Over the last few years, biking to work and for leisure has become an important lifestyle for many people in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. It is a strategic way of avoiding traffic and also lowering carbon dioxide released by vehicles into the environment. Riding bikes to work is also very useful if you want to stay in shape. A study conducted in 2017 found that people who cycle to work burn the same amount of fat as those who spend 40 minutes in a gym five days a week.
However, when it comes time to choose your bike, many dedicated cyclists look down on single-speed bikes. Unlike bicycles with multiple gear settings, single speed bikes feature a single speed chainring that ensures the bike always accelerates at a constant pace. Many people believe that multi speed bikes are easier for going uphill, and others are simply wary of something they've never tried before. However, single speed fans often can't imagine riding on a bike without a single speed chainring.
There are multiple reasons why you too should try single speed bicycle.
1. It's a New Challenge
If you are dedicated to the sport of cycling, then think of single speed bikes as an exciting new challenge. While fixed gear bikes and multi gear bikes have plenty of fans, you may find that challenging yourself to adapt to a new style helps you develop new cycling skills.
2. Become a Stronger Rider
The difficulties experienced while riding single speed bikes come with benefits. It makes your legs stronger and enhances your stamina. You will climb up hills and go down hills with a single speed crank. This is obviously different from what you are already used to. You have to keep your legs working hard on the pedals, otherwise you will not make it up to the hill.
You will also become a more efficient bike rider. You will have to plan and make sure that you know the terrain and all the roads you will be using. Crank for single speed bikes needs a clear and precise understanding so that you know how to ride without making it difficult for yourself and depleting your energy.
3. There Are Fewer Things to Break
No cyclist wants to blow out a tire tube or pop a chain in the middle of a long ride. If you don't have the proper gear to fix your bike, you will have to walk and sometimes be forced to carry your bike home. Nobody wants that experience. However, and this is a major issue with all gear bikes, gears tend to break with ease, and the chain might break as well. When you are using single speed chainring, there are fewer components to worry about on long rides.
4. It's Lighter
Bicycle companies have been struggling to reduce the overall weight of the bicycle, but it has not been easy. Removing major components of the bike could have significant impacts on the overall usability of a bike, which has derailed these changes. However, we all know that those extra gears add a substantial amount of weight to a bike. Although riding a single crank bike is harder at first for some riders, you may enjoy a lighter, less complicated ride.
5. Quiet and Simple
With a single speed bike, you don't have to worry about when to change gears. All you have to do is pedal harder, which gives you ample time to think about the terrain, oncoming cars, and how to navigate steep ridges. It gives you a chance to listen to your body and your overall performance. Besides, you don't get those noises when changing gears.
Of course, when it comes to which bike is best for you, it's all about personal preference. While the fixed-gear, multi-gear, and single speed debate will never be definitively settled, many bicyclists never could have predicted how much they would come to love single speed bikes.
