single speed?

[tastyshoe]

I've recently bought a single speed for commuting and as funds are tight i'm thinking of using this as my 'traithlon' bike.

I know that fixed wheels aren't allowed under BTA rules but does anyone use a single speed to race? any problems when you arrive etc and what ratio/set-up do you use?

[cutter]

I am pretty sure that a single speed bike would be permitted under BTA rules. I think that their main concern is that both wheels are able to move freely, which yours would be. As long as you have a brake on both wheels, it should therefore be okay.

Obviously, I would check with the BTA before rocking up at an event though!

As for ratios etc, that is all down to personal choice, course etc. If it is flat, you could probably have quite a big gear on there - perhaps choose the gear you would spend most of your time on if you did have a geared bike - obviously, this may mean that pulling away in a 53x14 combination is a bit tricky, but once you've got it moving - it should be okay. You'd want to have a good idea of the course though - a gear like that could finish you off on any form of incline.

[planetx]

Oh lord 53-14 !!! Thats 102 inch gear - huge for a fixed . You need legs and lungs like graeme obree to ride that .

Have you ever ridden fixed ? Id say 87 ish , you need to be a seriously fast and strong time triallist to get anything over a 90 inch gear moving .

[cutter]

I ride either 39x13 or 39x15 (fixed) but I would not want to do a flat time trial in that sort of gear - you'd be spinning way too fast - surely?

I can go under the hour on a 25 (not fixed) but if I did have a go fixed, I reckon you want to be pushing into the 90's. I would imagine otherwise your cadence would be too high. Then again, I like churning the big gears

[planetx]

39-13 = 81 inch , thats ok for time trialling , generally youd race between 81-87 inch , though the trend is indeed higher these days .

[cutter]

I have been using the 39x13 to commute on and for a lot of my longer rides for most of this year...I would definitely want to race on something a bit higher than that - all personal choice though I suppose. A chap who does some time trials with my brother's club on fixed bike rides a 105 inch gear.

[planetx]

I used to commute on 42 by 18 = 63 inch gear , good gear for training, recovery rides , and souplesse .

81 inch is huge for commuting !

There was a long thread on veloriders entitled 42 by 20 - you should read it .

You should enter one of the early season Medium Gear 25s - max gear allowed 72 inch , normally won in about a 56 .

[andygates]

63? I do *offroad* ficing on 63, it's teeny IIRC, the "standard gear" for fixie TTs is 88". Velodrome is 80-84, ish. My road fix is about 69".

But one reason fixed gears are light is so you don't tear your legs off on descents... definitely a case of Know Thy Course and pick a gear appropriately.

[planetx]

63 - im telling you , its not that teeny if your riding up snake pass into a block headwind , and of course as you say going dwn snake pass , thats something else on fixed

on double fixed - 63 one side , 67 t-other

[jammytask]

I have run both fixed and singlespeed for commuting but you wouldn't want to run after cranking 105" gearing...

Have a look at the cycling plus forums, there is a good fixie community in the special interests section with a really good FAQ.

Chris