Why do all the single-speed perverts get the cool bikes?

[Mr Gear]

Why can't I have bikes that look as awesome as this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/plug-20...

or this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/district-...

...but with gears?

I don't want to look like some sort of failed tour de France rider, or some tight-jean wearing, record-bag swinging either. I want a cool bike that can be ridden up hills. I want a cool bike I can ride without having to wear luminous 80's style Ray Bans.

...er... sorry about that.

[sjg]

Charge have a Tap model which has a Nexus 8-speed hub gear, or for a bit more the Mixer model with an Alfine 8-speed hub gear and disc brakes. Same clean lines (except for a shifter and another cable) but with a decent spread of gears.

Tap: http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/detail.p...

Mixer: http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/detail2....

Edited by sjg on Thursday 3rd June 10:17

[shalmaneser]

Pah! I live in hilly brighton and ride singlespeed. Just grow some muscles

[Uriel]

It's the lack of gears that help make them look cool.

If you want to ride one up hills, just get out of the seat and pedal harder, if you want to go fast, learn to spin. Neither of them appear particularly highly geared (~70GI?). Give it a couple of months and you'll be riding harder and faster than the average geared rider, even on your single speed.

[HundredthIdiot]

Mr Gear said:

I don't want to look like some sort of failed tour de France rider, or some tight-jean wearing, record-bag swinging either. I want a cool bike that can be ridden up hills. I want a cool bike I can ride without having to wear luminous 80's style Ray Bans.

Who are you trying to impress?

The only people that will notice whether or not you have a rear derailleur won't care one about your appearance one way or the other.

[Mr Gear]

HundredthIdiot said:

Mr Gear said:

I don't want to look like some sort of failed tour de France rider, or some tight-jean wearing, record-bag swinging either. I want a cool bike that can be ridden up hills. I want a cool bike I can ride without having to wear luminous 80's style Ray Bans.

Who are you trying to impress?

The only people that will notice whether or not you have a rear derailleur won't care one about your appearance one way or the other.

Believe it or not, it's not actually about the rear derailleur, or my appearance. I just think the single-speed bikes come in some bloody awesome colourschemes, that for some reason are not available on "race bikes". Bright rims, tan coloured seats and chrome details just don't seem to exist on multi-speed bikes.

It's not even about what other people think, it's about opening the garage and thinking "yeah, that looks just right"

[HundredthIdiot]

Mr Gear said:

Bright rims, tan coloured seats and chrome details just don't seem to exist on multi-speed bikes.

It's not even about what other people think, it's about opening the garage and thinking "yeah, that looks just right"

Maybe you should consider some retro road bike porn. Like this.

[Mr Gear]

HundredthIdiot said:

Mr Gear said:

Bright rims, tan coloured seats and chrome details just don't seem to exist on multi-speed bikes.

It's not even about what other people think, it's about opening the garage and thinking "yeah, that looks just right"

Maybe you should consider some retro road bike porn. Like this.

That's a pretty sweet ride.

[Garlick]

Just bought this book and recommend it if you like sexy looking bikes, and want to learn a bit of history too.

http://www.fixedgearbook.com/thebook.html

[Mr Gear]

Garlick said:

Just bought this book and recommend it if you like sexy looking bikes, and want to learn a bit of history too.

http://www.fixedgearbook.com/thebook.html

I have had a flick through that in a shop already - some lovely pics in there. I'd like to read it properly, so might buy it.

[mk1fan]

All the parts are available so just build a geared bike with them.

[anonymous-user]

fking hipsters. if no one dies in Bristol this summer riding a fixie on the roads it will be a miracle. the number of fixies i have seen over the last week who barely had control of their bike was astonishing. in traffic they are a nightmare as they wobble past cars whlist filtering and they are all jumping red lights because they cant trackstand and putting your foot down appears to be a sin amongst their ilk.... fashion isnt worth dying for.

.... at least they have given up pretending they are messengers, that stopped when they realised that no cycle messenger could ever spend £500 on a specialized langster or a charge plug. get an old peugeot race for the classic straight top tube geometry, convert it to singlespeed and paint it how you want, you dont need to buy a charge plug to get a funky colour scheme but the moment you stick flyers in the wheels i reserve the right to slash your tyres....

[Dunk76]

Mr Gear said:

HundredthIdiot said:

Mr Gear said:

Bright rims, tan coloured seats and chrome details just don't seem to exist on multi-speed bikes.

It's not even about what other people think, it's about opening the garage and thinking "yeah, that looks just right"

Maybe you should consider some retro road bike porn. Like this.

That's a pretty sweet ride.

Oof, price or not, dat's a very pretty ting indeed...



Might have to investigate this further

[HundredthIdiot]

Dunk76 said:

Mr Gear said:

HundredthIdiot said:

Mr Gear said:

Bright rims, tan coloured seats and chrome details just don't seem to exist on multi-speed bikes.

It's not even about what other people think, it's about opening the garage and thinking "yeah, that looks just right"

Maybe you should consider some retro road bike porn. Like this.

That's a pretty sweet ride.

Oof, price or not, dat's a very pretty ting indeed...



Might have to investigate this further

I know someone with a Master X-Light. It truly is a thing of beauty and even makes lovely musical pinging noises when gravel hits it on a ride.

It isn't necessary to spend anywhere near that money for some classic steel beauty though...

[Dunk76]

Gis some clues Mister

I'm wanting a road bike to supplement the MTB, and fancy some classic steel supplemented with some nice Campy wheels and modern gearset.

I've been keeping an eye on Ebay for old frames, but they just don't come up. (I've also figured that restoring some classic would cost more than just buying a new bike anyway)

[Roman]

How about a Gios?:
http://www.gios.it/bike/?Vecchio

Or any one of these guys?:
http://www.ceeway.com/custom_uk_bicycle_framebuild...

this site should burn up a few hours for you with great pics and a classifieds section!:
www.retrobike.co.uk

[Dunk76]

Roman, thanks old stick.

Although, having bought and restored a variety of Italian iron over the years (Bimota and two Morinis), I think you might have cost me a fortune here

http://www.campyoldy.co.uk/frames.htm

[Roman]

No problem - always a pleasure to help someone else spend their hard earned!

Some nice bikes on that link of yours too..

[Dunk76]

That Rossin Tri-colour is calling to me, although like the Red one above it's too small.

Being 6'4" does mean I'm not going to find much joy in your average Italian frame.