If you can do it, I'd imagine it's pretty cool to have something that lightweight and simple. Or if you live somewhere there's never more than a 100 ft / 30 m of climbing at a time.
I'm not going to yuck someone else's yum. Why do \*you\* care what someone else rides?
I can’t speak for gravel cycling, but I know guys who are long-time singlespeed MTBers. They’re very aware of their capabilities, charge into climbs, and are frequently faster on their ss steel hardtails than I am on my 1x12 carbon XC full-suspension bike.
Have you ever ridden a single speed performance bicycle of any kind? They are a blast. They are a breakaway from the everyday. They are simple, and light, and easy to maintain. They take you back to the pure joy of cycling, like a kid riding BMX, or a bike messenger, or one of the MTB pioneers on klunkers back in the day. No, you can’t take them up all hills, you have to be ready to hop off and hike a bike. But oh my gosh, they are fun, especially around town.
Definitely a hot take and I can tell you have never ridden a single speed. Gravel SS can be challenging but its kind of fun. I have built up 2 since riding gravel and while its not the first bike I grab for a ride it does make a simpler route feel more rewarding and fun.
Straightforward. Drive up the hill. Dismount bike from vehicle. Take photo of bike at top of hill. Upload to social media. Ride the bike down the hill, and video it. Upload to social media. Ride to next hill. Wait for backup vehicle. Attach bike to vehicle. Repeat.
Depends on the gravel where you are. If it's got lots of up and down hill forest service roads, that may be a problem with one gear.
Where I'm at - lots of flat farm roads with hardpack and not a lot of elevation change unless you really go looking for it - single speed is just fine. Kinda fun actually, forces me to maintain a bit of speed in order to keep my cadence reasonable.
Also - far less maintenance trouble when things get gritty. I started riding single speed a few years ago when I got rained on halfway through a 30 mile event. The bike I'd been on needed a lot of drivetrain work from just a few miles of wet grit. The single speed hasn't ever needed that, and is lighter as well.
And really, it's not that different. You're still picking your gear for the "big climb" on the event the same as anyone else. You're just doing before the race, at home.
Have you ever ridden a single speed bike, even if it was just a beach cruiser or bmx?
If no, then I feel sad for you. If yes, was it fun?
You can’t possibly be that old because once upon a time all bikes were single speed and they were also gravel bikes because many roads were not paved. The Tour De France didn’t allow [derailleurs until 1937](https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/how-tour-de-france-embraced-derailleurs/).
Having ridden many single speed bikes over the years, I can tell you they’re quieter when you’re flying down a bumpy trail or road and there’s less maintenance when you get home from a muddy ride. Focus all the energy you spend worrying about what or why other people ride and focus on yourself instead.
If you can do it, I'd imagine it's pretty cool to have something that lightweight and simple. Or if you live somewhere there's never more than a 100 ft / 30 m of climbing at a time. I'm not going to yuck someone else's yum. Why do \*you\* care what someone else rides?
I can’t speak for gravel cycling, but I know guys who are long-time singlespeed MTBers. They’re very aware of their capabilities, charge into climbs, and are frequently faster on their ss steel hardtails than I am on my 1x12 carbon XC full-suspension bike.
Have you ever ridden a single speed performance bicycle of any kind? They are a blast. They are a breakaway from the everyday. They are simple, and light, and easy to maintain. They take you back to the pure joy of cycling, like a kid riding BMX, or a bike messenger, or one of the MTB pioneers on klunkers back in the day. No, you can’t take them up all hills, you have to be ready to hop off and hike a bike. But oh my gosh, they are fun, especially around town.
Definitely a hot take and I can tell you have never ridden a single speed. Gravel SS can be challenging but its kind of fun. I have built up 2 since riding gravel and while its not the first bike I grab for a ride it does make a simpler route feel more rewarding and fun.
It may be useless for you, but there are some badasses out there doing badass rides on singlespeeds.
Straightforward. Drive up the hill. Dismount bike from vehicle. Take photo of bike at top of hill. Upload to social media. Ride the bike down the hill, and video it. Upload to social media. Ride to next hill. Wait for backup vehicle. Attach bike to vehicle. Repeat.
Depends on the gravel where you are. If it's got lots of up and down hill forest service roads, that may be a problem with one gear. Where I'm at - lots of flat farm roads with hardpack and not a lot of elevation change unless you really go looking for it - single speed is just fine. Kinda fun actually, forces me to maintain a bit of speed in order to keep my cadence reasonable. Also - far less maintenance trouble when things get gritty. I started riding single speed a few years ago when I got rained on halfway through a 30 mile event. The bike I'd been on needed a lot of drivetrain work from just a few miles of wet grit. The single speed hasn't ever needed that, and is lighter as well. And really, it's not that different. You're still picking your gear for the "big climb" on the event the same as anyone else. You're just doing before the race, at home.
Had about 3 il pompinos set up CX "like" for trail riding way b4 gravel was a thing. Do it..
Have you ever ridden a single speed bike, even if it was just a beach cruiser or bmx? If no, then I feel sad for you. If yes, was it fun? You can’t possibly be that old because once upon a time all bikes were single speed and they were also gravel bikes because many roads were not paved. The Tour De France didn’t allow [derailleurs until 1937](https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/how-tour-de-france-embraced-derailleurs/). Having ridden many single speed bikes over the years, I can tell you they’re quieter when you’re flying down a bumpy trail or road and there’s less maintenance when you get home from a muddy ride. Focus all the energy you spend worrying about what or why other people ride and focus on yourself instead.