Singlespeed conversion.

Simonb256

Im seriously tempted to convert my road bike to SS.
However theres one thing that semi-concerns me.

I commute 25miles each way, and its very very hilly. Though I can still slowly get up everything using the 52t ring up front (but im using the whole cassette 12-23).

So a 48 tooth or something up front and 16 rear should be amble shouldn't it? (the SS kit im getting only comes with a 16t, but can change it after)

wgwarburton

5o miles a day is a lot, especially if it's hilly.

Why is it that you want to go singlespeed? It might be easier to advise if we knew what your motivation was.

Cheers,
W.

Colzer1

check out Charlie the bike monger: http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/

you can find out everything you need to know about single speeds. I ride 20+ miles each way to work on a single speed and love it. my route is mixed with hills and fast downhill sections, you just learn to cycle up the hills and spin out like mad when going down.

Clever Pun

work out a potential gear ratio and change your bike to that gear and ride to and from work

see how you get on with hills and the flats

biondino

Seems kind of bloody-minded to me but each to his own! Gears are designed for hills, after all.

Simonb256

WGWarburton wrote:

5o miles a day is a lot, especially if it's hilly.

Why is it that you want to go singlespeed? It might be easier to advise if we knew what your motivation was.

Cheers,
W.

50 miles is a long distance yes, but still it is a very nice ride.

I was looking at SS due to the simplicity, low maintenance and it would be of benefit to my health.

wgwarburton

Hi,
OK, cool. I usually commute on one of two fixies- a nice light one when the weather's OK and a cheap hack for winter. I'm on the hack today :-( It's chucking it down...

If you can cope with your commute on one of your current gears, then you're sussed. Before I went fixed I spent a few weeks commuting without changing gear, then took the mechs off and shortened the chain. When I committed to fixed I found it was actually easier than SS because I wasn't having to push to prove I could spin the gear. That wouldn't be an issue for you, though, unless you go for fixed (which sounds like it would either get you seriously fit or kill you!).

Have a look at the Rabbit calculator to see equivalent ratios to what you have:

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/ ... pplet.html

Let's say you can do the commute on your current 52x21. That's what I would call a '66 inch' gear (on a 700x28c, my tyre of choice). Set the sprocket button and you can see that a 40T chainring gives you the same gear ratio with the 16T in your SS kit.

Personally, if I were in your shoes I'd probably look at a hub gear. A simple 3-speed hub on a drop-bar road bike is an unusual sight but I think it would be much easier on a long, hilly commute than the SS and be significantly lower maintenance than a derailleur setup. Just a thought.

Cheers,
W.