /low maintenance of an Alfine gearhub shifter and cable…but i really do hate mechs…
I have a Kona Humu frame and finances are looking unlikely to building it into a semi fatbike to take friends beachriding (sorry everyone)…
so maybe a ridged SS build (spare 29er KM fork)is on the cards for riding the local flat and muddy Binning woods 😮

After riding ss road (48-16) for about a month now, 32-16 on mtb feels way, way too spinny on anything flat or slightly downhill. I spin out at what feels like half the speed of what I do on the roadie, horrible!

So maybe try a harder gear TJ, 32-16 is really bloody slow (even off road, I’ve found). Climbing does require a completely different technique but it’s so rewarding when you do finally make it up one you used to struggle with in your easiest gear.

cynic-al – Member

HTF do you know I couldn’t keep up without your slipstream?

etc

Because thats what you said at teh time – and did

BUSTEDCOPTERS

I am so gonna pwn you on the helmet thing!

Remind me again what the advantages are supposed to be?

Your shoulders will broaden, your stomach will flatten, you will become attractive to girls and your knob will be red raw from shagging.

cynic-al – Member

I am so gonna pwn you on the helmet thing!

and its relevant to this how?

Why do you always have to be so aggressive? Do you have to win all the time?

This thread was intended as a lighthearted debate on single speed and for me to get some advice and perspective.

Oh – tinners – that was pretty much my experience today 🙂

crotchrocket – Member
‘Remind me again what the advantages are supposed to be?’
Your shoulders will broaden, your stomach will flatten, you will become attractive to girls and your knob will be red raw from shagging.

I must be using the wrong gear ratio. 🙁

What ratio for ….

Jeez tj can you take anything I say with humour?

Tj , Tinners
You get better can’t really think of anywhere I ride that gears make much of a difference road or trail !
I do use gears on the tandem tho 🙂

Al – where was the humour? I am not the only person who finds you agresive and unpleasant.

one word is all that is needed………no

Oh well I guess the busted joke and exclamation mark weren’t enough.

Anyway turns out the pwning may have to wait after all.

*HUMOUROUS CONTENT*

cynical-al aggressive? unpleasant?

Really? I’ve never found this to be the case.

I have to say that (especially)in the bike forum Al’s comments are pretty much worth paying attention to, He’s to the point, and expresses an opinion, sure, but it’s normally pertinent and accurate.

Do you have to win all the time?

Pot black kettle etc etc…

Al – the continual attempts to put down in a snide and unpleasant manner have got to me.

I am not the only one who sees this. I shall simply go back to ignoring you.

You always have to get one over on me – to prove yourself better than me. i don’t know why

TJ I argue with heaps of folk when they appear to me to have stuff wrong. There are also plenty of threads you argue on that I don’t touch.

I’m not aware of targetting you more than anyone else (it’s not something I’ve asked others about) it’s not conscious, and I guess it would be down to your well earned reputation for arguing online, sometimes on the basis of a fairly poor knowledge basis – you have admitted this in the past.

to prove yourself better than me.

If that’s the case them why have/do you argued so much on here?

Ahhh the classic & tragic, bromance gone wrong 🙁

You can’t just sit and spin up a climb so you learn to feel how much grip you have and judge your effort accordingly and use your body postion to get you up and over stuff. When descending you have to learn how to pump, use your brakes as little as possible and corner properly.

spot on

Al and TJ make up, it’s getting yawnsome

Q…Should I single speed Ans.. Only if you want to become a god and dust the geared freak’os
I like everyone on here !!!!! Even Sheldon & the K.O.N so lets all feel the lourve and play nice. Group single speed demo ride anyone ?

Jeez TJ if one day on a singlespeed makes you that paranoid, I’d give it up straight away. Either that or get your eyes tested so you can read other peoples posts as they are written, not as you think they are.

If I lived a long way from where I ride, I too would find singlespeeding on the road a real pain.

But I like it, especially where the hills are short and sharp because you can ride up like a nutter until your heart maxes out and then walk a bit, repeating this till you’re at the top. So Cannock Chase and Snowdonia are fine; Lake District and Peak District not fine (for me) because the hills tend to be long and draggy.

The reason it’s called singlespeed is not because you only have one gear, it’s because you always pedal at the same speed, uphill, downhill and on the flat.

I’m a good bit older than you, TJ, and I guess a lot less fit and a lot heavier but I love the singlespeeding lark. Although it makes your shoulders ache.

Bikepawl – you need to have the context.

TandemJeremy – Member
Bikepawl – you need to have the context

Really!!!!!!
having read the thread, I would have thought that was enough context.
Or are we talking about the continual bullying that Al is up to!!!!!!
In which case stop being so paranoid, it’s boring

Al – the continual attempts to put down in a snide and unpleasant manner have got to me.

I am not the only one who sees this. I shall simply go back to ignoring you.

you always say that when you think someone is having a pop at you. give over. 🙄

LOL at the “TJ loves Al” tag 😀 not having a go though.