Single Speed or Fixed Gear?

A Single Speed bike only has one gear, a single cog attached to a freewheel hub which allows the rider to coast when going downhill but forces additional effort when faced with a steep climb.

Some people confuse single speeds with a fixed gear bike, which, although operating on the same principle, does not permit coasting as the pedals are constantly turning. A bike can be set up for both freewheeling and fixed wheel riding by fitting a flip-flop hub which can be reversed, depending on the style of riding required.

Most single speed bikes are ridden by road cyclists, but more and more brands are now offering single speed mountain bike models proving their popularity even in the MTB world.

Fixed Gear bikes are not new. They are simple bikes with only one gear and no freewheel mechanism, which means that the pedals are constantly in motion whenever the bike is moving. This means the rider cannot coast on flat or downhill sections unlike a single speed bike.

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