A single speed bike is a bike with one gear ratio. (A fixed gear bike is a specific type of single speed bike that has no freewheel mechanism so the rider is forced to keep pedaling).
Single speed bikes are built without derailleurs, hub gearing or other ways of changing the gear ratio. There are loads of single speed bikes out there that have never had gear ratios, such as BMX and kids’ bikes, but recently there’s been somewhat of a comeback in single speed bike popularity. They are becoming more and more fashionable again as people reject the gears on their mountain bikes or their road bikes and opt in for retro single speed purity.
Single speed bikes have long been popular with urban commuters and fitness fanatics going for the maximum burn, as well as in track racing. They are generally more lightweight and mechanically simpler than multi-gear bikes. They have fewer parts that require maintenance so they are cheaper and easier to maintain.
Track racing bikes are all single speed, but mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrid bikes can be single speed or they can be changed into a single speed. Single speed mountain bikes aimed at trail riding often have a low gear ratio, which enables them to climb gradients and cope with obstacles better. This kind of riding means the rider has to be fitter or more skilled than the average cyclist in order to ride the same ground.
Single speed road bikes usually have higher gear ratios. These are often the bikes of choice for bicycle couriers, as they are reliable and durable. Some couriers prefer single-speed mountain bikes, rather than a road bike, as they can deal with obstacles more efficiently.
Single speed bikes do have some disadvantages over multi gear bikes, as they are less versatile. They are also more difficult to pedal up steep hills and gradients, and their top speed is limited by the cyclist’s ability to increase pedaling speed, so they can be slower than multi gear bikes on the flat or a descending gradient.
Single speed bikes are mostly fully rigid, that is without suspension, or they have front suspension. If a single speed bike had front and rear suspension it would increase the weight and take away from the key elements of lightness and simplicity that define a single speed bike, by adding more complicated maintenance requirements.
The recent revival in interest and demand for single speed bikes has lead leading manufacturers to produce many models, including Specialized, Cannondale, Kona, Trek and Raleigh.
If you’re a purist or a fan of retro on the hunt for a lightweight, single speed bike the brands mentioned are a good place to start looking. There are many other companies also designing and producing excellent single speed bikes as well, so it’s a good idea to do some research on the features of each bike. Although they obviously all have one thing in common, they are designed with different aims and usage in mind so it’s worth looking around. There is probably the right single speed bike out there tailored to your specific needs and whichever one you choose you’ll be the epitome of cycling cool.
