single speeder

Single speed is one area of biking that I neglected to cover, but is a big part of my riding. It is also gaining a bigger share of the bicycling market, albeit not huge overall share. The geared bikes are still dictating the market, but my fellow single speeders are doing our part to increase the popularity of this faction.
The single speed bike offers a rider the pure power of his or her leg strength. The chain length for a geared bike is longer for the different possible gear ratios. This extra length creates a loss of power generated by the rider to rear wheel. This loss of power is really evident on hill climbs. The single speeder has the ability to get up and over the hills better than the geared bike.
This premium comes at a cost, the ability to change the gear ratio. This is most noticeable on the flats. The single speeder will reach a maximum pedal speed and that is the fastest he or she will ever able to pedal. The geared bike will be able to kick it up to higher gear ratio and take off.
Many bike manufacturers are starting to cater to the single speed group. They are now offering frames that are for single speeders. They are offering frames with horizontal dropouts, which will maximize the ability to remove the slack out the chain.
There are websites that are popping up to help convert a geared bike over to a single speed. The conversion requires the removal of the gears, the addition of single speed hub, the removal of the gear selector, and the addition a singlulator to remove the chain slack. The websites offer help in selecting your front and rear gear ratio.
Many races are offering classes for the single speed racer. There is even a race that is completely single speed only.
As the popularity of the single speed increases hopefully so will the offerings from manufacturers and innovations.

Convert to a single speed
Single speed only race
Phil Wood ss frame
Independant Fabrications ss frame