Singlespeeds.....wow they're FUN!

[Harryburgundy]

As you may have seen from my other posts, just built up a singlespeed.
Just come back from a 25mile debut ride, nothing too strenuous, Taff trail from the Bay to Tongwynlais and back, and back home again...which is up hill pretty much all the way..........
and I don't think I have had a grin on my face from riding a bike for ages. Took a few miles to get used to no gears, but settled into a nice spin.
Something very boyish about it....felt that I was regressing to my childhood.
Great fun, highly recommended....and def. physically more demanding than a geared set-up, so maybe I'll get fit now

Mmmm....will I have to sell the Kona now :?: :?:

HB

 

[Pickle]

I dont get the whole SS thing, cant see the point really :?

Not that I'm wanting to do it, but I am prepared to be educated as to why!

 

[stevek]

Single speeding lends itself to hilly terrain best Jon, too much flat stuff would be boring.

 

[Pickle]

Out of curiosity, i'd like to give it a go I think, as I used to ride fixed on track and TT's.

 

[Augustus]

i'd do it for the sole reason that your handlebars look better without gear levers and cables.

:roll:

 

[Max P]

Pickle - go fixed (SS) off-road, it's a growing trend...



Been a SSer for a few years now - cannot see myself going back TBH. You do have to try it to get it and give it a few rides at least before you dismiss it.

Does seem to be more and more going SS though - judging by the amount of spacers I sell...

Gus - I know a guy in the trade who is obsessed with the 'clean bar' look. I've got it down to one lever but he's going for a rear coaster brake only and no front...

:shock:

 

[orange71]

I couldn't see the point either, but then recently gave it a go and find it very liberating - you just never think about your gears. However I would say I could never have a SS as my one and only bike - I find them too limiting gear-wise on a majority of my rides. If I was out all day though on undulating scenery in no great rush - then great , but I don't get to do that very often.

I have devised a happy compromise - dual speed. I have 2 rings up front and a Rohloff 2 jockey-wheel tensioner on the back (Paul's Melvin will do the same, or just an old rear mech). This way I get high and low gears. I can kick the chain into lower gear with out getting off, alternatively stop and hook the chain onto the big ring for the high gear. Toying with the idea of a thumbshifter and front mech to do this but I think it would spoil the lines.

 

[al]

Hi,

I was sat around a table at the weekend and was asked by a friends husband why i ride a ss bike.

And do you know it was the first time i just couldnt be bothered talking about it!

I became a veggie about twenty years ago and for the first few years i got the same old questions over and over and i just went with the flow and explained my reasons. Then after a while i just stopped because i was sounding like an arse going on about me and my life style, almost as if i had to justify my decisions to people.

There is one thing i am damn sure about and that is this forum will never need somebody like me to explain the bond of rider and bike.

Ride your way, not mine!

Big respect to all of you,Al

 

[Harryburgundy]

I became a veggie about twenty years ago and for the first few years i got the same old questions over and over and i just went with the flow and explained my reasons.

Yup, you and me both

 

[velomaniac]

Clean bar look plus 2 gears actuated by the direction you pedal known as Retro-direct drive.

You need 2 single speed freewheels say a 16 and a 22 tooth mounted beside each other on an extended freewheel screw on hub.
Extended screw on hub - place some spacers inboard of the first freewheel-old style threaded freewheel with thread that passes all the way through from one side to the other. Screw a left side Bottom Bracket cup of the old cup and cone type into the freewheels overlapping thread then screw on outboard freewheel.

Mount wheel in frame and fit a Dave's Chain Device type jockey wheel to the chainstay. Single chainring up front that will allow a ratio with either rear freewheel you can live with say a 42 tooth.

Now the clever bit - pass a chain from the top of the front chainring over the top and around the outer freewheel then forward and over the top and around the chain device idler wheel then back to the bottom of the inner freewheel up and around and back to the bottom of the front chainring and connect up the chain. Play with chain tension by moving the chain device back and forward.

Result when you pedal forward the outer freewheel is engaged and the inner freewheels, stop peddaling and both freewheel, pedal backwards and the inner freewheel is engaged and the outer freewheels.

2 gears without hand actuated shifters invented by a french company about 1905, can't get more retro than that and it works quite well with mtb's as they have good tyre and thus chain clearances. Info is available on the web.