Do you remember when you were a kid, how cool it was to grab your bike and simply peddle down the driveway or sidewalk? 21 gears didn't exist in your mind, it was just plain and simple peddling.
Well, thanks in large part to hipsters (aka pretenders), bike messengers, and Velodrome racers such as Graeme Obree, single speed bikes are starting to become the "must have"
We here at BBDC are currently modifying our vintage 1972 Schwinn steel frame 10-speed into a sleek single-speed. Gone are the heavy upright chrome handlebars, steel wheels, gears, springy saddle (yes they are saddles not seats) and even the rear brake. Stripped and a nice light 26 lbs, although heavy compared to carbon fiber bikes, this bike will scream "oh yeah look at that" once it is finished. I'll have a whopping $300 in basically a brand new bike. Pictures will come after I am finished.
Words of wisdom from my experience:
1. YOU MUST USE A BRAKE(s). You will crash otherwise, and any injury you experience is YOUR FAULT.
2. Freewheel is your friend. When we were kids on our small bikes or big wheels, we didn't peddle at traffic speed on the street. It's nice to have the bike move forward without pumping your legs. A flip-flop hub works best.
3. Clean and lube your bike often, and check air pressure EVERY TIME BEFORE you ride. You'd be supprised to learn that bike tires can lose 20+ lbs of pressure in a single day.
4. WEAR A FREAKING HELMET! They are cool looking, are now light weight, and can save some brain tissue.
5. Check your localitiy's bicycle laws (helmet laws, lights and refleectors, if riding on sidewalks is legal...)
6. Stop in and speak with local bike shops! Nice people, will spend 30 mins looking over problems for free, and deserve your business.
7. Oh yeah, almost forgot, it's not simple to convert just any bike to a single speed. Look for a frame with a horizontal frop out (that slot that the back axel slides into). This way you can adjust chain tension by moving the wheel, and not use a tensioner that just complicates things. Also, be sure of the correct chain width, many single speed rear cogs need the 1/8" BMX style chain.
Meanwhile check out some of these links:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/district/district/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://velospace.org/files/2720956091_4ace20ffc9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://velospace.org/node/13695&usg=__MdaxwJqCJByYTTbtIp_B8GXiTTA=&h=358&w=500&sz=109&hl=en&start=42&tbnid=xozFbDUEcMFHJM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschwinn%2Bsuburban%26start%3D36%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
Well, thanks in large part to hipsters (aka pretenders), bike messengers, and Velodrome racers such as Graeme Obree, single speed bikes are starting to become the "must have"
We here at BBDC are currently modifying our vintage 1972 Schwinn steel frame 10-speed into a sleek single-speed. Gone are the heavy upright chrome handlebars, steel wheels, gears, springy saddle (yes they are saddles not seats) and even the rear brake. Stripped and a nice light 26 lbs, although heavy compared to carbon fiber bikes, this bike will scream "oh yeah look at that" once it is finished. I'll have a whopping $300 in basically a brand new bike. Pictures will come after I am finished.
Words of wisdom from my experience:
1. YOU MUST USE A BRAKE(s). You will crash otherwise, and any injury you experience is YOUR FAULT.
2. Freewheel is your friend. When we were kids on our small bikes or big wheels, we didn't peddle at traffic speed on the street. It's nice to have the bike move forward without pumping your legs. A flip-flop hub works best.
3. Clean and lube your bike often, and check air pressure EVERY TIME BEFORE you ride. You'd be supprised to learn that bike tires can lose 20+ lbs of pressure in a single day.
4. WEAR A FREAKING HELMET! They are cool looking, are now light weight, and can save some brain tissue.
5. Check your localitiy's bicycle laws (helmet laws, lights and refleectors, if riding on sidewalks is legal...)
6. Stop in and speak with local bike shops! Nice people, will spend 30 mins looking over problems for free, and deserve your business.
7. Oh yeah, almost forgot, it's not simple to convert just any bike to a single speed. Look for a frame with a horizontal frop out (that slot that the back axel slides into). This way you can adjust chain tension by moving the wheel, and not use a tensioner that just complicates things. Also, be sure of the correct chain width, many single speed rear cogs need the 1/8" BMX style chain.
Meanwhile check out some of these links:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/district/district/
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://velospace.org/files/2720956091_4ace20ffc9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://velospace.org/node/13695&usg=__MdaxwJqCJByYTTbtIp_B8GXiTTA=&h=358&w=500&sz=109&hl=en&start=42&tbnid=xozFbDUEcMFHJM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschwinn%2Bsuburban%26start%3D36%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
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