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OPINION
Joining the single speed "Revolution"
Single speeding on a weekend... After the tough conditions this winter and having spent as much time cleaning my bike after rides as pedalling it, the lower maintenance option of a single speed was looking more and more appealing to me.
So after consulting with Mr Farrelly of this very website and spending more time than was healthy on Google I decided to take the plunge and make a purchase.
After considering one or two models, the "Revolution Track 10" from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative was chosen.
The box was delivered whilst I was in Spain so armed with my tools and a dry sunny Sunday I took to upacking my new machine. Thankfully, Edinburgh had thought of everything. The bike comes with a list of all the checks that had been made and tools for the rest of the assembly.
You can of course decide which way to have the 'flip flop' hub for fixed or freewheel, mine came in freewheel.
All I needed to do was sort out the saddle height, straighten the bars and fit my Look Keos and I was off. The bike also came with a backpack, bottle and plenty of reading matter.
Single speeding is completely different to how I imagined and to 'normal' cycling.
Taking the gear change option out of the equation makes life simpler and after a few rides I am now using this opportunity to plan my cornering to keep speed up and keep the 48x16 turning.
If I am honest it might be overgeared for some of the shorter steeper climbs over in Northamptonshire, but I am going to tough it out for now as it is so much fun and everyone is telling me how much stronger a climber I am going to get as a result of training on it.
I got out 12 miles across the fen Friday evening before turning for home and finding the stiff wind meant I worked harder than on my other bike. I would have used the gears to manage my effort home. On a single speed you ride what you've got and if that means 'honking' into the wind on a 3 mile stretch of flat road, so be it.
I am a convert.
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15 comments
Found out today that EBC sell their fugly frisbee aka The Universal Chainguard for £9.99. Anyone can add one to their bike just before they gouge their own eyes out.
Boots! cheer up it gets better, did eighty miles in Cheshire on Sunday, on fixed gear of course. Fantastic weather, first real day of summer and to cap it all I got back in time to see the end of a fantastic ride by Cancellara, and I never swore once.
But how many inches was you pullin'
There were some swear word variations... but not for this family website.
What, only one new word!!
I've climbed on the bandwagon, this article tipped me over the brink, that, and the 15% Easter discount at EBC and a teeny premium bond win.
Bike arrived at work late pm today. Put it together, and ripped all the silly reflectors, etc., off, but the first thing to go was the fugly plastic frisbie thing on the otherwise very nice crankset. Bizarre piece of crap no idea why it's there. Will take some spd's in tomorrow and ride it home. Starting with it as a singlespeed until I'm used to the gearing then going to flip it and ride fixed, getting over a leg injury and the physio says it's a good idea and will help get my legs back after six weeks on crutches.
Not much (any) clearance for guards on the front but I've got my eye on a carbon audax fork to replace the hi-ten one with. B17 or Flyer going on in due course.
Wish me luck.
I keep looking at that and thinking how to get it off
I tried some hills today and I think I may have invented a new word
http://road.cc/content/blog/16361-jellified
Two words; allen key.
The metal allen socket is embedded in a crappy plastic threaded boss that, in turn, screws into the crank spider. undo it and fugly frisbee can be flung, unceremoniously into the nearest bin. Truative make a bung if the resulting space around the crank bolt pleaseth not thine eye.
Hi Jimmy, great clarion easter meet at Eastbourne, took my fixed gear shopper with a low gear. It was interesting to say the least, only one other guy from the new East Lothian section was on fixed, perhaps Beachy Head was a consideration, what an outstanding attraction that was, unmissable. Boots !!!
Antonio.
I just switched from a single speed commute bike to an Alfine hub
It's much easier when I am not feeling 100% or there's a headwind
I'm sure the SS was faster though....
Up the Clarion! Just finished reading "One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers" by Tim Hilton (highly recommended) and hadn't realised the story behind the Clarion movement and glad to see it's all still going on. Funny how we're going full circle to the inter-war-years single-speed tradition.
i've just ordered an ENO eccentric hub to turn my old road bike frame into a fixed wheel TTer
I only ride a single speed now, do 12 mile commute on it everyday, its so easy to be converted. on big hills i sometimes think about gears but once your at the top its all forgotten. i use 48x16 but am thinking of a 18 freewheel on the otherside for longer trips in hilly wales!
Congrats Jimmie from a fellow clarion member on your puchase of a single speed. I have been a fixie man most of my life and I am 72, no doubt you will get round to putting a fixed sprocket on shortly. I am going to Eastbourne for the Easter Meet, perhaps I may meet you there, I will of course be riding a fixed wheel. My section is Bolton Clarion, BOOTS!!
Spurs!
Sadly it is too near my wedding to be able to get a weekend away, but I am sure Ian and the others will look after you !!!
Have a top time.