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Having been persuaded that my daft idea to buy an Ultegra groupset for my road bike is a daft idea, I've turned my attention to singlespeed bikes. I like the look of the Genesis Day One 10 bike which would cost £675 from Evans Cycles. That would leave me with £475 to buy some wheels for my nice road bike. It would be used for a fairly flat commute a few times per week and possibly the odd weekend ride.
Anything else worth looking at before I take the plunge?
Do you really want a singlespeed???if so fine but most people I know in the past have had them and soon sell them because they don't have too much use else where I have owned two over the years for commuting but soon got rid of them Gary Fisher marlin and giant cruiser.
Day One is a great choice, been riding one for commuting and pub duties around Edinburgh for 4 years.
Don't listen to dobiejessmo. They are ace. I've had one since the first silver flat bar version (converted to drops) and it's almost always the bike that gets dragged out of the shed for a road ride. Done everything on them from daily commute, though stand in MTB duties to big days out, (fixie Tour of Flanders sportive, twice) Can't ever see myself not having one as a utility bike+, unless I get a hand built posh steel version of it which I've been contemplating for a while.
Use mine daily for flat commuting. Can't find anything better for the money really. Bit lardy and the front fork is not particularly compliant on my 2014 model. I changed to a dynamo front hub and xt rear with singlespeed cassette kit.
I'd be quite tempted by the cotic road rat too. Maybe someone can offer a direct comparison of the two.
I would not personally commute on a single speed - just too slow. If its flat and you can gear accordingly then might be OK I suppose. I have used a geared Day One for commute in the past and it was fine, if not a bit heavy.
just too slow
Not particularly unless you resort to getting off and walking. You just learn to love the gurn.
I had one and it was great. Just a little too small unfortunately. Replaced with a Roadrat which I just didn't get along with. Never figured out what it was, but just didn't like riding it. Then got an Escapade in SS guide and really liked it. Down to just the MTB now though due to cash and space issues. The Day One would be on the short list if I was looking for a second bike
Kona Paddy Wagon, Better steel and better geometry. Takes mudguards fine with 25c tyres.
Unless you already have a bike along these lines, I would get something like a Voodoo Marasa or Voodoo Bizango, £675 for the Day One shows just how bonkers bike price hikes have gone in recent years... IIRC it was ~£525 a few years ago!
Can’t ever see myself not having one as a utility bike+, unless I get a hand built posh steel version of it which I’ve been contemplating for a while.
I just did essentially this and the comparison does show a rather stark contrast in "feel" between the Day One steel and heavy bits and posher versions of the same. My 2015 (I think) Day One weighs a ton. That said, a wheel upgrade would've made a big difference I think and the Day One was confirmation for me that it was the right type of bike for a flat commute and after work local riding including a bit off the road, with nearly no maintenance.
Mine did what I wanted for £600 but I felt it worth spending more for better.
Thank you for your contributions. Yes, I definitely have an itch to scratch with a single speed road bike. I looked at the Voodoo recommendations. I'm somewhat confused. They appear to be geared mountain bikes(?).
It really does have to have drop bars if it's going on my list of possibles. Kona Paddy Wagon doesn't seem to be available in its drop bar itineration anymore. The Day One seems to be the one leading the hunt at the moment. I'll be purchasing this weekend. I'm looking forward to riding it to work next week.
Does the current version come with mudguards? If not I would highly recommend them.
Yeah, think they do. They've changed the use case from SS cyclo-cross to city bike over the years.
@lucket, makes sense that the bike I use most, (probably 75% of the miles I do) would be something a bit special.
Definitely distant and gradient dependent in my opinion. I only have to commute 2miles to work on the flat, so a SS makes loads of sense. If i still lived in Brighton and had to go E to W through the Steine I'd not even consider it lol.
I have Kona Paddy wagon love it to bits.
I’ve got an alfine day one converted to flat bars. Used as pub/shopping bike. It’s very heavy but nice (steel) ride. But I’d think twice about a long hilly ride on it!
For that price you can get a geared road bike from halfords,, ribble or planet x.
I'm having a look at a Day One this afternoon. Thanks for all the responses.
"For that price you can get a geared road bike from halfords,, ribble or planet x."
I don't want (another) geared road bike or (another) geared mountain bike but thank you anyway.
For that price I'd either be happily* hunting retro/vintage handbuilt steel bargains ripe for restoration/singlespeed conversion or else finally getting to restore and singlespeed this old Raleigh Sirocco given me by a friend 👍🏼
*Read 'obsessively'
The now
The dream
I do admit to having a bias for polishing nice old stuff and believing in magical steel pixies. Recently culled a few bikes, one being a (531 Super Tourist tubing) British Eagle from handbuilt, nicely-detailed lugs times. The Genesis (Mjolnir x2butted tubing) bike that part-replaced it, although ok, is many degrees more 'meh' than 'magic'. Feels more like a 501/500 mix. It probably is pretty much that. Anyway, magical pixie dust rules. As long as it's rust free and doesn't cost the earth. Shiny silver alloy sparkles in the sun. Handbuilt lovely-lugged frames of yesteryear float over Britain's potholed landscape. Rugged yet airy, spirited yet stalwart. Magic.
^*edit - forgot to credit and link that Sirocco project. It's not exactly singlespeed, but a S2 kickshift 2-speed conversion
Worth a read. I'll prob go singlespeed first to keep it simple and light, but 2spd or 3spd hub looks like an interesting backup option. I like the idea of one speed for hills and one for everything else. Have a 3-speed utility/cargo bike and hardly ever if at all use 2nd. All downhills are freewheeled though 🤣
Flat terrain SS sounds perfectly doable if choosing the right gear but obv you lose acceleration from lights etc.
I have a relatively flat 7 mile commute into London, I use a Langster on about 68" fixed with a nice brooks saddle. Great bike, light, fast and conmfortable. Don't really see the point of single speed for a flat commute, just go fixed!