[Closed] Replicating a singlespeed with a geared bike?

Just stick it in a gear that you feel comfortable in and then replicate that on your SS.

2:1 so 44:22 32:16 22:11 which ever is available, move your shifters out of reach or gaffer tape them up otherwise you [i]will[/i] use them (i still reach for them when I'm on my SS bike)

Oh and don't give up after your first ride, might take a couple to get into it, if you're serious about it remove your gears so you won't be tempted to go back to them straight away 🙂

standard 26" gear ratio is 2:1

so use your middle ring and divide by two, then set it in the rear sprocket of the closest number of teeth.

wot he said.

try 32:16 or 32:18 (middle at the front and middleish at the back) to start with and see how you get on.

you will find it doesn't really replicate singlespeed as you've got all the weight of the geary bits and it's not as quiet.

It won't feel the same though. I don't know why, but it just doesn't.

Maybe it's the extra chain rattling about, or the weight of the derailleur, or just the fact that you if you had to you could change down, but it will just feel like a geared bike that's in the wrong gear.

Mystical, innit.

EDIT: you will also need to sport a beard or it doesn't count. One from a fancy dress shop won't do.

you will find it doesn't really replicate singlespeed as you've got all the weight of the geary bits and it's not as quiet.

+1

The singlespeed rides completely differently as theres about 500g missing from the rear axle, feels like it's skipping over bumps more and when climbing you can almost bunny hop onto rocks/roots rather than relying on momentum/pedaling to winch over them.

Just get a SS kit and tensioner, I'm sure they were £10 each at on-one, shorten the chain, remove the inner/outer rings, file down the chainring bolts or buy new short ones.

£20, and you'll save multiples of that in chains/cassettes.

Mystical, innit.

Dont keep up with a SS on an a Orange 5 is all I am saying on this issue

It feels very slightly different. Not a lot, just a tiny bit that you'll notice when you actually convert to a 'proper' SS setup.

2:1ish suits most people for SS - that's usually roughly middle/middle gears on a triple geared bike but try a couple of ratios around that to see what suits you best. Ignore any muppets who say that one particular ratio is 'right'.

Ignore any muppets who say that one particular ratio is 'right'.

[img] [/img]

Kermit told me always to use 2:1.

Funny, Miss Piggy told me she wanted me on a 1:1 or did that mean something different? 😉

[img] [/img]

Just buy a Singlespeed...

N+1, innit?? 😉

middle gear, about 2 or three cogs in on the back, (1:2) does feel different though, i put it down to how much the "stuff" seems to stretch when you have gears. on the singlespeed you seem have more punch. i am quite prepared to accept that that might all be complete bollocks and nothing to do with lack of gears (i don't use a tensioner, so the chain is super short). enjoy.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha I love it when a thread goes off piste 🙂

So I'll try middle ring, front and rear first, see how that feels. I'll promise to leave the shifters alone. Once I'm happy with my choice how do I work out what ratio it is when I set it up for real? I'm a complete numpty (muppet) so easy calculations only please 🙂

count the number of teeth ont he cog you've been using at the back.

Or look at the number stamped on it if its not too grimy.

Seriosuly just go singlespeed, £20, less if you scrounge bits off the classifides. Less than a night out, an you dont need to worry about chains slipping on worn cassettes. The forces in a singlespeed are higher (same power, lower RPM) and you realllllyyyyyyyyyy dont want it slipping!

It won't feel the same though. I don't know why, but it just doesn't

I'd agree with that... losing the rest of the gear associated gubbins makes a big difference, if only psychologically. I also think that riding a singlespeed with a chain tensioner feels somewhat different to one with track ends. Not quite so direct somehow...

Oh and no-one's mentioned beards yet... don't worry, a fake one will suffice until you ditch the derailleur.

Apologies for the thread hijack, but I am looking to turn my geared mtb into a singlespeed.

I am sure I'll need a chain tensioner, whats best? Jockey wheel or roller?

Can I use a standard front chain ring or would a long tooth be better? If so, from where should I get a long tooth?

Ta

I run a push down sprung jockey wheel tensioner from on-one.

Push up ones make wheel removal harder, and your unliley to slip the chain with good alignment, new bits.

I've got DH chainrings and geared ones, not much difference as long as the alignments good. DH rings work better for 1x10 though.

"44:22 32:16 22:11 which ever is available"
Personally I'd be avoiding 22:11 (small:small) as the chain crossing and the small casette sprocket I wouldn't have thought would be upto grinding away out the saddle

For 27spd, 3*9:
If you have an 11-32T 9spd casette (11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32*) for 2:1 ratio you will want 32T middle ring up front and gear 6 (16T), (4th smallest, 6th biggest)
If you have an 11-32T 9spd casette (11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34*) with a 32T middle ring 32:15 and 32:17 will be you closest to a 2:1 ratio obviously. You could also try the 44 up front (unless you have a 42T outer?) with the 23T out back should be a bit closer (but a tiny bit easier) than 2:1

12-36T I think will be gear 7 (16T) if its 12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36

12-34T, 11-30T, 11-27T or others I have no idea. You'll have to look at your casette

*If I remember rightly

Thanks James. That seems easy enough for me to work out.

The reason for me asking was simply because I didn't want to remove all the shirfters, mechs, cassettes and stuff to find out ss is/isn't right for me. I just thought If I could get close enough to experience it with my gears in place and then ride around for a while to see how I get on. If I like it with my geared set up, then removing it all and going proper ss should be even more fun/rewarding.

Thanks for all the help to what might seem like an odd question.