Cycling in London is a daily puzzle of traffic lights, potholes, impatient drivers, sudden rain, and the occasional blissfully quiet back street. It’s a city that can make cycling feel either liberating or exhausting, sometimes within the same mile. One of the biggest decisions London cyclists face early on is deceptively simple single speed or gears? Ask five cyclists and you will get five different answers, usually delivered with strong opinions and personal war stories. The truth is, both setups work in London but they work differently, and the best choice depends on how, where, and why you ride. Let’s break it down properly.
Understanding London’s Cycling Landscape
London is not flat, but it is not exactly hilly either. Most daily rides involve gentle gradients, short climbs, frequent stops, and constant changes in pace. You are accelerating away from red lights, slowing for buses, weaving through side streets, and occasionally grinding up a bridge that feels steeper than it looks. Add to that unpredictable weather, uneven road surfaces, and the ever present risk of bike theft, and suddenly your choice of drivetrain becomes about more than just speed.
Simplicity That Makes Sense
A single speed bike does exactly what it says on the tin one gear, no fuss. No derailleurs to knock out of alignment, no cables to stretch, no clicking noises that slowly drive you mad on your commute. In a city where bikes take a beating from rain, grit, and rough roads, that simplicity is a real advantage. Less to maintain also means lower long term costs. For many commuters, that alone is reason enough.
Great for Stop Start Riding
London riding is full of short bursts of effort. Single speeds excel here. They are responsive, light, and quick off the line at traffic lights. You do not waste time thinking about which gear you are in you just pedal. For riders doing shorter commutes or sticking to relatively flat routes, a single speed can feel refreshingly direct and efficient.
Theft Deterrence
While no bike is truly safe in London, a plain single speed often attracts less attention than a shiny geared setup. It looks simpler, cheaper, and less appealing to opportunistic thieves. That won’t stop a determined one, but it can help.
Bridges and Long Rides Hurt More
Those gentle hills you barely notice on a geared bike suddenly make themselves known. Bridges like Putney or climbs through parts of North London can turn into leg burners. Over longer distances, fatigue builds faster when you can not adjust your cadence.
Limited Flexibility
If your route changes often, or if you like longer weekend rides beyond the city, a single speed can start to feel restrictive. You are always riding on the bike is terms, not yours.
Built for Variety
London riding is unpredictable. One moment you are cruising along the Thames, the next you are climbing out of an underpass into a headwind. Gears let you respond instantly. You spin when it is steep, push when it is fast, and save your knees over the long term. For riders covering longer distances or commuting five days a week, this matters more than most people admit.
Better for All Fitness Levels
Not everyone wants their commute to double as leg day. Gears make cycling more accessible, especially for beginners or riders easing back after injury. They also help maintain a steady pace in traffic, which can actually make riding safer.
More Versatile Overall
If your bike does double duty commuting during the week, longer rides on weekends gears are hard to beat. You are not locked into one style of riding.
More Maintenance, More Hassle
London grime is brutal on drivetrains. Gears need regular cleaning and occasional tuning. Miss a few services and you will feel it in sluggish shifting and worn components.
Higher Replacement Costs
Cassettes, chains, derailleurs they all wear out eventually. Over time, a geared bike costs more to keep running smoothly, especially if you ride year round.
So Which One Actually Works Best?
There is no universal answer, but there is an honest one. If your commute is short, fairly flat, and predictable, and you value simplicity, a single speed can be brilliant. If you ride longer distance, deal with hills or headwinds, or want flexibility for different types of rides, gears will make your life easier. If you are new to cycling in London, gears usually offer a gentler learning curve. If you love minimalism and do not mind working a bit harder, single speed can be deeply satisfying. The best bike is the one that fits your daily reality not the one that looks coolest locked to a railing.
Final Thoughts
London does not demand one perfect bike; it rewards honest choices. Single speed and geared bikes both thrive here because the city itself is full of contrasts. What matters most is how your bike supports your riding, not how it performs in theory.If you are still undecided, the smartest move is to test both and see what feels right under your feet. Shops with real London cycling experience, like Chelsea Bikes, understand that the right setup is not about trends it is about surviving and enjoying the ride in this city.Whatever you choose, London will keep you pedalling, learning, and occasionally swearing at traffic lights. And somehow, you will still love it.