I am very interested in starting to train and compete in cyclocross races and was looking for advice on the pros and cons are of riding a single speed bike. I understand that one of the major drawbacks is the loss of gearing for speed on the flats and benefit of lower gears on hills. But when I think of riding a single speed bike that is the one thing that interests me, the simplicity and challenge that it poses. However, since I am completely new to the sport, I wanted to get thoughts from experienced folks so that I can make a more educated decision.
Thanks in advance.
As with anything on ST…it depends. Do the races in your area offer a SS category? Watching the SS guys in the Chicago Cross Cup is ridiculous, those guys fly. If there is no dedicated SS category, in cats 5 and 4 you can probably get away with riding a SS if you’re strong, but as you move up, a SS is not going to be able to compete against a geared bike under a strong rider.
Thanks. Since I’m new to the sport I’m not going into this expecting to be particularly competitive. Just trying to fill the gap in my training/racing after deciding to discontinue triathlon (just don’t like swimming). I’ll look into the races in my area. As long as I wouldn’t be barred from racing due to riding a single speed bike that would be ok. Thanks again.
As with any single speed, you need to be aware of the additional stress-load put on your knees, especially on ascents and cranking hard out of corners. If you’re new to CX, I would recommend starting with a geared bike. (Also, as mentioned, don’t expect less competition in single speed class.)
I raced 3-4 years fixed before switching to a geared bike. There are some courses where it matters, but for the most part I was very close in speed between the two. Most CX courses, by the time you spin out, the course is changing anyway. I’ve thought about going back to SS, but I use the same bike for gravel road racing. Maybe it’s time for another bike.
That is a great point, I did not consider the stress on my knees. And it’s not that I expect less competition, I just don’t expect to be particularly competitive.
Just get a bike with a motor in it and you’ll have all the gearing you need.
That’s hilarious:-)
Thanks, I needed a good laugh!
almost every single 'cross race out there will have a single speed category. The only difference between say, a SS race and a geared race is the following
in a geared race, it will “probably” be more competitive, you have gears, you’ll go faster
in a single speed race, you will have 1 gear, it will not be as competitive unless you live in the NorthEast/NorthWest, you will be given more beer during the race, you will go slower, and life sucks when you race single speed because it is difficult.
Don’t get a geared bike, you can get a single speed bike and you’ll be just fine. The skill portion of the bike is going to come from putzing around on local trails, single track, and practice laps/racing. Triathletes have a decent base when they come into Cyclocross, but they are going to want to learn to go way above your threshold for 5-30 second and completely shut it off, maneuver the bike, followed by going above your threshold for another 5-30 second. There really isn’t any “steady state” racing, except maybe the start/finish runway which is 50-100 yards or whatever the UCI regs are… I can’t remember off the top of my head.
A single speed bike is great to have, even for commuting and just kind of mixing up the training. you can get a single speed specific bike, where there is no chain tensioner, or you can take an old frame and throw a chain tensioner on it and just buy the appropriate equipment needed to run it single speed. That usually means a chain tensioner which mounts on the rear D, an 11 speed chain, no drop crank ring wolf tooth components and a single speed cassette cog. Getting multiple cogs can be beneficial if your Saturday race is relatively flat, and then your Sunday race is mega hilly you can use the appropriate cassette.
You are also not relegated to the single speed category. You can race whatever category you wish, so even if they didn’t offer a single speed category, go ahead and jump in the 4’s, 3’s, hell the pro race if you want to. You will of course, be at a disadvantage but there are people who go out to race on single speed bikes purely for the training aspect of it.
The thing with riding a single speed is to understand that you are always in the wrong gear, and you will always think you should have picked a different gearing.
Thanks Patrick. This is really helpful. I’m really leaning toward single speed. Cyclocross sounds like a blast and can’t wait not only to race but train. After so many years on the road I can’t wait to get off-road.
Considering all the years riding a geared road/tri bike I can see how this is so true.
Is it fairly simple to swap out rear cog on a single speed to adjust for races? Or is that not typically done? Thanks
Depends on how many teeth you are adding or loosing. I ride an SS mountain bike with an EBB and run 32x16,18 and 20. I keep a chain for each gearing so that I can keep my cranks in the same location in the EBB. If you go with a bike that has sliding drop outs or track ends you could probably have a chain that works with a 16 and 18 tooth cog but won’t go all the way to 20.
Not sure where you are or what your local rules are, but just wanted to note than in our Chicago series, you can race SRAM as single speed if you zip tie the shift paddle to the brake lever.
A lot of places will allow a rider to zip tie there shifters to prevent gear changes within a single speed race. You may want to check on that option.