A single speed question

[Max P]

32/15 or 32/17 which you liked averages out to 32/16 (or 36/1 of course (a 52" gear) - the old favourite for off-road as posted above. However, this is quite low for normal flat road use, especially if using road biased tyres - if you live in a very hilly area it may be OK but will be very spinny on any flats.

 

[Russell]

Don't fall into the trap of undergearing your bike. Singlespeeding is hard on the hills and many poeple go out for a first ride and think "bloody hell", but you soon get the legs for it. I was amazed how quickly my climbing improved when I started riding SS compared to geared.

 

[Harryburgundy]

Don't fall into the trap of undergearing your bike. Singlespeeding is hard on the hills and many poeple go out for a first ride and think "bloody hell", but you soon get the legs for it. I was amazed how quickly my climbing improved when I started riding SS compared to geared.

Agreed....38/16 works a treat for me. Mainly road including steep hills and not-too-hard off-road. Too low a gear and you'll just spin too much.

 

[kaiser]

What tyres are you thinking about? Rolling resistance could have a factor too. FWIW my single speed is a 2:1 (34/17) and its slow on the tarmac and great on the offroad, tyres are a large off road type. Also don't mind it being slow cos that was a some of the point for me.

 

[MJN]

Yeah,offroad singlespeeding is just for fun,and it is great fun+no worrying about chainsuch,which gear your in,chainslap etc.I used to go to work on a singlespeed hack bike(not fixed,have enough trouble with that on the track!)and I had 53x15 on that,you really had to attack the hills though but on the flat in traffic it was perfect.

 

[guybe]

wow, great responses and thanks for them, very interesting read, at my home area yes there is a few hills to attack which I need to choose a reasonable gearing and not that bothered to go fast on flat, I am a cruiser! kaiser, I will def use mountain bike tyres not slicks, like to have some grip when going on loose surface. MJN, you must have thighs like a bodybuilder using 53x15 gearing, lol! :shock:

 

[MJN]

Big thighs and one blomn knee(now fixed)

 

[richdirector]

RATIO GUIDE ONLINE

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key= ... Q&hl=en_GB

Published http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=perRA2hIfD5YHwRYw76L1FQ&hl=en_GB this

should help you work out speeds -

 

[richdirector]

I use a 32:16 offroad then change wheelset and have a 32:14 for commuting (32:12 would be better but tensioner then slips .... )
Amazing what you can climb singlespeed with 32:16 and a sub 19lb bike.

Rich

 

[xizang]

I was going for a single speed but due to knee problems I run a 34t on the front and a 9 on the back. Works for me