Fixed or singlespeed?

@ Ben: I ride fixed so a race would not prove anything. But I have dabbled in SS and it is faster across varied terrain - as demonstrated by smart arse Andrew above ;o)

no sure about the "safer in wet conditions" bit. maybe at low speeds. tonight's ride home was a bit hairy. going to adjust the 105 later.

...of course, it all depends on the location. Velodrome?

though you'd probably beat me. I like riding with no hands and get distracted by shiny obects.

Do you reckon fixed is faster than geared/ss, in any situation?

interesting question, you'd really need to time the same person riding the different bikes on the same stretches of road I suppose..

I can't really see how riding fixed would make you any faster, even uphill, there was plenty of geared guys on those hillclimbs, surely if they thought fixed was faster they'd all ride fixed?

SS would be quicker on a tricky or sharp descent when you can't spin as fast as the gradient allows.
People have mentioned driveline efficiencies but I'm sure this would be minimal and if you run magic gear rather than tensioner-based ss the difference would be even less.

I reckon geared would be faster everywhere.. until you filled the deraillers with mud or broke them etc.

i was thinking we should put together a 100 meter sprint comp.....that would be fun!

Sprints.. hmm.. yes.. I like.

yeah, good idea.

i reckon fixed would be quicker overall, a higher average speed, SS would have a higher top speed.

how did you work that out?

in a sprint it won't make much difference, but fixed would probably be at an advantage.

if you include corners and downhills, ss definitely quicker.

winston how did you work that out?

i didn't work it out. i just thought that since one is always pedalling on a fixed, the average speed might well be higher, over time, and that as one can coast down steep hills on SS, the top speed might be higher.

i could, of course, be wrong.

photoben ...of course, it all depends on the location. Velodrome?

though you'd probably beat me. I like riding with no hands and get distracted by shiny obects.

What shiny bits of mine have you been looking at?

On an ss though you could pedal to a higher speed and then coast, saving energy.. so the average speed AND maximum speed freewheeling is higher.

Isn't that what I said ages ago? ;o)

who cares about "fast" anyway..

what is "fast" ?

straight line speed? get a drag racer then.

fastest journey time?

work from home.

You have no need for "fast" the only place you'll be going "fast" is to the grave.

now, back to the Dungeon with the lot of you!

Hippy, stop that, it's disgusting. You'll ruin the carpet.

There's nothing to stop you riding ss and spinning all the time - you can coast but you're not forced to.

AlexS There's nothing to stop you riding ss and spinning all the time - you can coast but you're not forced to.

ohh thats were ive been going wrong!

Mouse Isn't that what I said ages ago? ;o)

Dunno... I usually skip over your posts :P

RPM: My carpet is already soiled from bike repairs (carried out by a contractor I hired of course, dogsballs) so no wuckins!

D'oh forgot I was ignoring you

edmundane vic's bike is the coolest you might not want to get off it once you're on :P

no probs cornering or bunnyhopping (i'm still learning actually) whatsoever... and now when i get back on a bike with a freewheel i feel so insecure it takes me 5 minutes to get used to it.

Ok, so bunny hopping is the one thing I really miss about a freewheel. Being able to set my pedals at 9/3 o'clock when i'm approaching a big assed pot hole and just hop over it, was really fun and satisfying. After a year of riding fixed, there is no way I would try it, especially in traffic. It's compensated for by the brilliant steering on my track frame and the great control over speed I now have in my legs, but I still miss it.

Anyone on here, do much real life (in traffic) bunny hopping on fixed? What's the technique?

jump!

how high?

they say jump and you say "how high" ?

exactly.