If you’re looking for a reasonably priced, hassle free commuter bike or something different to mix up your training rides, then here are some of the best single speed bikes available to buy in 2020.
10 of the best Single Speed and Fixed Gear bikes
10 of the best single speed bikes available in 2020
- Ribble Urban 725s Commuter
- Vitus Six Single Speed Road Bike
- Octane One Kode Commuter Road Bike
- Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Bike
- Fuji Feather City Bike
- Aventon Mataro Fixie and Single Speed
- FIXIE Inc. Floater Race white
- Genesis Flyer 2019 – Road Bike
- Cannondale Trail Sl 29er Single Speed Mountain Bike
- Creme Vinyl Solo Men black
Best town Single speed bike
Ribble Urban 725s
From: £599
This Single Speed bike is available in both fixed wheel and single speed freewheel options. The Urban 725s is built to last and designed to keep essential maintenance to a minimum making this bike a comfortable and reliable commuter option.
Buy it now: Ribble Urban 725s £599 at time of writing
A great commuter option
The Covid pandemic means we’re all going to need to think differently about how we get around so why not make cycling the ‘new normal’ when it comes to getting to work or those local trips around town.
At Trivelo we’re all about ‘triathlon’ so we were intrigued by the benefits of a cheaper, low maintenance bike for commuting. So would a single speed bike make me work harder on the ride to and from work and become a valuable part of my training regime?
Vitus Six Single Speed Bike
From £699
The Vitus Six Single Speed Bike is a fixed gear single speed bike ideal for velodrome racing and urban fixed gear events. It’s Built in aluminium and equipped with superb components to get you up to speed fast.
Buy it now: Vitus Six Single Speed Bike £699 at time writing
Why consider a single speed bike?
I’m a triathlete, so on my commute to work I’ll naturally reach for my roadie. If you’re anything like me you’d never given the single speed a thought, but single speed bikes are one of the most common types of bikes today and all kinds of cyclists are being drawn to them but I didn’t understand why…..until now!!
For anyone living in a town or city, a single speed bike could be the ideal solution for getting around fast. The lack of maintenance required and low starting cost making them an attractive everyday commuter bike.
Riding a single-speed is about going back to basics, back to when you had your first single geared bike growing up. With fewer components requiring attention it makes them reliable and ideal for everyday day use.
If you are considering an electric single speed bike read our Top 5 Single Speed eBikes with something for every budget. If you have previously been a sceptic about eBikes take a look. I personally have always dismissed them but riding these made me a convert. Lots of benefits worth considering. For riders from all backgrounds.
Best Gravel Single Speed Bike
Octane One Kode Commuter Bike
From £699
This pure single speed bike is built with cromoly frame & fork made from custom butted Tange steel tubes. It’s tough and light. With disc brakes, fender and rack mounts the Kode is very versatile.
Buy it now: Octane One Kode Commuter Road Bike £699 at time of writing
Best single speed bike for Velodrome riding
Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Bike
From £849
The Tipo Pista is perfect for any rider looking to make the switch to fixed gear riding. With track geometry and alloy tubing, the frame offers rigidity for getting up to speed fast on the track. The carbon fibre fork makes for stiff, reliable steering for maximum control.
Buy it now: Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Bike £849 at time of writing
Single Speed Bike comparison table
| Bike | Price | Weight (kgs) | Frame | Sprocket Teeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribble Urban 725s | £599 | 9.5 | Steel Triple-Butted | Level 16T |
| Vitus Six Single Speed Bike | £699 | Not Specified | T6 Double Butted | 14T Freewheel |
| Octane One Kode Commuter Road Bike | £699 | 9.5 | Tange cromo steel, custom formed and buttedtubes | 14T |
| Cinelli Tipo Pista Track Bike | £849 | 7.8 | Columbus Alloy Custom | Single Speed 18T – Fixed 17T |
| Fuji Feather City Bike (2020) | £529 | 10.2 | Chromoly Steel | 16T fixed cog; 16T freewheel |
| Aventon Mataro Fixie & Single Speed | £749 | Not Specified | Double-Butted 6061 Aluminum Alloy | 15T Freewheel: 16T |
| FIXIE Inc. Floater Race white (2020) | £439 | 10 | Aluminium | Shimano A8K-17 |
| Genesis Flyer 2019 – Road Bike | £749 | 10.4 | Double-Butted Cromly | 17T Freewheel |
| Cannondale Trail Sl 29er Singlespeed Mountain Bike | £599 | Not Specified | Optimized 6061 Alloy | Formula 20T |
| Creme Vinyl Solo Men black | £588 | 10.5 | Steel Frame and forks | 17T |
Best Classic Single Speed Bike
Fuji Feather City Bike
From £529
A city bike which combines track geometry, a lightweight steel frame p for urban riding. Looks great too!
Fast and fun, you’ll look great about town. It comes with a set of quality alloy rims, wrapped in Vittoria tyres for a smooth riding experience. The alloy track style drop bars, gives you track performance to beat the commuter rush.
Buy it now: Fuji Feather City Bike £529 at time of writing.
Most Lightweight Single Speed Bike
Aventon Mataro Fixie and Single Speed
From £749
This attractive Fixie & Single Speed bike looks sporty with the new carbon aero seat post
The frame is made from a lightweight high grade alloy A tapered headtube & fork means more stiffness and confidence when cornering at speed. We think at the price it offers great value.
Buy it now: Aventon Mataro Fixie and Single Speed £749 at time of writing
Best Value Single Speed Bike
FIXIE Inc. Floater Race white
From £439
The Floater Race has a classic racing handlebar perfect for riders who prefer a true road cycling position even on a single speed bike. Built with an aluminium frame it’s also very lightweight. Looks, price and lightweight frame make this one of our favourites.
Buy it now: FIXIE Inc. Floater Race white £439 at time of writing
Best Winter Single speed Bike
Genesis Flyer – Road Bike
From £749
A real classic looking model. This attractive bikes comes as fixed/freewheel options. Extra long Chromoplastic mudguards provide protection in all weathers. A lightweight, low-maintenance bike all year round.
Buy it now: Genesis Flyer 2019 – Road Bike £749 at time of writing
Toughest Single Speed Bike
Cannondale Trail Sl 29er Singlespeed Mountain Bike
From £599
Mixing a single speed and a Mountain bike gives you a Lightweight and reliable bike for everyday use at a great price.
If you’re you more of a fast trail rider looking for the flat out speed from 29”-wheeled Hardtail then this single speed bike from Cannondale could be a good option for you.
Buy it now: Cannondale Trail Sl 29er Singlespeed Mountain Bike £599 at time of writing
Best Looking Single Speed Bike
Creme Vinyl Solo Men black
From £588
The Creme Vinyl is a classic fixed-gear track bike. Built using steel frames and forks you can run them in fixed-gear mode or if you prefer, you can use a freewheel .
Buy it now: Creme Vinyl Solo Men black £588 at time of writing
Single Speed bike FAQs
How does a single speed bike differ from a normal bike with gears?
A single speed bicycle has a single gear ratio. They do not have derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle. In other words, you can’t change the gears on single speed bike making them simple to maintain but a challenge on those hills!
What is the difference between a single speed and a fixie?
Single Speed bikes are often confused with a fixed gear bicycle or ‘fixie’. Mechanically, the difference is not that obvious. On a fixie the single cog on the rear hub is connected to the rest of the drive-train. meaning when the bike is in motion you will pedal non stop.
Single speeds have a freewheel cog that rotates freely one way but locks up the other. This means that the cog will turn the rear wheel when you pump those pedals, but then freewheel when the rear wheel starts turning faster than the cog like you would get on a standard geared bike.
Having ridden both I’d say that single speed bike is far easier and safer to ride than a fixie. You can enjoy your ride without the constant worry of your foot slipping from the pedal and smashing your shin into the permantly moving pedals of the fixie!
How do single speed bikes handle hills?
This is a very common question. A lot of people, me included, are programmed to shift into a low gear (easier gear) when approaching a hill but this causes them to lose momentum and forces them to climb the hill at a slow speed. When riding a single speed bicycle you need to gain momentum when approaching a hill so you can keep your speed up and help make your pedal stroke much easier. Yes, the first couple hills might be a challenge, but you will get the hang of it. But, I wouldn’t recommend a single speed for a mountain stage of the tour!
Read more best buy guides from Trivelo…
If you’re looking for something different then take a look through our list of 15 of the best gravel bikes for a round up of gravel/adventure bikes for all budgets starting from just over £500. We’ve tried to find the best prices for all the bikes with latest deals for you.
If you are looking for road bike read the our most extensive list of road bikes for under £1000. Take a read and find all the full spec comparison and deals on each of the 19 bikes. Or head to our round up of the best mountain bikes if they are more your thing and 15 favourite MTBs for under £1000.
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