single-speed bikes

All of those would probably do you pretty well, the surly and the von dessel I like especially (no particular reason). If you're looking to get a bike you can ride daily make sure you get some quality rims, you don't want your wheels coming out of true the first week!

I'm not sure of any other brands I would look at, head down to your local bike shop and see what they have in stock!

Surly's are awesome. Well designed, well built, fairly inexpensive and cool too. If you want a basic, functional bike, can't beat them.

Surly's are awesome. Well designed, well built, fairly inexpensive and cool too. If you want a basic, functional bike, can't beat them.

I'm very happy with my single speed, fully rigid mountain bike. It's light, efficient and simple. Riding trails feels more like trail running than a geared bike because the single is so quiet -- no chain slap -- and because you have to work really hard on the ups and are forced to cruise on the downs. I used an On One frame and spent about $900 total on the rig, with a few borrowed parts helping keep the price tag down. It's my commuter bike and my first choice for mellow trails, but I still use my full suspension geared bike for gnarlier trails.

You are going to buy a new ss?! Go find an old frame with horizontal drops outs and made with 531 Reynolds tubing. Spend money on bullet proof crank and White Industries ENO freewheel.

Wow ... a cooler-than-thou single speed guy replied chastising the OP for looking at factory-built bikes. What a surprise!

Honestly ... buy, build and ride any bike you want. Also, the White Industries freewheel would be an extravagance.

serious questions b/c i know nothing about bikes.

1. is single speed the same as fixed gear?

2. what are the advantages of single speed and/or fixed gear bikes?

3. who do bike messengers use fixed gear bikes?

there's a reason I run...it's simple. See why I'm thinking about a single-speed? I don't know a damn thing about components, but if you want to explain what you're talking about and how it'll cost less than the $600-$700 I can spend on a factory bike, I'd take you seriously.

If you're looking to spend $600-$700 on a new SS, you have a lot of options. Go for a bunch of test rides and find out what you want. You'll be able to get a pretty damn good bike for that cash.

I ride a 2007 Schwinn Madison, great bike for the money, comes with low endish parts, but it's a great bike for the money (imo).

Building up a bike can be fun, but buying new has it's advantages. It's way easier to upgrade. Who wants to spend a year looking for the right fitting french threaded bottom bracket? It's also easier to find a bike that fits you. You won't have to spend hours everyday hoping for the right bike to come up on Craigs List.

obvsly I don't know much, but I'm looking for a freewheel bike with no gears, which is what a single-speed appears to be. A fixed-gear is one where the pedals are mated to the wheels such that when one turns, they all turn--you brake by pedaling backwards. Several of the bikes I've looked at actually can be both: you turn the rear hub around and get either a freewheel or a fixie. I want the freewheel and conventional brakes so I don't kill myself.

Why go with these? it's a little like the minimalist debate. I think it would be a better workout than a geared bike, and you'd be focused more on riding than shifting gears. Everyone I've talked to says it's more fun. Don't know many messengers though anymore.

I'm a fairly avid biker, but can't say the idea of a single speed holds much fascination for me. I'm curious about the attraction though. This is mostly directed at the original poster, but I welcome any comments. Is this going to be your only/primary bike? What kind of commute do you have (distance & traffic conditions)? Are you in a relatively flat area?

Coincidentally, I spent last night cleaning the derailleur on my commuter/errand bike from a northeastern winter of accumulated gunk and I can't tell you how sweet it was to have usable gears again for this morning's commute.

Look into Bianchi as well. I've owned their San Jose model single speed for about two years now and I enjoy it as much now as I did the first day I rode it. Their Pista is a nice option too if your looking for more of a track-bike feel.

To the other posters with questions about why single speed?... Well, I enjoy not hearing anything when I ride, I've never had to fix/adjust anything on my bike in two years and it's just plain fun to ride like a kid again: Big hill coming up, I better start gaining some momentum and really pump it on the way up. I wax most of my geared friends up all but the most brutally steep hills because of this. It's about reacting to the road/situation without thinking about it, not deciding what gear to be in.

Lastly, I've ridden both fixed and single. I find single speeds to be more fun to ride. And, steel frames all the way - they've got a bit of love to them.

San Jose is a tight bike. Almost wish I would have picked one of those up instead of my Madison, but I had size issues (I'm 6'5" and my LBS didn't have any San Joses big enough). I just started riding fixed after a year of riding SS. Fixed is fun, not sure if I dig more/less than SS though.

Lots of good info about the hows and whys of single speed riding here:

http://www.mtbr.com/faq/ssfaq.shtml

drsmrtypnts wrote:

All of those would probably do you pretty well, the surly and the von dessel I like especially (no particular reason). If you're looking to get a bike you can ride daily make sure you get some quality rims, you don't want your wheels coming out of true the first week!

I'm not sure of any other brands I would look at, head down to your local bike shop and see what they have in stock!

Been riding on stock rims on my cheap Specialized Allez for nearly a year. Stock rims are fine.

Citizen Runner wrote:

I'm a fairly avid biker, but can't say the idea of a single speed holds much fascination for me. I'm curious about the attraction though. This is mostly directed at the original poster, but I welcome any comments. Is this going to be your only/primary bike? What kind of commute do you have (distance & traffic conditions)? Are you in a relatively flat area?

Coincidentally, I spent last night cleaning the derailleur on my commuter/errand bike from a northeastern winter of accumulated gunk and I can't tell you how sweet it was to have usable gears again for this morning's commute.

To answer your questions, this would be my only bike. I messed around on a mountain bike semi-regularly a few years ago (not on serious trails--rails/trails mostly) and occasionally borrowed friends' road bikes. I found myself concentrating on shifting more than the actual ride, kind of like having to adjust a shoelace every few minutes. I'm not an avid biker, but think this would give me a better workout (i.e., burn more calories) and as others have said, be more fun.

As for commuting, I could ride 4 miles from house to office and barely go up or down a hill, or veer off onto very hilly side streets, which is more likely. I'd rather get a bit more of a workout, so churning up hills is appealing.

I did a 6 mile (each way) commute on a single-speed (old Fuji road bike frame with horizontal drop outs converted to a single speed for very little money)for one Midwest commuting season--about 8 or 9 months. Great fun! I agree with the OP that there is a special freedom in just riding with little technology. I've been commuting more often on my road bike of late to save time (it IS faster), but ride the SS from time-to-time as a treat. With flat terrain and a good gear ratio, you'll have the perfect commuting combo.

a runner not a biker wrote:

serious questions b/c i know nothing about bikes.

1. is single speed the same as fixed gear?

2. what are the advantages of single speed and/or fixed gear bikes?

3. who do bike messengers use fixed gear bikes?

1. Single speeds can coast, Fixed gears cannot because of the direct link between the crank and the rear wheel. Original fixed gears are made for the track and have horizontal dropouts. Fixed gears usually have no brakes, and most fixed gear enthusiasts (sp?) ride with no brakes, or a single front brake.

2. Single speed bikes are great for commuting, and so are fixed gear because of their simplicity and ease of repair. Most of the time there is no derailleur rubbing and can have very simple setups.

3. Messangers use fixed gears because of their ability for track stands. If you don't know what that is, look up on youtube for trackstands and fixed gear tricks.

I personally own a Bianchi Pista fixed gear. I absolutly love it. I originally bought it without brakes, but because of the difficulty of stopping and the height of my seat, I pinched my sciatic nerve. I added a front brake and now thoroughly enjoy the ride.