what is 32:sixteen

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the simple answer

Like all simple answers it's not really simple and only adds to the confusion. 32:16 is simply the gear of choice for most mortal singlespeeders.

singlespeeds?

Singlespeeds are bicycles with just the one gear. Any bike, be it shopper, mountain bike, BMX, road bike, track bike, whatever is a singlespeed so long as there is no way of altering the gear ratios while on the move. In this world of fast paced technological advancement this may seem as a bit of a retrograde step. Well this site will try to explain to you why rejecting technology can be a good thing.

Singlespeeds can be made out of old bike frames and discarded parts. It's how everyone should get their first taste of it. But once you're out of the rat race of yearly obsolescence you'll either enjoy money in your pocket or be able to save up and afford nice quality parts that will last you longer.

Singlespeeds are more about attitude than the bike. Just take a look at our why pages for possible reasons.

But let's look at an example:

This is the banner for team Singlespeeders Of Destruction as used at the Red Bull 24 hour race. Note handy mallet used for applying team sentiments.

This is Uncle Tufty,a typical cheap first singlespeed. Uncle Tufty started life as a bog standard Dave Yates Diablo, but has had it's rear ends replaced with track ends for a paltry sum, which included a respray in Afrika Korps sand.

I was given it as a frame/fork combination and the seatpost came free as it's cold welded into the frame. And the titanium front chainring bolts were rounded off but didn't respond to drilling so it ended up with 34:16 gearing. Yes, I know we said 32:16 was the gear of choice but Black and Deckers finest couldn't get that chainring loose and once the freewheel was on it wasn't coming off either.

Stem cost £1.50 from the bargain bucket - "headsets are so retro dear". DX brakes were cheap to buy (but hideously expensive in brake blocks). Seat and handlebars were just led around. If it wasn't for the dedicated hubs (Hope singlespeed) and spanky looking - but surprisingly cheap deep section rims - it would have cost under 50 quid to get going.

And once Uncle Tufty was replaced by a dedicated singlespeed frame from Spot what happened to it? Well in the spirit of singlespeeding Uncle Tufty was passed on to someone else. For free. Sure I kept some of the parts I'd had to acquire (like those spanky wheels), but what other branch of cycling just gives bikes away?

late breaking news!

Uncle Tufty is back! In different garb. Fitted with drop bars a single front brake 700c wheels and a fixed rear gear it's going to be the winter transport of choice.