Hi All,
I have a singlespeed Roadrat that I used to use for my commute. However I have now moved and can't commute on it anymore. Warrington to Liverpool is a bit too far for a commute for me.
I would like to convert it to a geared bike. Does anybody have some advice on the best bits and best way to do it.
Or am I best selling it and buying a road bike instead?
Thanks in advance.
Aram
It kind of depends what you want it to be really. A Rat's never going to be as fast as a full-on road bike, but it's quite versatile - I've run my singlespeed with flat bars, 1x9 with flat bars, singlespeed with drops and at the moment it's built with drops and a sort of quasi compact double using mountain bike cranks and a 34/48 ring combination and a road cassette, er, 11:26 I think. I found 1x9 pretty good as a run-around/training bike with flat bars, had a 42 on the front (mtb big ring) and an 11:34 on the back. Managed everything in the Peak quite happily including the likes of Winnats and similar. Basically though, I just used what was lying about and it none the worse for it.
Drops or flat bars? If drops - Sti's will be more useable, but bar end shifters will be more wallet friendly. The mechtug is an faff to begin with, but you get used to it soon enough.
Mine is great for anything from the filth of Epping forest to the Dunwich Dynamo - wouldnt have it any other way!
I just run my rat with a mix of 105/ tiagra/ sora, 2x9 with a compact no problem.
I'm running flat bars and 1x9 with a road cassette and 105 rear mech, Shifter is a deore MTB one.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/5400183679/ ]P1030364[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
Decide what you want to use it for first. I have road bikes for long, fast road rides but if I just want to go for a quick 12-15 hack then I'll often grab the 'Rat.
Personally if I was planning to get into proper road riding I'd get a standard road bike. The Rat is a superb concept and well-executed but I think it's a compromise for full on road riding IMO