How far can a singlespeed go?

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

bloke came out on the club ride last sunday, ie not this one. on a fixie
seemed to keep up fine,

roger

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

When I was a schooboy everyone used to ride 61 inch fixed all winter.
I used just such a bike for weekend hostelling trips to places such as
the Dales, at time doing over 100 miles per day. Even without a
saddlebag I wouldn't like to ride so far now without gears though,
especially if its hilly!

"Clarke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how practical
are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting a
singlespeed?

Depends on how fit you are! There was a Brit who passed through here 2-3
years ago who road a fixed from Vancouver accross Canada to Quebec. He then
biked down to Boston to take part in a randonneur event:-)

in message <[email hidden]>, Clarke

(') said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

Depends on the terrain, doesn't it? In flat land - Holland, or parts of the
American midwest - a single speed would be entirely practical for long
rides. Ignoring headwinds, of course.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they
;; do it from  religious conviction."          -- Pascal

"Clarke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how practical
are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting a
singlespeed?

A friend has a mountain bike he's converted to single speed (because he was
fed up having to keep maintaining his gears). He has off road tyres on it
and can easily do 40 miles faster than we can on bikes more suited to roads!
(e.g. higher gearing and road tyres).

Like others have said it probably depends on your fitness and I'm sure once
you've got used to it the hills shouldn't be too much of a problem.
--
peter

Cheap train tickets database
http://www.petereverett.co.uk/tickets/

Email sent to this address is generally deleted upon arrival
Visit website if you want to contact me

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

Depends on you and the terrain, and what the gear is. Around here,
don't expect to get up, say, Hilltown (called that for a reason...)
in the same gear you'd want to cover any sort of distance. But if
you don't need to ride up brutish hills it should be possible to
find a good general purpose gear.

You'll limit yourslef to some degree, certainly, but not
necessarily unacceptably. Easy way to decide is take an existing
geared bike and see if you can use it without changing, once you've
done a little experimentation to find the Magic Gear.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In message <[email hidden]>, Clarke
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by
getting a singlespeed?

I'll give myself as an example. A middling+ fit, 51 year old riding 66"
fixed. I often and easily do 40-50 mile rides, trying to avoid the
hillier routes.

Just remember a single speed actually has three gears called "sitting",
"standing" and "walking" (father in law, pers comm.). The important
thing is not to be ashamed to use the "third" gear.
--
Bob Downie

You could always buy my "single speed" which has a S/A 3speed hub gear
fitted !!
I know it's cheating but it worked well for me !!

SW

"Clarke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how practical
are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting a
singlespeed?

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

Round the world far enough for you?

--
/Marten

info(apestaartje)m-gineering(punt)nl

Steve Watkin said:

You could always buy my "single speed" which has a S/A 3speed hub gear
fitted !!
I know it's cheating but it worked well for me !!

Not really a single speed though. Nonetheless it's the kind of thing
most Dutch people ride.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Peter Clinch said:

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

Depends on you and the terrain, and what the gear is. Around here,
don't expect to get up, say, Hilltown (called that for a reason...)
in the same gear you'd want to cover any sort of distance. But if
you don't need to ride up brutish hills it should be possible to
find a good general purpose gear.

I'd reckon that if fit and healthy, a 61 inch gear as mentioned above
would get up Hilltown. (based on what I used to be able to ride a 63"
gear up).

Quoted message said:

You'll limit yourslef to some degree, certainly, but not
necessarily unacceptably. Easy way to decide is take an existing
geared bike and see if you can use it without changing, once you've
done a little experimentation to find the Magic Gear.

Indeed, though a front brake would eb of great utility around here.

...d

David Martin said:

I'd reckon that if fit and healthy, a 61 inch gear as mentioned above
would get up Hilltown. (based on what I used to be able to ride a 63"
gear up).

FSVO "fit and healthy". I would suggest you work out which of your
gears is about 63" and give it a go, I'd be interested to hear how
you do. I gave it some thought to try myself, but my knees told me
to bugger off.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Neil Williams said:

Steve Watkin said:

You could always buy my "single speed" which has a S/A 3speed hub gear
fitted !!
I know it's cheating but it worked well for me !!

Not really a single speed though. Nonetheless it's the kind of thing
most Dutch people ride.

I think he meant fixed wheel rather than single speed.

"Neil Williams" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Watkin said:

You could always buy my "single speed" which has a S/A 3speed hub gear
fitted !!
I know it's cheating but it worked well for me !!

Not really a single speed though. Nonetheless it's the kind of thing
most Dutch people ride.

It's not really in the "Dutch bike" style. More of a Urban Fixie style
(nice Roy Thame 531 frame) well thats how it started but I couldn't get on
with fixed so it went to s/s but it's even better with the S/A ! !
It still maintains that look of a minimilist type of machine, which I like.
Now being sold to pay off the s/h Moulton.

SW

Peter Clinch said:

David Martin said:

I'd reckon that if fit and healthy, a 61 inch gear as mentioned above
would get up Hilltown. (based on what I used to be able to ride a 63"
gear up).

FSVO "fit and healthy". I would suggest you work out which of your
gears is about 63" and give it a go, I'd be interested to hear how
you do. I gave it some thought to try myself, but my knees told me
to bugger off.

When I was younger and thinnner I'd ride a lowest gear of 63" (42x18)
around the North Downs. I know what I ride up Hilltown now on my road
bike and would find 63" a 'challenge' as I am 50% heavier than I was
then. And Hilltown isn't quite in the same league as the 1 in 5s
around Leith Hill.

...d

Clarke said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by getting
a singlespeed?

A nice young lady came out for a ride with some friends of mine
yesterday. She was riding a singlespeed and only confessed towards the
end of the ride that she'd never done more than 40 miles on a bikes till
that day. "I was afraid to tell you, because then you might not have
wanted me to come along!"

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1035208

All that said, I live in Seattle, so most of my bikes have multiple
gears. My one fixed gear bike is running about 69 gear inches.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"Protecting the children is a good way to get a lot of adults
who cant stand up for themselves" -J. Stecher

In news:[email hidden],
Clarke <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

I really like the idea of getting a singlespeed road bike but how
practical are they for long rides? Would I be limiting myself by
getting a singlespeed?

Short answer: no
Slightly longer answer: The Legendary Steve Abraham

--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk>
This Unit is a productive Unit.