Single Speed Value and Single Speed Pain

dawes mono

Earlier in the year, I reviewed the Dawes Mono – and really quite liked it. I’m tempted by Amazon.co.uk’s offer of 60% off, meaning it is only £256. Very good value.

Stuck in the 12 Sprocket

Not such a good experience with single speed was my first ride on my winter training bike. After 20 miles from Oxford the gear cable broke, leaving me stuck in the 12 sprocket for 20 miles home. It’s really quite painful riding a 39*12 up every hill on the way back to Oxford.

Just last week, I was saying how nice it was to be spinning high cadence (100rpm). But, this training ride, turned into an unwanted strength test, getting down to about 30rpm on some hills. It didn’t feel good for the knees. I guess it could have been worse, I could have got stuck in 53*12.

Anyway this has been a good week for training.

  • Sun 45 miles
  • Wed 35 miles
  • Thurs 32 miles
  • Sat hopefully 70 miles
  • Plus the usual 50 miles of commuting around Oxford.

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6 Responses to Single Speed Value and Single Speed Pain

  1. Ian Venables November 12, 2011 at 11:28 am #

    48cm the same size as my Wilier so perfecto! Thanks for the link its finally stopped my ‘I’d like a fixie, shall I build one? Buy one? New? Second hand?’ Decision made & expect delivery on Tuesday. Thanks again for the blog – keep up the good work. Ian

  2. mark lovatt November 11, 2011 at 8:11 pm #

    get an on-one pompino

  3. Wylie Horn November 11, 2011 at 2:48 pm #

    Thanks for the link about the Single Speed Dawes. Unfortunately the 60% off is for the 48cm frame size only :( The 53cm and 58 cm are 50% and 20% off respectively. Thanks for producing such a consistently interesting and informative blog.

    • tejvan November 11, 2011 at 3:05 pm #

      Cheers Wylie, didn’t realise that. clever Amazon drawing us in. And at 6 ft 3, the 48cm frame is going to be too small for me!

  4. Steve November 11, 2011 at 1:06 pm #

    Might want to swap gear for brake cable I think.

    Wish I had £256 though, I’d love a better bike for my commute.

    Keep up the excellent work on the blog – always an interesting read.

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