Advice on fixed/ss

chewa

I'm building a s/s/fixed for the winter.
Spec is a Holdsworth Mistral 531 frame, I've built my wheels (front Campag Record qr high flange hub, mavic Ma3 32 hole - rear Maillard flip flop hub same rim and 32 spoke).

I'm getting perfect chainline using the inner chainring on a Stronglight Escape chainset so will source an outer Chainguard to replace the smaller ring I'm using as outer ring there.

Bars are Profile on a Cinelli classic stem, I'm running two Alhonga deep drop double pivot sidepull calipers to cope with the change to 700c.

My question is re gearing. Should I run different gearing on the fixed as opposed to the freewheel side? I intend to start on freewheel to get used to s/s and then flip over to fixed. Freewheel is a 16t Diamondback and I'm running a 44t chainring at moment.

Does fixed mean I should go for slightly higher or lower or does it not matter?

meagain

As a generalisation, I'd say that most folk (me included) would tend to run a slightly higher fixed than single free. One T difference will also mean swop without altering chain length! So...a 15T fixed?
I at least can get up any given hill on a higher fixed than free!
Good luck!

chewa

meagain wrote:

As a generalisation, I'd say that most folk (me included) would tend to run a slightly higher fixed than single free. One T difference will also mean swop without altering chain length! So...a 15T fixed?
I at least can get up any given hill on a higher fixed than free!
Good luck!

That's what I thought. Thanks for the input.

It's a scrappy old frame - paintwork all chipped, but it has a certain elan now it's almost finished.