A singlespeed bike is a bike with no gears. More precisely, a single-speed bike. Singlespeed bikes are durable and have the advantage of simplicity over standard multi-speed bikes. This makes them one of the most common types of bike for urban use, as they are easier to maintain.

A fixed-gear singlespeed is commonly known as a fixie. It's a bike with a transmission that has no freewheel mechanism. The freewheel was developed early in the history of bicycle design, but the fixed-gear bike has remained "the" standard track racing model.

A fixed-gear transmission has the drive sprocket screwed or bolted directly to the rear wheel hub, so the rider can't stop pedaling.

As the rear wheel turns, the pedals rotate in the same direction. This enables the cyclist to apply braking force with the legs and body weight, resisting the rotation of the cranks. It also makes it possible to cycle backwards.

Most bikes today feature a freewheel to allow the pedals to remain stationary while the bike is in motion, so that the cyclist can coast, i.e. ride without pedaling with momentum.

All fixies sold by BeastyBike are convertible to singlespeed. By changing the rear wheel sideways, you can switch from fixie (fixed sprocket) to singlespeed (freewheel), hence the term Flip-Flop.

To sum up, what is a single speed? It's a bike with no gears. Is a fixie a singlespeed? Yes, but not quite. It's also a single-speed bike, but a singlespeed has the particularity of having a freewheel. This is not the case for a fixie. What does it change? You don't have to pedal all the time.

Why ride a Singlespeed?

Modern multi-speed bikes are a marvel of technology, allowing the rider to choose the gear ratio that will use his or her energy most efficiently. If you want to get the maximum possible speed/distance for minimum effort (and there's nothing wrong with that!), you need a multi-speed bike ... but efficiency isn't everything!

If you ride for pleasure, or for short Sunday rides, you don't necessarily attach much importance to your performance, such as measuring your speed, distances or climbs. Instead, you may enjoy the pleasures of riding your bike. In that case, you may be a candidate for a single-speed bike.

Riding singlespeed can help bring back the unfailing joy you had in cycling as a child. You don't realize the psychological effort you put into shifting gears until you abandon your derailleurs, and discover an entire corner of your brain that once wondered "when do I shift" is now free to enjoy your surroundings and sensations.

Paradoxically, a singlespeed is, in another sense, more efficient than a multi-speed bike! Although the singlespeed gear isn't the "perfect" gear in all conditions, it's considerably more mechanically efficient than the transmission of a derailleur bike.

A single-speed gear eliminates the weight of derailleurs, cables, shifters, extra sprockets and a longer chain. What's more, with a single-speed transmission, the movement of your chain is fluid. It moves in a single, perfectly straight line from sprocket to sprocket, avoiding the winding through the pulleys of a derailleur. You can really feel the difference! A singlespeed is visibly faster and easier to pedal than a multi-speed bike in the same gear ratio.

Singlespeed bikes are also much more robust and reliable than multi-speed bikes. There's no derailleur to adjust if your bike falls or suffers a shock. The rear wheel itself is much stronger than one built with asymmetrical spokes to make room for a whole cluster of sprockets on one side.

Why ride a Fixie?

1. With a Fixie, your bike becomes an extension of your own body, rather like a samurai's sword or a public address microphone. Every movement you make with your legs is translated directly to the rear wheel, giving you total control.

2. They're fast, faster than a speed bike, thanks to the increased efficiency of the transmission.

3. They also make you faster, without a freewheel. Imagine a hill. You'd better be ready to overtake, because you can't downshift or stop pedaling. Try riding a fixie for a few weeks or months, and you'll be amazed at how your leg strength evolves and how fast you can go. You'll probably start to make most other thrill-seeking cyclists jealous.

4. They make virtually no noise. Assuming it's perfectly tuned (secure and tight, a chain without too much slack and is lubricated), your fixie will be eerily quiet. Ideal for an early-morning ride just as the sun's coming up, it's like going for a walk in the woods, it's quiet and peaceful.

5. Fixies, and singlespeed bikes too, will always be cheaper than city or gravel bikes. Fewer cogs on the crank or rear cassette, no extravagant chains for an 11-speed cassette, no derailleurs, no shifters and no shocks. There's just less stuff, so it's cheaper. Less stuff also means fewer items to repair and maintain. If you're a minimalist, take a look at a fixie, it's probably the bike for you.