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Originally posted by darvlayThis is the thing, but on the flip side they are really light and they don't have any mechanical parts that can go wrong apart from getting a puncture. My last two bikes have both ended up with seriously expensive mechanical problems. I literally ride everywhere, without exception! I'll happily take on a 20 mile commute across London in the rain rather than take the train. I'm really tempted as, generally speaking, i tend to leave my bike in one gear most of the time anyway. My current bike has been broken for some time now, somehow i managed to shatter two of the gears (i must have hit a curb or something) and they actually fell out. The result is that i've been riding in one gear for a couple of months anyway, i just know that sooner or later i'm going to have to walk up a hill... 😕
Fixed gear bikes are all the rage across the civilized world but why anyone would want one for city-riding is beyond me. You can't coast, riding hills are a pain, braking is calamatous and sharp turns are out of the question.
EDIT: Btw, the one i'm looking at has flip/flop options so i can choose fixed wheel and freewheel...
Originally posted by MarinkatombWell, given your circumstances, I suppose it couldn't hurt to try one out. If you leave it in one gear most of the time then really the hard part is already out of the way. You could certainly get one on the cheap without any problems.
This is the thing, but on the flip side they are really light and they don't have any mechanical parts that can go wrong apart from getting a puncture. My last two bikes have both ended up with seriously expensive mechanical problems. I literally ride everywhere, without exception! I'll happily take on a 20 mile commute across London in the rain rather t ...[text shortened]... the one i'm looking at has flip/flop options so i can choose fixed wheel and freewheel...
Either way, let us know what you decide and how it works out.
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Originally posted by Marinkatombthere's your answer.
generally speaking, i tend to leave my bike in one gear most of the time anyway.
i couldn't do it but if your normal route is pretty flat (i can't remember many hills in london) then why not? still wouldn't be my thing though, the bike might be the same but how the rider is feeling often isn't. not forgetting conditions that would require a gear change.
Originally posted by darvlayThe one i'm looking at is brand new but only costs £189, which is hardly a fortune for a new bike. I just can't quite shake that nagging doubt that sooner or later i'm going to crave gears. There is the other consideration that i might want to go riding out of town on the weekends, in which case it'll be useless... Ahhh, but it's so shiney a sweet!! 😕:'(😏😵:'(😛😕🙂😀
Well, given your circumstances, I suppose it couldn't hurt to try one out. If you leave it in one gear most of the time then really the hard part is already out of the way. You could certainly get one on the cheap without any problems.
Either way, let us know what you decide and how it works out.
Originally posted by MarinkatombI imagine it would go completely against your principles but you could consider a single speed bike but attach one of those little motors to get up hills, even an electric motor with batteries, little solar cell pack on it to charge up when it's parked.....
The one i'm looking at is brand new but only costs £189, which is hardly a fortune for a new bike. I just can't quite shake that nagging doubt that sooner or later i'm going to crave gears. There is the other consideration that i might want to go riding out of town on the weekends, in which case it'll be useless... Ahhh, but it's so shiney a sweet!! 😕:'(😏😵:'(😛😕🙂😀
Originally posted by Marinkatombcraigslist, goodwill, salvation army, used bike shoppe, etc etc
My bicycle has recently died and will cost a fortune to repair and i'm seriously considering getting a single speed bike. However, i'm concerned that i might be mad. How practical are they in London? Anyone have experience? 🙂