Singlespeeds. I just don't get it!

[Neil]

If you ask me, and no one is, you are nutters you fixie fans!

It never ceases to mildly surprise me how keen people are to run around shouting "I don't get it! I never will!"

Well there is that, but I do share the not getting the fixie thing for road use.

On track / velodrome - yup, I understand. On road - not getting it.

As to SS, well, it's not for me, personally, but I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos.

 

[velomaniac]

I believe the only way to form an opinion of any cycling style is to give it a go !

Single speed off road.........Great fun
Single speed on road .........Great fun in urban setting not so much on the open road.
Fixed on road .......challenging fun
Fixed Off Road.........VERY Scary but strangely addictive provided no hills
Fixed Ice/Snow..... Extreme fun as you have traction control although EVERYONE thinks your a nutter

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I do share the not getting the fixie thing for road use.

On track / velodrome - yup, I understand. On road - not getting it.

Have you tried it?

As to SS, well, it's not for me, personally, but I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos

I think you forgot to list pleasure.

I think I'm quite honest. I'm too old and fat to worry about fashion, and I can't imagine whose kudos you think I want to earn.

 

[kaiser]

If you ask me, and no one is, you are nutters you fixie fans!

It never ceases to mildly surprise me how keen people are to run around shouting "I don't get it! I never will!"

Well there is that, but I do share the not getting the fixie thing for road use.

On track / velodrome - yup, I understand. On road - not getting it.

As to SS, well, it's not for me, personally, but I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos.

Have you ridden one Neil?

 

[Neil]

I do share the not getting the fixie thing for road use.

On track / velodrome - yup, I understand. On road - not getting it.

Have you tried it?

What fixie in a velodrome? Yes, albeit a looong time ago.

On road? Nope.

But then I don't need to endure root canal to know it's not for me, either ;-)

As to SS, well, it's not for me, personally, but I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos

I think you forgot to list pleasure

Wasn't intended to be a comprehensive list, and I did qualify it with "mostly"... <shrug>

I think I'm quite honest. I'm too old and fat to worry about fashion, and I can't imagine whose kudos you think I want to earn.

Why do you necessarily assume I'm claiming your motivations - I simply, reasonably, commented on why most. Perhaps you're atypical.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Why do you necessarily assume I'm claiming your motivations - I simply, reasonably, commented on why most.

To be precise, you didn't comment on why most people do it. You commented on why people mostly do it. That's not attributing a motivation to the majority - it's attributing a main motivation to people. Here it is again:

I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos.

 

[Neil]

Why do you necessarily assume I'm claiming your motivations - I simply, reasonably, commented on why most.

To be precise, you didn't comment on why most people do it.

Um, yes I did - and I've left your quote of my words still there...

You commented on why people mostly do it.

And?

That still doesn't necessarily mean that it equates to most of the reasons individuals do it. "mostly" referred to the number of people doing it.

That's not attributing a motivation to the majority - it's attributing a main motivation to people.

No it's not:-

1. I know what I meant when I wrote it
2. My words, verbatim, don't contradict that

If I'd have intended to mean / imply what you are claiming I meant to mean / imply, I would have said:-

"Peoples' main reasons for it are..."

Here it is again:
I do get why people would on-road - although mostly, if we're all honest it's fashion / image / kudos.

Indeed it is.

See the first bit - "I do get why people would on-road...", then I go on to say "although mostly" that refers to the bit that came first.

Now it's you misrepresenting my words ;-)

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I'll PM you a clarification. This doesn't need to continue in public.

 

[Neil]

I'll PM you a clarification. This doesn't need to continue in public.

Quite.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I put it to you that most Londoners are unlikely to encounter two-mile descents, farm tracks, gravel, or mud on their daily journeys. A fixed-gear road bike would be no more appropriate for your farm track descent than a 25" handlebar, triple chainset and knobbly tyres would be on a flat city street.

I have lived in London on and off 25 years, and I have cycled every inch of it, I used to commute from Streatham to Hornsey daily on a 60s racer. There are plenty gradients that would require gear changes to maintain the best cadence. Central is generally flat enough to get away with a SS, but I just don't see the point of a fixie, no sir I don't.

If you spent even an hour cycling in Central London one thing you would certainly not argue is that an MTB orientated is not the best suited tool to the road conditions.