The big debate has played itself out in my mind a lot when I am on the bike riding....just how much slower is a singlespeed than a geared bike?
This obviously depends largely on terrain (just how hilly or flat) but I did some crude calculations and guesstimated that there is roughly a 15-20% handicap on a singlespeed.
When looking at the winning times of 100 milers, the winning singlespeed time is typically about 15-20% slower than the winning geared time.
I decided to do my own rough test this week and rode the same trail on my geared bike one day and then the same trail on my singlespeed the next. I tried to maintain similar 'exertion' levels in order to be as much 'like for like' as possible.
The results were similar...right around a 20% time handicap on the SS. None the less, regardless of what bike I am on, it is about the fun factor. As long the trails are putting smiles on the face, it is all good!
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