What is your opinion of single speed road bikes?

J

Jane

New member
I have a store brand mountain bike with 21 speeds. I want to buy a road bike and the one I'm looking at is a single speed.

I usually ride on the 12 to 18 speeds. How different will it be on a single speed? Will it be roughly around the same resistance or will I have to pedal crazily?

I'll only be using my bike to commute (on streets with slight slopes).

I'd also like to hear your opinion of which is "better" for city streets.
 
Most fixed gear bike use a 46 and 16 chain ring on a 700c tire. On a mountain bike you want to use 44 and 15 to give you the same gain ratio with a 26 x 2.125 tire. It will give you an idea of the speed but the fixed gear bike will be a little easier to pedal.
 
I like road bikes a lot better for city commuting. Even roads that look flat walking or driving will have a slight incline or decline and going up can be no fun if you have a bike that doesn't have the capacity for that.

I'd get one with at least a few different gears.
 
On flats, single speeds rock (although it will take some getting used to). You will spend more time standing to go up hills.

I have a mountain bike & a friend has a single speed. He loves his bike & I'm planning on getting a SS MTB, but I leave him in the dust on uphill climbs & I can accelerate faster. Once he gets moving, though I have to struggle to keep up.

Personally, I feel gears are better for the city as you'll have to stop & start a lot more & starting is where it's hard on a SS. SS is great for easy maintenance & flat, open country.
 
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