Singlespeeds. I just don't get it!

[one-eyed_jim]

And assuming that's actually what he's said, what's so wrong in that?

Well, for starters, it should be in the General and Off Topic Chat forum!

Surely everybody is entitled to their opinion, and so long as he's not telling other people what they should "get" (ever, or otherwise), what is so wrong in him saying so?

I'm not sure that I've said that there's strictly anything wrong with pointing and giggling at other people from a position of inexperience, but let's just say that if I had kids it's not the kind of behaviour I'd try to encourage.

 

[greenstiles]

I find (and this is a sweeping statement) that all the singlespeeders i've met are a bit strange !

But saying that there are lots of other cyclists who are very anorakish about their bikes too

I like people that ride their bikes, whatever they are. Surely there are people who would look at this site and say " I don't get it, why don't they ride modern bikes with more gears and better stuff "

............Personally though I think singlespeeds suck !

 

[Neil]

And assuming that's actually what he's said, what's so wrong in that?

Well, for starters, it should be in the General and Off Topic Chat forum!

Physician, heal thyself.

I accept he started the thread, and it's a reasonable point as to which forum it should be in, but it's taken 5 pages for anybody to be bothered pointing that out, and you've posted a fair number of replies to the thread.

Surely everybody is entitled to their opinion, and so long as he's not telling other people what they should "get" (ever, or otherwise), what is so wrong in him saying so?

I'm not sure that I've said that there's strictly anything wrong with pointing and giggling at other people from a position of inexperience

Well there's a leap from your previous inference of his take being "I don't get it! I never will!".

Assuming it was in any way accurate, being objective, that's all about perspective. It was your quote "I don't get it! I never will!", cited more than once, surely you saying that, is no different than others, hypothetically saying that about SS or fixies <shrug>

but let's just say that if I had kids it's not the kind of behaviour I'd try to encourage.

Very laudable.

Ever-so-slightly irrelevant, though, and if I may say so, something of a red herring, since prior to this post, you only seemed to have made a thing about saying "I don't get it! I never will!" - which surely there's nothing wrong, with, and if you were to have kids, hypothetically, surely you wouldn't be reticent to encourage?

 

[amedias]

Single Speeds are silly - but that's why I like them so much

Every drawback the geared riders mention is true, but for 90% of my rides (Lakes, Scotland and Wales being the exception) I will pick SS given the choice.

I can't explain the lure properly, and I think if I understood why I wouldn't enjoy it as much

 

[highlandsflyer]

IMO anything getting people on bikes is a good thing, just about everything has to have some kind of hook and if its skinny jeans and day glo rims so be it.

I agree wholeheartedly. I see anyone on a bike as kindred spirits, whatever got them there.

Even those fool enough to rent those medieval torture devices Boris the Bodger is touting.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I'm not sure that I've said that there's strictly anything wrong with pointing and giggling at other people from a position of inexperience, but let's just say that if I had kids it's not the kind of behaviour I'd try to encourage.

I have been cycling for 40 odd years dude, and I have cycled just about everything there is. I have done 10s of thousands of miles touring and day to day been on a bike my entire life.

I am not inexperienced, in any way shape or form.

I have not ridden a single speed since my BMX days, that probably narrows me down to the MAJORITY of cyclists posting here.

I have nothing against SSs, and I just pointed out that I don't get the recent upsurge in them.

I am planning on SSing a 'retro' bike, so why not post this here???

On deciding to try SSing I took notice of just how trendy it has become.

If you think I am giggling at SSers, so what? This is chat, right?

Just banter.

I think 99% of readers would know what I meant when I said I have ridden every inch of London.

It is a literary device.

Someone had to question that as though I was actually claiming to have ridden every actual inch????

Jeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I had assumed a fairly advanced level of wit was active on here from past reading.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Physician, heal thyself.

Done: I'm out.

 

[IDB1]

I am not inexperienced, in any way shape or form.

Yes you are.. when it comes to singlespeed.. by your own admission.

I have nothing against SSs, and I just pointed out that I don't get the recent upsurge in them.

No.. you said you didn't get singlespeed and felt it inflexible and inefficient.

I think 99% of readers would know what I meant when I said I have ridden every inch of London.

Yep.. boasting.

I had assumed a fairly advanced level of wit was active on here from past reading.

Quite perceptive.

 

[Mr Panda]

Hi the following trivial facts strangely relate to some statements in this thread:

I have not ridden single speed for around 40 years

I live in the highlands of Scotland

I lived in London/Home Counties (good beer) for 17 years

I was a motorcyle courier in Da Smoke in the mid 80s and used a thoroughly unsuitable bike (Z1000J) :twisted:

I believe gears are essential to purposeful forward motion on a bike, unless you live in Essex

If I lived in a flat place, for example Essex (which I wouldn't choose to do) I would try SS but not fixies

I have a Dirt Monkey courier bag for shopping

Hiltler enabled some of my family to have the most exhiliarating times of their lives

Arran mustard is made approx 2 miles form my mother in law's house and tastes great with a piece of rare pan fried Aberdeen Angus

SS is not currently my bag but may yet be given a burl

............who mentioned sailors?



Geographical Edit: the example of Essex is simply that, an example, not a slur against Essex related peeps or activities. Could equally apply to Fife. Almost.

 

[MikeD]

I have nothing against SSs, and I just pointed out that I don't get the recent upsurge in them.

I know it's a little tedious and borderline pedantic, but can we sort out some matters of nomenclature? The things you've noticed an upsurge in are a particular style of fixed-gear bike found in cities - track frame, narrow bars, no brakes, probably deep-section rims and a bunch of cards stuck in the wheels. They have little to do with single-speed mountain bikes with a freewheel, which are also somewhat impractical but surprisingly effective given the appropriate alignment of terrain and rider. The latter are definitely fun to ride, I'm unconvinced by the former - no brakes on roads you're sharing with cars and buses and random pedestrians doesn't seem like a brilliant idea, and I can't fathom the point of having bars narrower than your shoulders