Why starts feel different on one gear
Moving away from a stop is the moment when a single-speed feels most limited. A geared bike lets you shift to an easy gear while stationary or just before stopping. With one ratio, you start in whatever gear the bike has, which may be harder than you would like. The good news is that a few habits make starts smoother, and they are easy to practise.
This is general advice for beginner and intermediate riders. Practise in a quiet, flat, traffic-free place before using these skills at busy junctions, wear a helmet and make sure your brakes work.
Set the pedal first
The most useful single habit is to position your pedals before you push off. When you stop, aim to have your stronger foot’s pedal slightly above horizontal, towards the front, roughly where your leg can drive down and forward. Then, as you start, you have an immediate, strong push rather than a dead spot.
How to do it:
- As you come to a stop, back-pedal a little if your bike has a freewheel so the chosen pedal rises to the front. On a fixed gear, the pedals follow the wheel, so you adjust as you roll to a stop.
- Keep the other foot on the ground, with some weight on the saddle’s front edge or standing over the top tube, depending on bike size.
- Check around you, including over your shoulder, and look at the spot you want to ride to.
- Press down on the front pedal while lifting your other foot on to its pedal, then continue pedalling.
If you have toe clips or clipless pedals, practise getting the second foot into position before you try this in a crowded place. Take your time; there is no need to rush.
Choose a gear that suits starts
Your ratio is a compromise between starts, hills and top speed. The ratio, found by dividing the chainring teeth by the cog teeth, sets how hard the first pedal strokes feel. For example, 44 over 16 gives 2.75, and 44 over 18 gives about 2.44, which is easier on the legs when pulling away. If your routes include many traffic lights, steep junctions or heavy loads, an easier ratio may feel better. If your riding is mostly long, flat stretches, a harder one may suit you.
Changing a cog or chainring is a job for a bike shop or an experienced home mechanic, and you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A thoughtful choice here helps more than any technique. The idea of choosing a starting gear on a geared bike is covered elsewhere, but on a single-speed the choice is made once, in the workshop.
Smooth power
A jerky start often comes from stamping hard on the first pedal stroke. Instead, push down firmly but smoothly, pull the bars lightly for balance, and keep the front wheel pointing straight. The first few turns are the wobbly ones, because a bike is least stable at very low speed. Once the bike is rolling at a walking pace or faster, steering settles down.
A short standing start can help: let your weight drive down on the front pedal for two or three strokes, then sit. Be careful on slippery surfaces, where a hard push can make the rear wheel slide. In wet conditions, use a lighter touch.
Balance and low-speed control
Starting well depends on balance. Practise slow-speed riding in an empty car park by rolling at a crawl and keeping the bike straight. Look ahead, not at the front wheel, and keep your arms relaxed. If the bike begins to lean, put a foot down and try again. This is similar to the practice used to avoid low-speed tip-overs, and it is useful for any rider.
Wobbling can also come from setup problems, such as a loose headset, an under-inflated tyre or poor weight distribution from a bag. If the bike feels unstable, check these, and see a shop for any repair.
Starts in traffic
At traffic lights and junctions, being predictable is the goal. Stay visible, signal your intentions where appropriate, and do not pull away until you have checked behind and around you. Use your road positioning to keep clear of the kerb and drain covers, but follow local rules about where cyclists should ride. A slow start can annoy drivers, but it is safer than an unstable one. If a start goes wrong, it is fine to stop, put a foot down and try again.
Where you can, plan your approach to junctions so that you can roll rather than stop. Reading lights ahead, easing off early and arriving as the signal changes saves energy, because rolling through a gentle approach is much easier than restarting from zero. Never run a red light to avoid a stop.
Practice routine
A simple routine for a quiet car park:
- Ride a short loop, stop at a marked point and set your pedal.
- Start again, aiming for a straight, smooth first ten metres.
- Repeat several times, then try on a very gentle slope, if you have one nearby.
- Finish when you feel tired. Tired legs make for sloppy starts.
Hand-foot coordination improves with repetition, and a handful of calm practice starts is often enough to notice a difference. Everyone progresses at a different pace, so treat the routine as a guide rather than a target.
A final point on hills
Starts on slopes are harder, since the hill pulls you back. Use the brakes to hold the bike, set your pedal and release them smoothly. If it feels unsafe, walk to flatter ground and restart there. Your ratio will make an obvious difference here, which is one more reason to choose it carefully.