SINGLE SPEED STYLE

Ever run across and old road bike and you suddenly have that urge to make it into something fun and different? There’s something about finding an old storied road bike that screams for a new chapter to be written. It’s your artistic side, and it’s telling you that it’s time for a bike that is all about style and simplicity. Yes simplicity, the kind that convinces you this bike needs to be stripped of all useless gears and accessories and embrace the carefree life of a single speed. Re-working a bike into a single speed can be a fun project for anyone who just loves bikes and lives by the mantra that there is no such thing as having too many bikes.

CULTURE OF SINGLE SPEED

There’s a whole culture that has formed around the fixies, but the single speed free hub makes a little more sense to me. Those continuous spinning pedals tend to get me all confused and cause me to spill my coffee. Fixies are pretty cool, I like the culture and the fun times they bring to cycling, but let’s face it, I like to coast. The culture that is converting to these single speeds is one that believes less is more, and if I can add a little style to my commute or around town ride, I’m all for it.

WHY WOULD I GIVE UP MULTIPLE GEARS

Why did they invent all those gear ratios if we just want to get rid of them? Now we’re treading on the dangerous ground of mixing logic with style, the very debate known for creating the discussions that two people part more stubborn then when they started. You either get it or you don’t. So as we shed the derailleur, and trim down the bike, you may have to change the way you ride, but this is not the same as jumping on your road bike for a 50 miler, but some people actually do. This is about style and bringing the simple joy to cycling you may have experienced in your childhood. For those who like to tinker around with bikes, you may need to invest in a single speed converter, possibly a new chain, and most of all some colorful hub spacers, and that’s where this story is heading.

CUSTOM HUB SPACERS

After you swap out a few things on the back hub, Purely Custom’s hub spacers do serve a practical purpose of aligning your chain to the front sprocket, they also create all kinds of style. These aluminum hub spacers are available in several colors and with a little creativity your hubs can go all reggae or get all patriotic with red, white and blue. Use the same color for a classy tie in with the rest of your bike or get all crazy and do anything you really want to do. After all, this is your fun bike so unleash your ideas and ride proud.

MORE ON THE BENEFITS OF SINGLE SPEED

Most people that ride a single speed bike for the first time are pleasantly surprised. They don’t necessarily give up their love of other bikes, they just seem to appreciate the simplicity of single speed whether it is a “fixie” or not. They’re new recruits on the idea that less is more, there is less to maintain and less to go wrong. Here at Purely Custom, we like to think that gives you more time to accessorize your bike. Sure you’ve just created the opportunity for and eye catching hub, surely you’re not passing up on swapping out some headset spacers and a customized cap. There are plenty of great ideas to be found at www.purelycustom.com for just about every style of bike, so take a look around and let your ideas flow.