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I've created a bit of an abomination in the garage .... A SS CX bike based on a mtb.
I ride a little SS and stick with 32/15 for the flats around here.
I'm guessing I can gear up. I have a 42t front sprocket .... What should I go with out back?
42/16 seems fine for the road but too tall for off-road.
All thoughts appreciated.
Requests for pics of the beastie will be ignored 😉
I used to race on 39/16 but that's for an hour on flat courses.
Can't be worse looking than my M2 with drop bars, short stem, P2s, slick and semi-slick tyres, 42 / 14 I think ratio, in fixed gear mode. I won't show mine if you won't show yours 🙂
26" or 29r? how rugged do you intend to tackle? I had my general purpose bike set up singlespeed for a while, quite a low ratio as I chucked it up and down quite a lot of trails..
It's a 29er.
42:18 saw me round the black at GT.
38:18 for trail riding & the odd race.
The same ratio you'd ride if it was a SS MTB?
Bin dun.
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34x17 for hilly muddy courses and 34x15 for flatter courses. Surly sprockets run on a Hope hub, switch after a practice lap by moving the rear wheel to tension the chain. That's on a 26er. You are welcome to try 42x16, let me know how you get on 😉
34:18 here, I don't like walking up hills
39:17 does it for me, but it's mostly flat around here.
39:17 for me in Scottish CX races and the 3 Peaks. Anything smaller would see me annihilated on the flat by more people than already annihilate me on the flat. Steeper climbs are harder, surprise surprise. Makes the approach all-important. I don't mind a carry though, my bike doesn't weigh much!
got 39:16 on mine for bimbling about between roads and tame trails- if i was racing it would be much lower and id just spin my legs faster on the flats.
how ever
33:17 with a few hilly courses, it's occasionally too low, but it's fun dicing it with the geared boys.
40/18 on my SS disc Kite for racing, 19t for hillier/muddier courses & "normal" trail riding. Starts are interesting - can go from front row to mid pack pretty quickly if it's a long straight & the. Spend a couple of laps catching up. Starts into a climb are much preferred 🙂
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It's not CX unless....
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