I completely understand your take on the singlespeed perception, and I
have come to the same conclusions, being a single speeder on one hand
and a 19-pound dope-as-shit singlespeeder on the other.  I'm still
feeding the corporate machine (even if it is just Ionic).  I also have
heard it said that singlespeeding is an excuse for not keeping up on a
geared bike.  In response I affixed a sticker to my frame near the head
tube that says 'f' and the rest of it along the top tube near the seat
reads 'uckspeed'.  If speed is everything, get a crotch rocket and a
cappucino and ride it at 160 to Greeley and get yer ass kicked.
 

I've been riding my 1X1 a lot for a year down here in Tucson and all
over Arizona, and only two people have even noticed that its a single.
One guy was on a 250 Kawasaki and the other was walking a cocker spaniel
that was wearing a hat.  Point being that most places are a little less
full of critics (see the two old guys that sit in the balcony on the
muppets, look close, Merriwether is one of them) than Boulder.  In fact,
one local homeless guy named Tree who is always seen riding his jalopy
recently made a killer adjustment.  He said he was not going to play
into society's hand and be in a big rush to go anyplace, so he removed
his cranks and bottom bracket, and surfs the sidewalk with leg pushes.
Not 1X1.  1 divided by zero.  Infinity speed.  Its like subjective
calculus.  The area under the curve approaches wiley.
 

Even if the single is a bit slow, its still fun to blow by a fully
suspended, freshly shaved, dick duct taped up the ass for aerodynamics
kinda guy while I've got the floral print flapping and enough booze
vapor rising into the forest that even the ugly squirrels get laid.  The
important part is really buying the guy lots of drinks at the bar later
and taking his girlfriend home while he chirps in the parking lot.  That
kind of shit is my version of getting on the soapbox and preaching the
gospel.  The converts will follow when they realize that I am a man on a
bike but not a biker.
 

Nate B
Southwest 1X1 rep and stealer of hubcaps