Singlespeed Advice

[mikee]

think i need to go back to 18/32 instead of 18/34
find it makes quite a differance on the climbing front
find spinning on the flat a bit more enjoyable too

or mebee its a case of toughen up princess

 

[mikefoster]

Currently running 33/18 on my 29er. It works well but sometimes you gotta get off and walk on the really steep stuff. (but thats allowed on a single speed in'it.) Did run 36/16 for a while on my old 26er but found it a but too hard especially in the mud.

Cheers Mike.

 

[Andy R]

It seems that I'm running the lowest gearing of any of you then - currently 32:20 on a 26" wheel.
It all depends whether you can spin well on the boring flat sections (and I think that I can) - on the rare sections of tarmac that I ride 16mph is comfortable enough.
I'll happily trade off speed on the road for usability in the real (off-road) world and not much that I ride is flat - it's all climbing or descending.

 

[Neil G]

Spinning gears is more efficient than pushing them and running SS does help get into doing this, notice it when I get back on a geared bike.

 

[mikee]

think it depends on the terrain you ride
around here there's lots of hills ,lots of tight trails a point and shoot
s/s is nearly ideal
if i rode somewhere more open id want more speed on the flat
i guess i tailor my trails to my bike a bit ,saying that i have no quarms
about taking it anywhere