Anyone into single speed/fixed gear bicycles?

[stinkwheel]

I'm not but I think one would be a good gift for my girlfriend. She does a lot of miles on her pushbike (like she'll ride 20 miles across town to go to work in the morning) and she NEVER changes gear with the result that the springy bits on the gears get all gummed up with crap and I have to keep fixing it for her.

I kind of half mentioned the subject of fixies, she recoiled in horror at the idea of a true fixed wheel bike but a freewheel single speed would be ok. I believe the way to do it is to fit a thing called a flip-flop hub which allows you to choose either system anyway?

So, I'm off round the second hand bike shops this weekend to look for an older racer bike frame with horizontal dropouts. Anything in particular other than this I should be looking for?

I was thinking of painting it all up nice and basically building her a bike from parts around the frame. Nothing rediculously expensive or flash so it doesn't get stolen from outside her work first time out.

Am I setting myself up for failure here? Any pitfalls to avoid?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Pernig]

I'd recommend a bike with a Sturmey Archer enclosed hub. They've been around for years with not much change in the design, so, although I wouldn't attempt to fix the hub myself, parts are quite readily available.

I used to have a fold-up bike when I was about 15 that had 20 inch wheels and a 3-speed hub (never needed to change as where I lived was very flat, but it was a nice luxury if I ever needed to get up a hill). I never even oiled the chain, even after a massive downpour which flooded my road, which I decided to ride through. That was great fun .

My Dad thought it would be funny to chuck it on a skip one day. I really miss that bike .
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H100 Breaking for spares

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I'd be tempted to get a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub; ratios are 3:4 1:1 and 4:3, so you still get the flexibility of dropping a cog on hills.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[cagiva gezzer]

As above. 3 speed hub.

You can convert normal freewheel hubs to single speed. Such as - https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300286676183&cguid=ce63f17b11c0a0aad3463b26ffcd412c
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Sheldon Brown's site is a great resource for all things cycling :-

https://sheldonbrown.com/fixed/index.html
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[WildGoose]

I rode a BMX to school for a couple of years, good few miles each way, obviously it was just single speed, tension adjusters just like a motorbike.

Bit cramped when sitting down. but the gearing itself was never a massive inconvenience, and chain coming off was basically unheard of.

I have never owned a geared bike that all gears engaged smoothly on, didnt get a constant clicking from somewhere, or would randomly get confused when changing gears and sling the chain off. The chain slipping between cogs when you put heavy pressure through the pedals (up a hill say) was also a favourite, would often chuck you off as all resistance is suddenly removed.

Granted i've never bought expensive pushbikes, but I've hated most of my experiences with them with a passion! Hateful things.

I'd definately be interested in a single speed pushbike if I didn't live in the hills where I do.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[stinkwheel]

Aye, 3-speed hubs are one way, but I'm more meaning a racer bike with a single sprocket (a bit like they use on a velodrome but with lower gearing) the aim being to keep both the weight and the pedalling resistance to an absolute minimum.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Vin]

Why not show her the advantages of changing gear? It's not exactly difficult and she'll probably get everywhere more quickly.

[Itchy]

You could always get her a shaft drive bike, the gearing is limited though but as with shaft drive motorbikes with sealed drive system there is no chain or sprockets to worry about. I believe you can even retrofit them onto chain bikes.

[D O G]

Are there no hills in your town?

Single speed bikes look lovely, and would be great in a pancake town like that London, but anywhere with gradient they would be a nightmare.

I'm guessing she rides in a stupidly low gear all the time. The lowest I have on mine is a 38-27, the highest a 52-11. I use both of those every day, couldn't cope with anything much different.

[stinkwheel]

[Azonicben]

Most hubs can be set to singlespeed with the addition of a spacer kit, on my singlespeed mountain bike I use 39-14/15/16 depending where I'm going.
Other thing get a Brooks leather saddle it'll take a while to bed in but. For distance they are the ultimate in comfort it'll mould to your arse shape and supple up over time.
And finally rear brake only and narrow 12-15inch flat bars

And you should end up with a courier bike, google courier bike for tips I would link but I'm using my phone.

Hth
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R