I’m in the process of converting my old Chameleon over to singlespeed. I’ve dabbled on the road with a single speed and absolutely love it.
Just wondering what gearing you all use? And any chance of pics for inspiration 😉
Does anyone solely run singlespeed all year through? I’m down on the South Downs so I’m a bit unsure what would be a good gearing to start with…. With regards to bottom brackets hollow tech 2 stylee is there anything you would avoid?
If you face booky get over to one cog cycling about 500 hardcore ss idiots from around the worls and a massive wealth of friendly knowledge and piss taking and lots of bits up for grabs to make your transition into a bearded ss god as painless as possible.
Also some truly amazing ss road cx and mtb pics on there
26″ wheels here. 32×16. In lumpy nw leics.
i do just under 50% of my miles (so more in time) of my total riding on Ss.no idea about south downs riding. No problems with using ht2 bb, but I’m a spinner, not a masher.
photo of my lovely bike in profile
Only just gone to a SS in all this mud locally. Not too hilly but really heavy clay settled on 33×16 with Surly Singleator with push up spring in for better chain wrap round rear gear. Bar ends too on risers to really make folk frown with a long stem but then the bike was massed up out my spares box!
Hi, I’m running 32:18 on a Swift which is fine most of the time round Lewes part of the South Downs. Only time it’s not great is on road at the end of a loop or something when mates on geared bikes have the advantage. Off-road though it’s more of an advantage and I spend less time cleaning the bike and shelling out for worn drive train bits. Thinking of trying 1×9 for the summer though just to compare.
No photos but 34:17 on 26″ wheels. It is fine for most things I ride. I can get round Kielder or Glentress on it as examples. Grip is as much an issue as anything away from manicured trails as I end up standing up to turn the pedals and the back end slides.
Off road singlespeed bike is 34-17. Urban commuter bike is 34-15 on slicks. May go to 14 on that. Both ridden more than any other bike. Both rigid and great to ride. Both on proper wheels not oversized things 😉
Running 34 wibbly ring and 18 cog in the Peaks – seems just a wee bit hard, once I can ride again may try 34 wibbly and 20 for some of the longer hills.
Only ride SS year round, will have full SS on the road soon too so Podge can have a play.
Running a rigid singlespeed 29er on the Isle of Wight, so similar terrain to the South Downs, just not quite so much of it.
Gearing is 34:18, although the front ring is one of Tazzy’s GoldTec OneKey numbers.
Gets me up most stuff. Although the unholy trinity of clay-ey mud everywhere, howling winds and ebbing winter fitness have seen see me engaging the two-footed emergency gear quite a bit recently. 🙁
Genesis ioid Alfine with lightweight Hope/Crests and single speed sprocket and Soma Sparrow bars/Ergon grips for pulling on when climbing. Running 32:17. Everyone who sees it seemed to want a go. Must be the bars 😉
Amazing looking bikes 🙂 for a shopping list I’m thinking I need:
Chain tugs due to horizontal drop outs
Bottom bracket probably XT. Will a saint fit my bottom bracket?
New 7-8 speed chain. I have a 9 speed one but I don’t think it’ll work
Spacers
Shimano DX cog
Will a DX cog be ok on a hope pro 2 free hub? Or should I be looking at something else?
Thanks again for the help and inspiration. Can’t wait to get it finished 🙂
9 speed chain will be fine at a minimum I would get;
single ring type front ring (ie. no ramps)
wide bottom rear cog
(on-one do both the above – I got good miles out of their stainless front rign and the groove armada cogs have a wide base to them)
Spacers
9 speed chain will be fine
look at Merlin for cheap BB’sa – they’re doign them in their overstock sale.
you only need a chain tub on the drive side – again on-one do reasonable priced ones.
I’d suggest 32:18 for the south downs to start with/ winter then change to 32:16 as you get used to it/ and/or the trails dry out a bit.
Yes – wide based cog. Cheapo superstar, or much better get a surly or velosolo stainless steel one. Will be better value in the long run. Pair this with a surly, on one or velo solo stainless chainring and you’ll have a good many miles out of them before replacement. KMC 3/32 chains too. Use lots of thin spacers, not those massive ones in the all-in-one kits. Gets your chainline spot on. Any crank/bb will do as long as it fits the cog.