Have You Ever Been On A Group Ride....

YEAP. These single speed or/and fixy riders are more accustumed to put more power into the pedals, since they do not have the luxury of switching down when going uphill, so usually they have plenty power to pass us geared guys on an uphill ride.

Maybe I should add a single-speed to my current bike collection... Then I'll have 2 bikes!

I've seen it many times. I are that rider on the Singlespeed. I may not be able to keep up on the flats but I have to hammer on the hills to get up them. On a fairly short climb I'm almost always faster on my singlespeed.

Not the same situation, but I have been passed many times on climbs in MTB races by guys on SS bikes.

Well he couldn't exactly downshift, could he?

If he passed you going downhill then you have some issues.

MB1 said:

Well he couldn't exactly downshift, could he?

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Very true. On a SS, going slow up a hill can hurt more than if you just giver.

What gearing is generally used on a SS bike?

Whole 'nuther forum to discuss that

It varies by your strength and equipment requirements.

Okay, I'll check out that forum...

... not only on a single speed, but using rattraps...

Arrogant Roadie Prick said:

It varies by your strength and equipment requirements.

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Terrain also plays a big part in choosing a gear. 42 by 15, 16, or 17 are all pretty common.

MaddSkillz said:

And been passed up by a dude on a single-speed bike..... On a flipp'n hill?!

It happened to me last night and I was a little, uh, discouraged and encouraged at the same time... But honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about how freaking insane that was.

Geez.

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I can see it on the uphill more than the downhill.

MaddSkillz said:

And been passed up by a dude on a single-speed bike..... On a flipp'n hill?!

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Yes, it has happened to me. A few years ago I was doing the Mountains of Misery Century in Southwestern Virginia when a guy on a fixed gear ss passed me on a climb. Then, I zoomed by him on the descent. Then, he passed me on the next hill. We kept this up for about 20 miles -- our overall average speed was about the same, but he beat me on the hills and I beat him on the descents.

I was going to say it was you or Ms. M, MB. I figured you were out to destroy those geared geeks .

MarkS said:

Yes, it has happened to me. A few years ago I was doing the Mountains of Misery Century in Southwestern Virginia when a guy on a fixed gear ss passed me on a climb. Then, I zoomed by him on the descent. Then, he passed me on the next hill. We kept this up for about 20 miles -- our overall average speed was about the same, but he beat me on the hills and I beat him on the descents.

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Sounds about right.

I've only been passed by a guy with a commuter bike. triple front, flat bars, girthy tires.

It was pretty embarrassing, he was pedaling like a madman and just blew by me. I couldn't upshift and take him, and I couldn't pedal faster. I just... gave up, and let him go.

My friends ride fixed gears, and we occasionally race on the empty streets after midnight, just short sprints of one, two or three blocks (basically as many green lights as we can get). I can smoke 'em if I've got my cleats on. Otherwise, I can't accelerate fast enough. Maybe that's why the commuter beat me... but I don't think I could've given anymore at the point on the hill. Ridiculous.