Singlespeed Advice

[lewis1641]

my experience. my area is generally flat and not technical. i can fairly easily run a 42/18 offroad on dry trails. for the mud i have dropped to a 39/18. i tries a 32/16 but found i was spinning out very easily and i also dont like the look of the bike with a tiny chainring. i'm a tart

 

[hamster]

I agree with Lewis, a big chainring is nicer, and it also reduces chain tension ans drivetrain wear. I run with a screw-in freewheel and would love to find a 20T one to fit a decent size outer ring...however, they seem as rare as chicken's teeth... :?

 

[mikee]

24/14 on my karakoram

34/18 on my other one but want to go 34/19 on it
its quite hilly round here

 

[velomaniac]

Living in similar terrain to Mikee I favour gearing around 1.75:1. Yes you spin out faster but as flat ground is uncommon round here you freewheel alot but can then get up a hill with less walking.

Your ideal gear is YOUR ideal gear based on where you ride and how fit you are

 

[ajantom]

.......would love to find a 20T one to fit a decent size outer ring...however, they seem as rare as chicken's teeth...

White Industries ENO freewheel goes upto 23 teeth. Expensive at about £65, but definately worth it. Will outlast you probably!

 

[hamster]

Ta for that, I thought White only did up to 18T

 

[djoptix]

I have 46/15 on my commuter and if anything it's a bit short but on my ss MTB I used to have 32/16 which was way too short. I think, before I took it to pieces, I was running 42/16.

Don't forget to try and use gears with no common factors to reduce wear! </fixed geek>

 

[Chris Hughes]

I run 32/16 on my Decade ss and find it perfect for all but the steepest stuff. On my commuter Langster I run the standard 42/16 which is perfect for fast flat work but quite hard on the climbs.

 

[GT-Steve]

wow, cheers for all the input guys

Having had a good few hours in the saddle now, it's definitely too fast for the type of terrain I'm currently training on so hopefully the 19t sprocket will make enough of a difference???

I think now, I'll start experimenting with different sprockets for the foreseeable, and keep an arsenal of differing gears in the spares box, and gear it to each individual ride.

Steve

 

[Neil G]

I'm running 36/13 or 12 but that's on a commmuting bike...still a really nice gear to spin though and good for quite a pace