Fixed gear or not?
Discussion
I'm currently looking at new bikes, the two that have caught my eye are the Charge - Tap, and the Charge - Plug.
Tap - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-tap-2010
Plug - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-freestyler-201...
I've been riding a 46t front/16t rear singlespeed for a while now and absolutely love it, living in an area with little in the way of gradient changes means gears aren't especially an issue for the moment, but I may be moving in about a year which is why I was also considering the geared Tap.
Practicality is telling me to spend the extra £30 and go for the geared nexus hub and the better frame as it will be more flexible in the long run if I move to a more hilly area. However I just cant help thinking I will really miss the utter simplicity and fun of the fixed gear/singlespeed.
Thoughts?
ETA: The Tap has a horrible grip shifter, does anyone know wether it would be a straight swap to an 8 speed trigger system? Or are the shifters different for the in hub systems?
Tap - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-tap-2010
Plug - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-freestyler-201...
I've been riding a 46t front/16t rear singlespeed for a while now and absolutely love it, living in an area with little in the way of gradient changes means gears aren't especially an issue for the moment, but I may be moving in about a year which is why I was also considering the geared Tap.
Practicality is telling me to spend the extra £30 and go for the geared nexus hub and the better frame as it will be more flexible in the long run if I move to a more hilly area. However I just cant help thinking I will really miss the utter simplicity and fun of the fixed gear/singlespeed.
Thoughts?
ETA: The Tap has a horrible grip shifter, does anyone know wether it would be a straight swap to an 8 speed trigger system? Or are the shifters different for the in hub systems?
i couldn't stand having just 1 gear, but then i live somewhere with a LOT of hills. GPS had me do 1 hill earlier from 67m above sea level to 475m..... still, hit 42mph on the way back down and wasn't really gunning for it....on a mountain bike!!!
just out of curiosity, why bother with just single speed when you can have almost 30? surely the weight saving will be totally offset by better gearing? or is it just about character?
just out of curiosity, why bother with just single speed when you can have almost 30? surely the weight saving will be totally offset by better gearing? or is it just about character?
Single speed makes you ride in a different way - you have to attack hills; there's nowhere to hide. You'll be out of the saddle and get a good upper body workout as well as the legs. This makes you a far stronger rider, and does wonders for fitness. Either that, or it will wear your knees out! I ride a 48/17 through the winter around Surrey Hills - that's good gear for me. Give it a go!
as much as i wouldn't mind trying it, it's simply not feasible here. trust me. one hill is a 1/3 gradient, only about 250m long but you gain 90m in elevation. even in 1st gear on a mountain bike it's hard work, you have to stand up and lean forwards to stop the front wheel lifting up. i'm very very far from unfit (though running is my main sport i'm a pretty quick cyclist) but there is no way i'd get up with anything much taller than a normal MTB's 1st gear.
robbyd said:
Single speed makes you ride in a different way - you have to attack hills; there's nowhere to hide. You'll be out of the saddle and get a good upper body workout as well as the legs. This makes you a far stronger rider, and does wonders for fitness. Either that, or it will wear your knees out! I ride a 48/17 through the winter around Surrey Hills - that's good gear for me. Give it a go!
+1 Riding fixed/singlespeed is very different to riding geared, it encourages you to get out of the saddle and attack things, as well as getting up to speed, it is also a whole lot more simplistic, very reliable, as well as lighter. I also found with singlespeed gearing that it encourages you to pedal in a more efficient motion which is why I enjoy it, but saying that, riding into a headwind up an incline with a singlespeed/fixed bike is hellish.
robbyd said:
Single speed makes you ride in a different way - you have to attack hills; there's nowhere to hide. You'll be out of the saddle and get a good upper body workout as well as the legs. This makes you a far stronger rider, and does wonders for fitness. Either that, or it will wear your knees out! I ride a 48/17 through the winter around Surrey Hills - that's good gear for me. Give it a go!
Ain't that the truth!Brighton is bloody hilly with the downs out back but i still love my singlespeed. 3:1, however, does sound a little intense!!!
You'll actually probably find that with the same gearing, on the same bike, climbing (and riding quickly in general) is a little easier fixed than single speed. The momentum of the bike moving forward carries the pedal stroke through the dead spot and makes it easier to keep smooth, consistent power going through the cranks. Sounds a bit odd, and it is a slight effect, but it's definitely there.
doodles19 said:
Good point, my plan at the moment is to go the expensive route, buy the in hub geared version with the better frame and buy a flip flop rear wheel, then just take the shifter and the rear hub geared wheel off when I want to ride fixed, best of both worlds.
It'll never happen. Even changing fixed to freewheel on an already installed flip flop is a bind...Go Fixed.
It's lovely.
Ridden one daily for 7 years or so now, it's just such a nice way to ride a bike. I did the London to Brighton a few years ago on my fixie and that was fine - Ditchling beacon was just about do-able.
Plus, get it right and you get to ride a bike like:
(now sadly stolen).
It's lovely.
Ridden one daily for 7 years or so now, it's just such a nice way to ride a bike. I did the London to Brighton a few years ago on my fixie and that was fine - Ditchling beacon was just about do-able.
Plus, get it right and you get to ride a bike like:
(now sadly stolen).
I'm with WeirdNeville here, I've ridden fixed since 2002 a 68" gear is a good all round gear and can usually get over most hills up to 1 in 5 as for descending you soon learn to relax the hips and spin the pedals 
As others say you ride in a different style and personally I prefer it for long distance as you pace yourself well and I feel better after a fixed ride compared to a geared ride.
My latest build a mid 1950s Claud Butler
and race too on an old steel Raleigh
As others say you ride in a different style and personally I prefer it for long distance as you pace yourself well and I feel better after a fixed ride compared to a geared ride.
My latest build a mid 1950s Claud Butler
and race too on an old steel Raleigh
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