Single Speed Newbie ratio question?

jonno_01

After four months of using the mountain bike for my 12m commute from Roydon to Enfield Town, I realised that the whole cycling thing was more than just a passing fad (to the extent of sorn'ing the car), and decided I wanted to get something a little more suited to the job.

With the offer of the R2W scheme at work, and lots of reading, I ended up with a Specialised Langster in my possesion, my first road bike ever!....... the bike is awesome, like stepping of a tractor and getting into a sportscar, I don't know why I didn't do it a long time ago.

I know I took a gamble with the single speed, but did it with the attitude that I could always give it back after 12 months if I didn't get on with it. But as it stands, it won't be going back!

I've now got a good feel for the bike in standard form, but can't help thinking I need to gear it up a little as i'm topping out to easy on the down sections of my commute.

Currently the gearing is 42/16, and my obvious thoughts are to get a 44 chainring.

Having never had a road bike and never experimented with different ratios, would I notice much of a change in the 2 teeth?, or would I be better off jumping up to a 46 or 48?? I'd be a little gutted spending the money, time and effort on a 44 only to discover I need something even bigger?
On my last ride my speedo indicated that I avearaged 16.8mph (43mins) over the 12 miles, and I do not have many stop starts to negociate

I have the urge to get quicker and quicker! but would appreciate some thoughts and ideas from anyone who has played about with there gearing, before I start spanking the Card on bits I may not use!

Regards

Jon

il_principe

I use a 48 16 which is ideal I reckon.

Jon8a

How big are your wheels. WIth ratios it depends on whether you are using 700cc or 26".

I find my 43:16 adequate for my 4 miles. The problem with a higher ratio would be pulling away at junctions etc.

Look on sheldon browns website he gae lots of advice on things like this

patchy

Langster is 700C - I'm having a similar quandary, but my plan is to pull the big ring off my Focus Cayo compact when i upgrade to a full size double over the winter. Until then, i'll put up with the topping out (although i did get it up to 34mph this morning running it fixed, hehehehe)

2wheelzgood

Hi jonno.
I'm riding ss on my conversion. I had taken advice to run 42:26 but even on Leeds (hilly but not mega) I found I was having the same issues as you.

I am quite keen to try fixed now (will need a new bike as I don't trust a converted vertical drop-out frame for it).
So my tendency would be to try your current ratio on fixed (is the Langster a flip-flop hub?)

On fixed you ought to find it much tougher to go fast downhill of you want to control your speed and value your legs!

If you want to stay ss and gear up, the cheaper option is to get a smaller rear cog. I don't think you can get much smaller than 16 and 16 is a nice common size but what I recently did was to buy a £3 (5 with shipping) 14 tooth cog and see how I go. I am loving it plus it's way cheap than a £25+ chainring.

14 is the smallest I could find for a splined one to go on a shimano freehub and had to get it online as the LBS and ebay guys are out of stock.
But a freewheel sprocket may be easier to find?..I dunno.

2 teeth down on the back is about 14% harder, equivalent to about 6 up on the front. have a look at the gear calculator: http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/ ... pplet.html
each tooth down on the rear is about 1.5mph more at a given rpm.
I find it much better on down hills and flat, and yes I work harder uphill but still get the same speed even in the hotter days in the last fortnight since swapping.

My advice would be to try a smaller rear. or as said go fixed.

Nice one on getting into cycling and making the jump to one gear straight away. It's the way forward!

More guys who know about ss and fixed bikes are at the london fixedgear and singlespeed site: http://www.londonfgss.com/

easy

Patchy, that is some speed on a fixed gear! 8)

georgee

2wheelzgood, i've just ordered a 14t splines sprocket from charliethebikemonger, they also have 12t and wiggle stocks 13t I think.

2wheelzgood

Nice one. londonfixiebike and my Edin coop were out a fortnight ago. Google shopping search brig up a few. Thanks, it nice to know I can go lower.. is it the mx66 cog?

On second thoughts, not sure I'd want more than my current gear! I'll have thighs like the incredible hulk

patchy

2wheelzgood wrote:

Hi jonno.
I'm riding ss on my conversion. I had taken advice to run 42:26 but even on Leeds (hilly but not mega) I found I was having the same issues as you.

I am quite keen to try fixed now (will need a new bike as I don't trust a converted vertical drop-out frame for it).
So my tendency would be to try your current ratio on fixed (is the Langster a flip-flop hub?)

On fixed you ought to find it much tougher to go fast downhill of you want to control your speed and value your legs!

If you want to stay ss and gear up, the cheaper option is to get a smaller rear cog. I don't think you can get much smaller than 16 and 16 is a nice common size but what I recently did was to buy a £3 (5 with shipping) 14 tooth cog and see how I go. I am loving it plus it's way cheap than a £25+ chainring.

14 is the smallest I could find for a splined one to go on a shimano freehub and had to get it online as the LBS and ebay guys are out of stock.
But a freewheel sprocket may be easier to find?..I dunno.

2 teeth down on the back is about 14% harder, equivalent to about 6 up on the front. have a look at the gear calculator: http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/ ... pplet.html
each tooth down on the rear is about 1.5mph more at a given rpm.
I find it much better on down hills and flat, and yes I work harder uphill but still get the same speed even in the hotter days in the last fortnight since swapping.

My advice would be to try a smaller rear. or as said go fixed.

Nice one on getting into cycling and making the jump to one gear straight away. It's the way forward!

More guys who know about ss and fixed bikes are at the london fixedgear and singlespeed site: http://www.londonfgss.com/

easy

Patchy, that is some speed on a fixed gear! 8)

It's not all down to me – it was Euston road underpass, pedalling like billyo. I think i terrified some taxi drivers as i shot out the other end still doing about 25, cackling madly...

thanks for the tips btw - esp on the london fixie group!