I'm with bez, my ss is 46 something, most i did was about 40 miles on it. Changed to gears to prep for a half ironman and find it so different
Bike Forum
Riding Singlespeed on the road
-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
ran around a 2:1 SS mtb for about 6years now as a town/ shopper/ fill in bike for when the big bike is under maintaince (half the bloody time!).
running it round on the road bloody sucks though, so slow and essentially undergeared.
ran a fixed conversion road bike around for a few months, especially when visiting cities and thats been great, helped build up the early season muscles and zero maintainance required. Now its drier the geared road bike comes out. But don't really see the point in a singlespeed road bike, unless its a zero maintainance shopper.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My Roadrat has been ss for several years. Did all my road training for kielder on it last year so up to 100 mile rides. 42:16 - wouldn't go higher as commute with panniers full of books.
I'm looking at getting geared bike though - I want to go faster on road on new, longer commute.
Off-road I hate gears. Recently built a 1x9 but find myself in same gear all the time.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i commute from 1 end of bristol to the other so have a very spinny gear 39-16 as the only flat bit for me is in the center whare the trafic is riding as s singlespeeded carrera road bike with spacer kit managed to get magic ratio luckely so no tentioner.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Um 48 : 17 doing 34mph ... that's some serious rpm or fishermans tales
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm a lightweight (SS-wise, not physically).
26" wheeled 'urban' MTB SS - running 40:16 which is fine for pootling to and from work for me. not massively fast on the flats but easyish on the few hills we have round here and good for the plenty of wind we enjoy.
slainte
rob
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm also Bristol, so 40 X 16. We have a few hills.....
Posted 1 year ago # -
42:13.- parts bin build...short 5 mile blast to work can be fast or easy depending on your mood. - no real hills to speak of
Chuck it in the bike shed, dont worry if it gets kicked about, ride home, repeat.Posted 1 year ago # -
42:20 on a loaded surly cross check, 7 days to ssec in Belgium.
That is a good offroad or loaded bike onroad ratio.42:16 or 48:18 on a surly steamroller. It works. Attack climbs and carry your speed, don't touch the brakes
Just like offroad ss. I don't find it tedious but it's pretty twisty and hilly round here. If you live in Norfolk you might find it repetitive.
One of the advantages of offroad ss is your gears don't get f**ked up with mud. This is not relevant on road as gears seem to last years.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have a Langster for sale at the moment. has a flip flop back wheel with fixie one side and ss freewheel on the other. Dead easy to use and easy to swap gears.
size is XL which is a 58 seat c-t and 58 top. Polished frame. All good condition. Used mainly as Fixie on road but not had much usage except when my winter bike was in need of tlc. Being away with my job more means I 'm just not around enough to use this as well as other bikes I have in garage.
I have an advert in the For Sale section, just search Langster.
The frame has just actually been dropped off at Specialized shop as when cleaning for sale I found some corrosion, I think, and they are going to try to get a frame replacement. Therefore the bike for sale will hopefully be a brand new frame with the original wheels and bits(not that there are many bits on a fixie/ss).
Posted 11 months ago # -
Running 42:18 on my Roadrat and (just) manage a very hilly 5 mile commute here on Dartmoor. About 5 mins quicker than on a geared hardtail too - much more fun although admittedly more knackering. If I'm honest there is one hill on the way back which I have to push for about 100yds, but it's one of those classic Devon inclines where you struggle to keep the front wheel planted anyway.
I actually bought all the kit to convert the RR to geared before we moved here, but not sure I'll bother as it's too much fun as it is. I still like having the geared bike as a backup though.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I'm also Bristol, so 40 X 16. We have a few hills.....
a few... i have glos rd that one long hill in the morning and redcatch/totterdown on the way homePosted 11 months ago # -
I too have a part of Glo road, and up Cromwell Road every day...
Park Street every time I go up to Ashton Court after work or for the Monday Cheesy rides.........
Posted 11 months ago # -
I commute on singlespeed using 32:16 ratio. In winter most of the route is on road / tarmac
Posted 11 months ago # -
48-16 on my langster was great for relatively flat Northamptonshire. Not quite as fast as my geared bike, but it definitely made me work hard on climbs and improved my fitness loads.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I don't how people running 48 16-17 can manage to maintain 90rpm for any length of time....thats 35mph (57kph)!!!
I ran 39-16 all last summer for a 19mile (one big hill) commute and averaged 28-30mph average most days,which is about the same average speed as the 3rd cat crits I race.
Or do you just pedal REALLY slowly??Posted 11 months ago # -
im a spinner so the 49-16 gearing suits me fine avrg about 18-25mph most of the trip apart from the one steep hill on way home which im strugling with atm
Posted 11 months ago # -
My morning commute is ~20 miles and it takes me just over 2 hours usually, giving an average speed of around 9mph
On the way home I take a flater multi-user route and cover the 18 miles in around 1 hour 40 minutes.
Looks like I would be getting overtaken quite a bit if the respondants in this thread lived round my way!
Posted 11 months ago # -
Spinner?! 49-16 at average 21mph is average cadence of 54rpm.....your knees must ache a bit
Posted 11 months ago # -
all that gumf dousent really bother me it gets me 15 miles and still able to work after its actualy the only road going bike iv owned that i am fully happy with bar the creaky bb lol
just one guy on a cinneli(sp) track bike on my rout i want to try and catch...
YEAH RIGHT !Posted 11 months ago # -
Rorschach - Member
Spinner?! 49-16 at average 21mph is average cadence of 54rpm.....your knees must ache a bitHuh? Which idiot taught you maths?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Hang on I'll get a pen this time...
49-16=3.0625
700c @23c=2.1m dia
54 revolutions per minute
Divide by 1.6 for mph
Yeah you might have a point Mr Barnes
A hundred lines "I will check my workings before posting on STW" o.k??Posted 11 months ago # -
ok, a 3 to 1 ratio with 700c wheels (48-16 or close)
90rpm is 20ish mph which is the kind of tempo you can bowl along all day
140rpm (which is the maximum that an average joe can either hold on the flat for shortish bursts or live with downhill without getting flicked over the handlebars when riding fixed) gets to around 30mph
note that I'm not being too specific on the numbers, because the odd tooth change doesn't make that much difference and your cadence goes up and down but you don't worry too much about it cos you have no choice
I ride fixed in and out of work every day and year round, I'm no riding god but I find it good to keep me fit and it's beautifully low maintenance
Posted 11 months ago # -
to u lol dident think it was that bad
Posted 11 months ago # -
Yeah you might have a point Mr Barnes
I've been drinking for several hours this evening as well
FWIW, I run 48x19 with 25mm tyres on my pompino. I need to find another 7rpm from somewhere to break the 200rpm barrier (or find a bigger hill)
Posted 11 months ago # -
At 200rpm the flux capacitor kicks in and you go back to the future...
Posted 11 months ago # -
48/18 is my usual. CTBM's comment about attacking hills is bang on.
I've done some reasonable length rides in the Highlands on my single speed, eg Dingwall/Ullapool/Ledmore/Bonar/Dingwall, and also the Bealach sportive to name a couple.
Posted 11 months ago # -
700c @23c=2.1m dia
Where "dia" = circumference?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Its shorthand for us drunk people....
Posted 11 months ago # -
42/18 fixed here. Find it's perfect for recovery rides & working a spin. Hit 34mph down hill last week according to my computer - don't know what cadence that is but it made the other rider I caught & pass lol!
Posted 11 months ago # -
usedto, then i got an alfine hub, best of both worlds.
Posted 11 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
