Retrobike newbie Single Speed Question

[bertbean]

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to this site and retro mountain biking. A couple of months ago I found a photo of my steel framed Giant Team Atlanta that I had in my teens and decided I'd love to try and find one again. During my searches I came across a Marin Palisades Trail from 1991. As I currently ride a 2009 version of this bike I decided that I would buy it despite the stuck seat post and lack of a few parts. £18.50 later and it was mine. The seat post came out with a bit of effort and a lot of Caustic soda. After a little look around google I found a link to this site and a nice example of a Marin Pine Mountain which early in the post was a single speed. Seeing that bike has inspired me to go single speed on my own as its going to be used for commuting and pub runs........ anyway finally to my question..
What ratio should I go for when it comes to sproket/chainring? I don't have a crank the moment so I'm open to suggestions for the best ratio. I live in Leigh-on-sea, Essex so its pretty flat but I'm not that fit so don't want to kill myself on the first hill I get to.

Cheers and sorry about the essay.

 

[kram245]

If you look up Sheldon Browns site, gives lots of advice on ratio's. Are you planning on taking it off road? For road use, I find a 42 chainring and a 16 tooth cog at the back does the trick. I've had 50 KPH downhill, spinning line a loon, though, buts its not too bad on modest hills. I do live in Suffolk, so they are fairly modest!

 

[mk1Matt]

I went on Sheldon's site when I first went to SS. He recommended first timers to use a 2:1 ratio, which is what I did (36:1 and it was great. I struggled a bit on some steeper hills (I'm fat and lazy though) and just coasted down the other side.

I'll be doing the same on my next build.

 

[beagle]

Like Matt said, most people seem to use a 2:1 ratio at first.

 

[bertbean]

Cheers fellas. I'm bidding on a crankset so if I get that then I'll decide on a sprocket size.

 

[bryan555]

If you're riding on the road you'll want bigger than 2:1, you'll soon spin that out.

Sounds like a fun project!

 

[JamesM]

2:1 is for off road. On road around 2.6:1 for 26" wheels works well, like the 42:16 someone already mentioned. I run 44:17 and it's a good gear for most things. I can get up all but the steepest hills and go along at an okay speed on the flat.

 

[JamesM]

For road use, I find a 42 chainring and a 16 tooth cog at the back does the trick. I've had 50 KPH downhill, spinning line a loon, though

I once did 27mph on the flat on my offroad SS with a 32:18 only for a few seconds though.

 

[feetabix]

2:1 as said for an mtb.......I run my 'dale sm1000 on road tyres and have settled on 48:18 as about right......it gives me a workout without being unusable when the road points up.......f