Single Speed Bicycles

[bjh618]

Last month I found my old bmx bike at my grandmothers, tidied her up and started riding her again.

Whilst I love riding my road bicycle and the workout I get from working through the gears, I find that I am always pushing myself on it. When I ride the single speed bmx, I just take my time and cruise around.

So basically, I'm now looking at getting a single speed cycle - not a genuine fixie, but one that I can coast with (is that what is referred to as flip-flop?)

So my question is this: what should I be looking for in a single speed bike? I want something simple, light and preferably not to expensive. And obviously something a bit more age appropriate than the bmx!

 

[TimmyBoston]

A flip flop hub has a single speed, 1 gear but it allows coasting, then on the other side of the wheel there is a fixed gear, 1 gear, but no coasting. You can flip the wheel over from one side to the other and get two different bike styles.

If you're buying a new one, this is what I would recommend.

I've been looking at this Jamis myself.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/fixies/10_beatnik.html

Gary Fisher, Giant and Trek all make single speed/fixies. The Trek Soho S is one of your most cost effective options.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/sohos/

I've seen these for around 450 new. But to me, It's worth to go up around 100 for drop handlebars. Good luck!

 

[Go West Young Man]

Is this just for tooling around town, or do you intend to do serious riding?
If you're just doing errands and cruising around city streets on it, get a cheap-o second hand bike off craigslist or the salvation army. You won't worry about it getting banged up or stolen, and can get it for sub-$100.

 

[bjh618]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Its pretty much going to be cruising around town (I'll keep another pushy for my serious rides), but I wanted to make sure I get my facts right before I commit.

 

[sero-sed-serio]

depending on how capable you are with working on bikes (fairly simple) you can always build one. get a frame from the classifieds and buy a hub from online somewhere. cheaper than buying new

 

[C Reed]

Here Ya go: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

 

[davecmu]

Here's how to do it on the super cheap. I know this because I just did it myself:

1. Buy cheap used ten-speed locally. Think Craigslist, garage sales, etc.
2. Buy shorter chain.
3. Put shorter chain on ten speed, small sprocket to small sprocket, bypassing all the derailing gear (heck, take all that gear off)
4. Ride.

What this does is utilize the existing freewheel hub in the rear and save you from having to buy a new hub/cog/wheel set up.

Here's what I ended up with:

1975 Sears Free Spirit - $25 on craigslist from a student who was graduating)
New chain - $11
Straight bars to replace worn vintage drop downs - $5 used at bike shop

Total: $41 for singlespeed with coasting freewheel.

It's awesome around my pretty-much-flat campus and neighborhood. It's geared ENTIRELY wrong for hills, so I hope you don't live anywhere hilly.

 

[dalecooper51]

Look for one that has horizontal dropouts on the rear end. That will give you the ability to tension the chain properly. My first single speed was an old lotus touring bike that cost very little up front. Was looking for a pic, but all I could find was my track bike which did light city duty and some racing.

 

[davecmu]

Must not be a fast bike if it could get boxed in by a bunch of turtles.

 

[dalecooper51]

Depends how much I had to drink the night before.

 

[davecmu]

Depends how much I had to drink the night before.

I see that you ride like I ride, then.

 

[Sal]

Depends how much I had to drink the night before.

I see that you ride like I ride, then.

Nice, now we're talking, I see I have fellow drinker/riders. I ride with a group that does this every full moon. Start at 11pm and go from dive bar to dive bar.


Link

 

[bjh618]

Nice, now we're talking, I see I have fellow drinker/riders. I ride with a group that does this every full moon. Start at 11pm and go from dive bar to dive bar.

I love it! Unfortunately here is Oz, drink-riding is as illegal as drink-driving, as my friend found out one night...