[shblanchard]

I prefer a single speed because I am diabetic and I believe a single speed will give me a much better workout. Also, my second favorite hobby is hiking, so I don't mind walking a bicycle up a hill.

[TxCyclist]

Originally Posted by hophead

Here's another weakness:

Catastrophic drive train failure. I only lost one rider on my Thursday night ride last week and he was on a fixie. Reason was that his chain exploded. It broke in three places ending his ride.

A multi change can explode as well. You don't think the constant changing of gears puts more wear on a chain compared to the stationary of a fixed/single?

[Industry_Hack]

My new reason for riding a single speed - I'm too lazy to get my geared bike out of my shed, when I have two single speeds in my office.

[hophead]

Originally Posted by Dean

A multi change can explode as well. You don't think the constant changing of gears puts more wear on a chain compared to the stationary of a fixed/single?

I was only comparing a freewheeling singlespeed to a fixie. Multi geared bikes have their own problems.

[f1xedgear]

My reasons:

1) On a group road ride in 2004 there was this racer dude on a track bike. For some reason at that moment it struck me as a skill I'd like to try to master. I got turned on to Sheldon Brown. . . .

2) After many years of being a wanna-be racer boy and forking out $$ to try to keep up with the latest shifting componentry, I was really getting pissed at the manufacturers ('specially Campy) for the frustrating and hugely annoying inability to mix and match.

At the start of 2008 my resolution was to screw shifting. And I have. (It also helps that I don't do group rides anymore, but even if I did, I think I'm in a good enough place to just let 'em go when they go.)

I still keep up with my friends in the local racing scene, and I have to say that there's still the pull and I may return. But every time I really think about it, nah. I'm still having too much fun riding fixed.

[Oneway]

Fixedgear,
I understand and it makes sense. Sheldon, $, mix and match; I get it but, " just let 'em go when they go"? Nay! You are wise but maybe with dumb luck, I stumbled on a solution. I found slower friends! Now I can keep up and even push the pace.

[hophead]

There were only two out of nine on my ride tonight with shifty bits. I figure another couple of weeks and I'll have them all assimilated.

[f1xedgear]

Originally Posted by Oneway

Fixedgear,
I understand and it makes sense. Sheldon, $, mix and match; I get it but, " just let 'em go when they go"? Nay! You are wise but maybe with dumb luck, I stumbled on a solution. I found slower friends! Now I can keep up and even push the pace.

Ah, Sensei, you are the wise one.

Originally Posted by hophead

. . I figure another couple of weeks and I'll have the[m] assimilated.

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about . . . hehe I'd jump at the chance to ride with a group of FGs, but there's only a handful of riders I know of around here who ride them with any sense of commitment or even passion.

[hophead]

Originally Posted by f1xedgear

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about . . . hehe I'd jump at the chance to ride with a group of FGs, but there's only a handful of riders I know of around here who ride them with any sense of commitment or even passion.

I did the 24 hours of Seven Springs a few years ago. The singlespeed class was won by guys of Fixies.

[bikebum1975]

I love riding a single speed. Sure I have a 12 speed now but I ride my single way more I have had more single speed bikes than I have multi geared ones and the funny thing is even with the multi I am usually always in one gear anyways hardly shift the thing. Plus for me a single speed bike is just cleaner looking without a jumble of cables all over the place hence the reason I adore coaster brake bikes as well. My dream is to build a custom coaster brake bike to Schwinn cruiser frame of course. And why do I ride a SS bike? As said cause it's purely fun and cool.