Limitations to training on singlespeed?

I've searched the forum and not found and appropriate thread for this question. I was wondering if I am losing out by doing weekend training rides on a singlespeed instead of a geared road bike (the road bike's inaccessible at the moment so I have no choice). I cover around the same miles, and my average speed at the end is only about 1.5 mph slower, but I don't feel as fit or as fast as when I was able to train more frequently on the road bike. Should there be any reason why this is the case?

Yes, you are limiting your training, obviously.

You can't change gears to work on different cadences with different ratios. You can't work on big gear, high speeds if you've geared for the hills.

Also, you've already said that you are slower on the ss and training less frequently, so it seems pretty clear, no?

What are you training for?

I was able to train more frequently on the road bike

(ninja-ed by mergatron)
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(ninja-ed by mergatron)
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Eh?

you beat me to the comment

Training on fixed (so you get the overspeed stuff on downhills, but miss out on the high speed cornerning practice) can be made less limiting if you work out a series of routes (probably 3 or more) that force you to train different systems; if you're looking for well-rounded training), e.g.

• hilly route for slow cadence seated/standing, plus overspeed downhill if no freewheel.

• flat route for threshhold training/steady state stuff; use the wind where relevant to adjust required power at different cadences.

• secluded short loop for shorter interval work.

Unless you live in the Fens or something, you should be able to devise a suitable rota of routes.

Yes, you are limiting your training, obviously.

You can't change gears to work on different cadences with different ratios. You can't work on big gear, high speeds if you've geared for the hills.

Also, you've already said that you are slower on the ss and training less frequently, so it seems pretty clear, no?

What are you training for?

Training is for sportives, time trials and just for general fitness. Sorry, to clarify, I'm training less frequently on the road bike, although I'm still putting roughly the same amount of miles in overall. I was hoping that the hills would provide the higher intensity interval type of training. I can see though that riding at a necessarily lower intensity on the flats means that the ride as a whole is kind of stop/start in terms of intensity, rather than the steadier progressions you can do on a geared bike. Obvious really.

PS. Also worth buying a second chainring/sprocket/freewheel (that fits your trackends with the same chain, to avoid faff), to broaden horizons.

Yeah, I've actually been riding 46/18 which is probably a bit low. Might put the 48 on as it makes for a more enjoyable ride on the uninterrupted flat bits.

I've always done a similar thing for the seasons. This year, summer has been 45/17, and winter will be 42/17 (for general riding out in the lanes).

Yeah, I've actually been riding 46/18 which is probably a bit low.

I ride this on my singlespeed and do a lot of hilly miles around Surrey - find it good on this sort of ride (for me anyway) . I can manage to get up hills without a hernia and have a decent workout, and it's good for spinning on flats. I find singlespeed training like this helps my road bike strength (meagre as it is).

If you're training for time trials, you should probably be close to time trial gearing. It's surprising what hills you can get up on 88" fixed when the option is walking ;-) If I'm doing high intensity intervals, I'll be on my race gear or 1 tooth more at the back to get some spin into the efforts.

If you're training for time trials, you should probably be close to time trial gearing. It's surprising what hills you can get up on 88" fixed when the option is walking ;-) If I'm doing high intensity intervals, I'll be on my race gear or 1 tooth more at the back to get some spin into the efforts.
The problem is the SS is essentially my only bike for the majority of the time now. It has to be used for getting the miles in the legs, as much as for any specific training. I suppose I could gear up for 1 or 2 specific time trial training rides during the week, then use the 70GI for the 60 mile sunday ride.

I suppose I could gear up for 1 or 2 specific time trial training rides during the week, then use the 70GI for the 60 mile sunday ride.

Sounds about right. If only there was some way of having several different sized sprockets attached to the wheel which could be changed while riding...

I've found that riding SS has improved my climbing. As the only options are to chug along or walk. I chugged. After a bit I no longer chugged but rode up the same hill at an alright pace. Geared riders around here hate it when you pass them. Especially on hills.

I think my strength/power has increased greatly from riding my fixed bike on poper rides. Many hills around me that to get up you need to be out of the saddle forcing those pedals round. Found crossing back over to gears I'm pushing higher gears faster up hills and can keep higher cadence on flats.

fail to see how training fixed wouldn't help when getting back onto gears, SS however i can't really comment...

On the downside though I think I've overstressed my left knee over the past couple of months and am now a bit wary of doing anything too challenging on the fixed until the pain goes away!

Fixed has a serious limitation for training - you'd need to be a really brilliant rider to survive on fixed in a group of strong riders on geared road bikes. And riding in a group of strong riders is surely just the sort of training one should aim at.

I believe that for me, over many years, riding fixed when circumstances allowed has been highly beneficial. When I started club riding again as an adult in the mid 1970's many of my clubmates were still riding fixed in the winter and continued this into the training run season in January and February. Eventually there would be an agreement that the next Sunday gears would be used, and if you weren't in the loop and turned up on your fixed bike you'd be in for hard time or an early bath. I remember those winter runs in a hard riding group mostly consisting of fixed gear users as some of the best club riding I've ever done, and I'm sure it helped me to develop whatever modest talent I had. Now only a very few of my clubmates can be dragged away from their modern road bikes however bad the conditions, and I for one cannot cope against them on my fixed bike.

Fausto Coppi, and Andre Boucher, who was Anquetil's mentor, recommended fixed for early season training; I believe this is the best time to use it, but ideally you need a little group of like minded individuals.

What's the reasoning behind fixed training in the winter as you understand it clubman?

From what I gather its to keep the pedalling technique in top form, promote the suppleness in the legs before trying harder efforts to get in form for the season.

riding in a group of strong riders is surely just the sort of training one should aim at.

Why is that?

Why is that?

That was the first question which sprung to my mind too. While group rides make long tempo sessions more pleasant, the really horrible threshold stuff can only really be done alone unless you're with an exceptionally closely matched group.

My coach was always of the opinion that group rides should be used sparingly.
I can see clubman's point though - it's always a good idea to train with people who are better than you. Gives you something to aim for, punishment, tips, etc.

Me too. Suffering is a major part of cycling competively and learning how to suffer as you hang on to a group of riders stronger than you is great training. You just have to realise it's one part of a broader training regime.

We should write a cycling book together andy.. you can write the chapter on Lance's training techniques and I'll write one on successful training diets.

Suffering is a major part of cycling competively

You're doing it wrong!

@hippy - it'd be a bestseller.