I was in the LBS today and saw one and was intrigued. I haven't had a a single speed bike with coaster brakes since my banana seat Schwinn in the 70s. What's the advantage, if any?
If you are committed to it, then you are a single speed hipster and I respect that. Frankly, the reason they make derailleurs is so you can shift gears and climb or haul ass. My friend Joe, who is an amazing cyclist that rides 13K miles per year, told me when I asked him if I should buy a single speed, "WTF? Why would you buy that? They make bikes with gears for the same price." I took his advice.
Ok, so other than mechanical simplicity, there is no advantage? I'm far from a hipster. I'm rocking a #3 clipper cut, hiking boots and jeans from Tractor Supply right now.
the advantage is that it's simply fun, and fully without pretense. would be dumb to get some SpeciTrekCervelo roadie or something just to do it
I have a nice road bike for fitness, but I did think that the single speed looked like fun for riding the three blocks to my office or for happy hour runs.
I have a single speed and a fixed gear bike. The fixed gear (I could pedal it backwards) I used to ride around a reservoir. It has no brakes. You hopefully anticipate you stops. My single speed ( if I pedal backwards the pedals rotate backwards but the bike would not move backwards) was used to commute to and from work as a weight maintence function. You pick a gear that you can spin easily over many types of terrain. Its a simple form of riding for me. Its a compromise. It also a way to teach/learn proper spin technique of the pedals. Bike messengers used them for reliability.
I don't understand the fixed gear. What's the draw? My little brother had a care bear bike when he was 3 or 4 that had a fixed gear and it sucked.
if it's three blocks to your office, you should have one already! also, gonna need pics of the roadie
I have a SS friend thats named Joe and is absolutely committed to the 2 cog cause. He flirts with going full rigid...lol
I ride a single speed late 60's Raleigh to work most days when I'm not hauling a bike/kid etc. As stated, instant Hipster status. Conveniently, I fuck up the whole thing because I have no clue how to dress like one. Why single speed? Because it was free. I like simple and I like a bit of torture also. Ride home today was brutal, head wind the whole way. No regrets