[offrdmania]

It comes from my BMX days back in the 80's. Ive never owned a bike with gears so why start now. lol

[syrgrad91]

Okay, so my '79 Centurion LeMans tips the scales at at 25lbs. Factory specs are 28lbs from the factory.

[nfroio1168]

Why single speed? I think for me it was mainly a question of overall ease of use - less things to worry about going wrong w/ gears/derailleurs/shifters/chain jumps, etc.

Bottom line cost was also a factor, the simpler the machine, leaves less things to break and what does break, should be fairly straight forward to work on and repair. Upgrading parts are pretty straight forward.

Finally, for myself, my main experience on a bike was from BMX racing (early to mid-80's) and a single speed road bike seems like the grown up version of my Redline Proline II from back in the day!

[erk]

Originally Posted by hophead

Last night after our regular Thursday night ride, a guy came up to a group of us who were hanging out at the trail head having post ride beers and asked if we were all riding singlespeeds and why? I look around and probably 75% of our bikes were singlespeeds. The overwhelming response was because it was like riding a bike when we were kids. You just get on and ride. No worries about shifting, when to shift, or what's the best gear to be in.

I ride singlespeed about 95% of the time--road & mtn, but mostly mtn. I haven't been on a geared road bike at all this year.

So why do you all ride singlespeed?

It's all about the love of cycling, no gears mean you are to gears. Fitness and a connection with the bike. Coming up on a hill means no shiftIng to make it easy. You have to use you riding skills to make it up the hill, improving power and riding confidence. I could go on and on. I own all kids of bikes. My fixie is the best.

[erk]

I have been biking for 35 years. Like most kids BMX was my start. Then got into road bikes. I tried fixed but ended up in a single speed. I have hills hear and it's not a problem unless its a long steep hill. But I manly ride on rolling terrain and its a lot of fun. I good fixie are very responsive and offer the best ride for a bike lover. I like to say it is passive aggressive. You can cruse and take it slow and casual or fast and quick. You are the motor and the transmission. Most riders know that you use your full body to ride. With a fixie this is mostly the case. I have a favorite ride its 45 miles of rolling hills next to the RioGrand river. You will become a more skilled rider and a more efficient rider. You will fell like a transformer. I have a out of body experience while ridding my bike. In a fitness point of view it is the best bike for that. Getting to point a to b, maybe not. Thrill in riding, this is the one. For the mountains no, not this one. Keep in mined pro cycler's use fixies to help them improve the skills to ride their gear bikes.

[erk]

Originally Posted by juangear

I saw my friends singlespeed, bought it and never looked back. It does take me back to being a kid, I do love the altruistic nature of a single speed-it looks so clean. I love how physical you need to be when racing and attacking steep hills. Its like riding intervals...attack, recover and hammer again. I run a 32x17 and this has made me a much stronger rider which translates well to my road bike and vice versa. Moreover, I find riding my SS keeps me pedaling all the time...to be fast you have to. I heard it can be hard on the knees but I have never had a problem. Being a singlespeeder also gains a bit more respect on the race circuit as many racers understand the level of suffering you can endure....but I love it!

It's actually better for the knees, it will develop the muscles around the knees, SS or fixes are used in rehab for knees.
I agree with your assessment.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by erk

It's actually better for the knees, it will develop the muscles around the knees, SS or fixes are used in rehab for knees.
I agree with your assessment.

Fixed gears used in rehab for knees? Do you have a source you can cite for that?

[erk]

Yeah in rehab facility's around the country use fixed gear spinning bikes in a rehabilitation program right after surgery. I am a sport and exercise psychologist. After an athlete suffers a sever knee injury and as surgery the most common exercises for rehab is leg extensions and a fixed gear stationary bike. http://www.pamf.org/sports/king/kneerehab.html. #5.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/228258-the-best-bikes-for-knee-rehab-exercises/. Need I say more.

[erk]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Fixed gears used in rehab for knees? Do you have a source you can cite for that?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/228258-the-best-bikes-for-knee-rehab-exercises/
It's pretty common knowledge. Let me know if I can teach you anything else..

[Industry_Hack]

You may want to check your links. Neither of them mention single speed or fixed gear bikes. They only referenced stationary and recumbent indoor exercise bikes.