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So I’m building up a Charge Blender for pump track and riding with the kids (4-5 years old) and have sourced a straight frame with no cracks or dents.
The plan is to build it using mainly spares from an old 4x bike (Kona Howler) but single speed. It’ll have a set of Zee cranks on it which are probably 32t (possibly 34t). Can anyone recommend what size sprocket I’ll need on the rear? I won’t have to ride up anything a 5 year old can’t as if I want to do that I have a bigger HT.
Also are most cheap single speed kits much of a muchness or are there’s any good and cheap ones?
Ta
Tom KP
Doesn’t really matter. You won’t, or shouldn’t, be pedalling anyway.
What Tom said, the general idea is to ride it without pedaling, so you just need enough of a gear to get you there and back.
So either gear it really high (<16t) sprocket to make riding there stood up easier.
Or gear it really low (>20t) so it's enough to ride (slowly) but will stop you cheating at the track.
22t and swap the front for a 30t (you can get offset chainrings) probably make it an alright bike for messing about trials stuff too.
Sensible/normal option would be the 16t that comes with most kits. The quality of the kit doesn't really matter. The DMR tensioners are probably the most robust as they have no spring. Wider based sprockets wont chew up aluminium freehubs, but if it's a parts bin bike you might not be bothered.
Somewhere around 32/14 or 32/15 is a good place to start. On a 26" it's enough for me to ride up shortish hills but also sprint round a BMX track.
I’ve had a DMR one years ago and hated it. I’ll be using an old Stinger by the BB as it’s tidier and out the way (and have several in the garage from when people had 2 chainrings). I’ll try a 16t on the back. Cheers.
I also need to be able to potter around dirt tracks with the kids.