Single-speed... I just don't get it

I love riding fixed and appreciate there are various applications: Velodrome, training, fun, fashion, but what's the point in single-speed? If you have a freewheel, why not ride geared - it makes the same shitty freewheel noise.

Apologies if i offend and i hope one of the many single-speed commuters i see each day can enlighten me.

Peace x

well, if you have bad knees, or are just a coward.

but riding single speed still removes the fussing and wondering when to change gear, so it has it's place.
plus, you can coast down hills.

TTID....

SS down hill FTW.... unless you can spin.

Seeing Ferris freewheel down a 15% hill at about 35mph+ was most upsetting.

@ Ferris, tossbag!

Less sweating + childhood cycling memories + looking elegant.

He rides a single-speed^
Whilst the Africans and some American diocese prefer fixed.

it's just a bike

It gives people chance to build the strength in their legs before taking moving to fixed. also off road bikes and BMX are single speed for good reason.

on point thought... there is an alarming amount of single speed with front brakes only knocking about which is pretty fking Sad!

Fixed mountain bikes isn't so smart... pedal strike at times, but single-speed on the other hand.

Applies to BMX, cyclocross too.

And downhills... such join in spinning out, and then relaxing as you just tuck down and feel the wind flow with no more effort.

riding single speed still removes the fussing and wondering when to change gear

^ Can't say that crossed my mind.

I can't fathom any reason to be sans gears on a road bike except to ride fixed.
EDIT: Except for a step up to fixed x...

Fixed mountain bikes isn't so smart... pedal strike at times, but single-speed on the other hand.
It's fun though.

Its not rocket surgery

reliability

and the drivetrain feels nicer than just staying on the same gear on a geared bike

when you apply front brake rear goes light, no real need for a rear brake it only provides 5% ish braking power ish, no great loss but bike looks cleaner is lighter has less crap on it
yay single speeds fixed geared bmx and mtb

when you apply front brake rear goes light, no real need for a rear brake it only provides 5% ish braking power ish

I was arguing this on Saturday.

The only time I use a rear brake is when hurtling downhill and not wanting to send myself over the bars. Then I use a little rear before I add in the front brake to control it. Otherwise, rear brake is never touched.

^ I've got a fat arse so the rear never goes light

so i guess just a front brake alone wouldn't decrease the inertia ! you NEED that extra braking power. me and VB are skinny waifs well I am certainly !

The rear is for trimming speed and emergency stopping, also for when using the front would be dangerous.
I think it is best to keep on ss.

The only time I use a rear brake is when hurtling downhill and not wanting to send myself over the bars. Then I use a little rear before I add in the front brake to control it. Otherwise, rear brake is never touched.

so when i do this fixed....
hit the crest of the top you're already going quite slow... so you run you legs loooooooose.

Then put a bit of back pressure on when you start picking up speed, and give a little tweaks on the front brake. Then spin and apply back pressure as an when you wanna reduce abit of speed. This is the way i do it.

Brakeless would scare the living shit outta me.

TTID....

SS down hill FTW.... unless you can spin.

Seeing Ferris freewheel down a 15% hill at about 35mph+ was most upsetting.

@ Ferris, tossbag!

It was more like 40mph+

It gives people chance to build the strength in their legs before taking moving to fixed.

^ What he said. The ability to coast is also a plus. And what does it really matter? Each to their own etc.

So that even if you have a crap shopping bike, you can still do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GzgQEEPwoM

Singlespeed on a 'racer bike' feels kind of wrong, I guess im not the most experienced rider but I feel a lack of control unless always pushing the drivetrain.

On a sruising about shopper kinda bike though SS-freewheel is perfect, as it is with BMX's and similar mtb/jump bikes.

i ride single speed. i like to climb quite alot too so helps with descents.

I agree about the drive-train noise Broker. But whenever I ride long on my fixed I do eventually reach a point where I'd welcome a freewheel, usually descending! The Freewheel was a marvellous invention (?)....should we have a poll?

I'm riding single speed at the moment, as stated, to build strength in advance of trying fixed. I'm doing a short commute every day after getting back in the saddle after a 5 year lay off, and enjoying riding 'stripped down' as opposed to my xc hardtail, which just seems to take loads more effort on the road.