Thinking about setting my ‘runaround’ (on and offroad) to single speed but what’s best at the back ? 15, 16 or 18 ? And up front ? 32, 34 ?
Also I’ll need a chain device I guess, anything else ? Recommended chain ?
It’s for a Cannondale Chase, if that helps. Cheers guys….

depends where you live really
i started on 32 16
now run 32 18 and use a half link chain

how hilly, how much offroad and how much on road. I do some fairly steep hills on the road and manage 42:16, spin out at in the mid 20’s mph.

Off road that’s a too big a gear to use although I can manage tow paths.

I’d get a 34 up front and then a 14,16,18 sprocket set from ebay (about a tenner) before deciding which one you like.

53:11 is a mans gear

scrap that – THIS is a mans gear:

qwerty – Member
scrap that – THIS is a mans gear:

That’s his mountainbike – you should see his road bike 🙂

Have used – 34:16 (great round herts/thetford forest), 32:16 (bit of a compromise for me), now using 34:18 round Devon (Woodbury mostly) as I’ve turned into more of a spinner than a stomper.

You’ll probably want to tinker with your gears as you go. My first set ups were dictated by chainstay length rather than desired ratio.

Cheers guys. Good idea jonb about the e-bay bit. I’ve tried just sticking to one gear on a ‘geared’ bike but I always end up cheating, so I’m thinking, if I actually bite the bullet and set it up I’ll have no choice.
Okay, maybe no knees left…..????

single speed gearing is a personal thing, some fast guys like shaggy, Phil, and the LaLondes all use around 55 inches( around 34×16 ) but equally fast guys like Buck Keich use 34×18, so its what ever you prefer to push, spin, mash, whatever your legs can handle…..

32:16 here.

I spin out at 28mph, well I can’t go any faster than that. but i only really use it at Cannock,

if your starting i would say 32:17 and work your way up