Singlespeed musings...
 

[Closed] Singlespeed musings.. (leaving myself a bit open to losing a bike here)

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Yeah I know I said a HT was pointless... but this is a rigid..a Singlespeed rigid actually.

And a 26". Even better.

Basically thinking of something as a winter laner/byway bike mostly, but also as a bike to take over to Burgundy in a few months, save having the MetaAM on the towbar for 2 days in service stations etc, rather have a cheapo bike on there.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-bikes-on-one-pompino-genesis-io-prices-reduced

FS: Bikes - On-One Pompino, Genesis io - Prices Reduced! « Singletrack Forum

So I can get this IO for £210 posted to me. If I then throw some brakes I have that I'd prefer, a saddle and maybe some nicer grips... I'd have a half decent little toy for winter ?

Any reason not to ?

Where I ride, or where I'm planning on riding it anyway, the toughest hill I plan on I get up in a 38T front with a 24 rear. However I have no idea how this pans out in SS world. All these ratios are a bit confusing.


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 4:34 pm
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Looks good for the money to be. Nearly bought one of those myself when I built my SS.

Most people start out 2:1 on gear ratio, and go from there. A 24t sprocket with that front chainring is an easier gear, so you'll probably find it a bit on the spiny side. Only one way to find out though, try it.

A 19t rear would make 2:1 with that chainring.


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 4:47 pm
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You could run a 38/24 on a single speed, but it's not very standard.

Otherwise you'd be looking something like a 30/18....

Bear in mind though, if you want to spin up a climb, to acheive that you'll need a gear which won't work on the flats/downs...

Singlespeeding, in my experience, involves a much larger gear than you may be used to, and mashing the pedals to get up a hill...

32/16 is standard. I'm using something like 42/16 on the road and I'm not a fit lad.


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 4:48 pm
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32/18 here using the 'sit, stand, or push' philosophy I can get up nearly anything. The iO frame is really nice and hard wearing.


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 4:52 pm
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Get the IO, use it for winter to save your beloved FS' bearings and gizmos, and keep you actually riding rather than grimacing out the window at a bit of rain...

Standard practice for a 26" SS is to start with 2-1 gearing (or 1.8-1 ish for the same sort of results on a 29er, about 52 gear inches basically) then just see how much of a jessie you really are and change the sprocket size accordingly...

32-16 is a good starting point, of if using that 38t chainring, start wih 38-19, don't forget the bike is a wee bit lighter (hopefully) and without the give of springy bits more of your effort goes into turning the back wheel rather than wibbling a spring...


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 4:58 pm
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Thanks lads. 🙂

I'll get it.


 
Posted : 05/06/2014 5:43 pm