  
Why Single Speed Bicycles May be Under
Rated?
Single speed bicycles can be just as good as multi-speed
bikes.
Single speed bicycles
Single speed bicycles gives the rider that kind
of satisfaction when one first rode his or her bike back in the old days – just this time with an added
adrenalin because you can bring it to heights and peaks of adventures without fear to be
scold.
More efficient than a multispeed bike, is one
advantage of single speed bicycles aside from being quick and easy to pedal.
It has a single gear ratio, no derailleur gears,
hub gearing and other methods to change the gear ratio of the bicycle.
Single speed bicycles
can be in a form of BMX, usually those bicycles intended for kids, cruiser type bikes, and classic commuter
bikes, and unicycles, bikes for track racing, fixed gear road bikes and fixed gear mountain
bikes.
As mentioned above, the fixed gear bike –
considered a subset of single speed bicycles, this kind of bike has no freewheel mechanism that will allow
coasting.
Single speed bicycles
is the bike to go considering its advantages such as being cheaper, lighter and simpler mechanism – does not
require too many accessories or difficult mechanism in its gear and very ideal for commuting in the
city.
In terms of its make up, it has a straight
chainline, but due to absence of chain drag from rear derailleur jockey pulley and chainrings, ramps and pins –
its efficiency is magnificent as compared with muti-geared bikes.
However, because of too much simplicity, it lacks
versatility – one cannot pedal if it is outside its single gear range especially in steep
terrain.
Therefore it also has speed limit, slower
compared to multi-geared bikes.
Track bicycles are usually single speed, mountain
bikes, road bikes, cyclo-cross bikes and hybrid bikes can be transformed into a single speed
bicycle.
For mountain bikes that are single speed
especially those designed for trail riding has easy, low and slow gear ratio allowing the rider to climb high
terrain and hills – and rider has to be fit and skilled for such terrain. On one hand, single speed bikes for road riding have
high, hard and fast, gear ratios.
With bicycle messengers aiming for reliability
and durability, single speed bicycles and fixed gear bicycles are just the best
choice.
Some may opt for mountain bikes that are single
speed because it can face difficult obstacles in bike riding.
Single speed bicycles’
constructions are usually without suspension, or if they may have – only front suspension forks. Most of single
speed bicycles with full suspension are more complex compared to single speed bikes with no suspension and very
rare that you would find such.
While there may be conversions of single speed
bicycles, where the removal of derailleurs as well as other associated hardware is done; a simple conversion
would be making use of the existing freewheel/cassette and crankset, then the chain is cut so it would fit the
desired gear ratio – but such kind of conversion maintains unnecessary weight and the chainline and obviously
not perfect.
A more comprehensive conversion entails replacing
with a single-speed one, the freewheel, and re-dishing the rear wheel.
For bicycles which have vertical dropouts, a
chain tensioner is often needed so it would allow the correct tension on the resulting shorter
chain. Quite complicated but such conversions
gives single speed bicycles a different perspective of being a simple
bicycle.
Lastly single speed bicycles make great children's bicycles. They are much easier to ride.
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