My Home Business: Practical Uses for Single Speed Bikes by Troy Rider

There has been a growing movement toward single speed bikes for a number of reasons. At a glance, they may not seem like a great choice. Given the simplicity of the bikes, with no opportunities to switch gears, they may not seem ideal. However , if, as a consumer, you consider exactly why you are buying a bike, and when and why you will be riding your new bike, you may find that the single speed bikes are exactly what you are looking for.

Uses

Single speed bikes have been use for years under various circumstances. Children’s bikes are almost always single speed bikes. BMX bikes and dirt bikes are single speed as well. Track bikes and cruiser type bicycles (wider bikes with ballooned tires and wide, padded seats) are single speed bikes. They are also used for training for bike racers, because riding a single speed bike is said to improve a rider’s pedaling technique.

It can make an excellent commuter bike for work or school, when the terrain is predictable and constant, and there are few environment challenges, like ditches to jump and streams to ford.

Advantages

The simplicity of single speed bikes is a huge draw both for sportsmen and commuters. BMX riders and stunt cyclists, for example , only use first gear anyway, so they do not need the extra gears, and when there is a fall or an accident, there are fewer parts to break or need replacement.

For the commuter, the simplicity is still a draw. Time and money are both of the essence for most of us, and with a simple brake construction and only a single gear, care and maintenance are much cheaper and simpler.

Single speed bikes are generally lightweight and easy to handle. Commuters may need to carry their bikes into the workplace, or up a flight of steps, indoor or outdoor. With a lightweight bike, this is not difficult, even in a suit. The lightweight construction also improves maneuverability in case of an unexpected pothole or pylon.

The overall efficiency of the driveline is also an advantage. Without the complicated gear system of a freewheel bicycle, and with a straight chainline, efficiency is greatly improved overall; the ride is less stressful for the rider and less wear on the bike.

Disadvantages

Because of the inability to shift gears, the single speed bikes are simply less versatile. They are not ideal for mountain biking, riding up and down steep hills or biking cross country, when conditions may change and make multiple gear choices ideal.

It will be slower than a multi-speed bicycle, because a multi-speed bike can reach a point at which the wheels are turning faster than the cyclist is pedaling; this point is not reached on a single speed bike.

SE 700C Series

The new SE 700C series of single speed bikes offers a variety of looks and styles from which to choose. Aluminum and alloy frames add to the ease of maintenance and lightweight structure that make single speed bikes so desirable.