I'm in the process of converting my old Chameleon over to singlespeed. I've dabbled on the road with a single speed and absolutely love it.
Just wondering what gearing you all use? And any chance of pics for inspiration 😉
Does anyone solely run singlespeed all year through? I'm down on the South Downs so I'm a bit unsure what would be a good gearing to start with.... With regards to bottom brackets hollow tech 2 stylee is there anything you would avoid?
Many thanks for any advice and pics 🙂
Have a good evening!
My mate runs 34:20 round your way at this time of year
Try 32:18 on a 26" wheel. I use 32:17 but some of the longer hills get a bit of a struggle.
If you face booky get over to one cog cycling about 500 hardcore ss idiots from around the worls and a massive wealth of friendly knowledge and piss taking and lots of bits up for grabs to make your transition into a bearded ss god as painless as possible.
Also some truly amazing ss road cx and mtb pics on there
26" wheels here. 32x16. In lumpy nw leics.
i do just under 50% of my miles (so more in time) of my total riding on Ss.no idea about south downs riding. No problems with using ht2 bb, but I'm a spinner, not a masher.
photo of my lovely bike in profile
Only just gone to a SS in all this mud locally. Not too hilly but really heavy clay settled on 33x16 with Surly Singleator with push up spring in for better chain wrap round rear gear. Bar ends too on risers to really make folk frown with a long stem but then the bike was massed up out my spares box!
That's brilliant 🙂 thanks for the info! Aa that's a lovely looking bike 🙂 I'm into Facebook now! Thank you!!!!
26". currently it's 32:16 with a fair few hills in NE Scotland. Drop down to 32:17 if I'm feeling faint of heart.
Kona Kilauea.
Mileage - it does about 1/3 of my miles in a year? It's always on SS mode.
No idea about new fangled BB - mine is square taper 🙂
32:18 on a 26" wheel, South Downs, QECP, Lordswood all doable.
Tends to be more for the winter but do use it all year depending on my mood.
Any excuse to whore it out;
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I use 34 18 for off road. 34 14 for commuting on marathons. 29er.
I've got a 150mm FS and a SS HT, the HT sees a lot more miles than the FS.
Started SSing on a 26" with 32:18 up in the Lakes, now on a 29er with 32:19. It was rideable with a 18t sprocket but more enjoyable with the 19.
Here's a pic of my current SS, 2014 Unit. It's had a few changes since the photo was taken, namely Rebas, Elixirs and Pro II Evo's (in SS flavour).
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I love SS, it's frikin awesome!
Hi, I'm running 32:18 on a Swift which is fine most of the time round Lewes part of the South Downs. Only time it's not great is on road at the end of a loop or something when mates on geared bikes have the advantage. Off-road though it's more of an advantage and I spend less time cleaning the bike and shelling out for worn drive train bits. Thinking of trying 1x9 for the summer though just to compare.
I run 32:17 in the FoD and Wye Valley.
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4124/4986559791_d41ecc295a_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rick2/4986559791/ ]IMAG0139[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rick2/ ]Rick T.[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rick2/9637693558/ ]The red bikes[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rick2/ ]Rick T.[/url], on Flickr
32:16 on mine.
Mostly used for Dartmoor area and Mendips.
[img] http://cloud.danielgroves.net/Okcx+ [/img]
Ran 32:16 for my local commute and also for general off-road duties pre- Christmas.
It ran great round Apperley Bridge and the sides of the valley. Even had it up Shipley Glen until I did my back in
Once summer comes round again I'll be back on it, but it's geared for now
32/19 the now cause I'm getting hill fitness back.
This will be 32/16 next month cause I can manage.
Then 32/14 for trail centre smashing.
Funny fellow I am. Proud owner of two SS inbreds and a SS trials bike.
Singlespeeding all year for 3 years. Legs!
not sure of best way of sharing photo --
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It now has proper chainring, Pace forks (still rigid), in fact most of the contact points different - but still goes really, really well.
No photos but 34:17 on 26" wheels. It is fine for most things I ride. I can get round Kielder or Glentress on it as examples. Grip is as much an issue as anything away from manicured trails as I end up standing up to turn the pedals and the back end slides.
Off road singlespeed bike is 34-17. Urban commuter bike is 34-15 on slicks. May go to 14 on that. Both ridden more than any other bike. Both rigid and great to ride. Both on proper wheels not oversized things 😉
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/36574813@N06/8627199581/ ]Mud One[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/36574813@N06/ ]Birdage[/url], on Flickr
33-17
FOD and Wales.
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Hope HTII BB and Race Face Deus cranks with a KMC 9 speed chain, not a problem.
I'm a fat biffer.120KG
Guns like Hoy.
*2 out of 3 of these statements are true.
Thanks everyone 🙂 look amazing and appreciate the help. The bikes just look right if that makes sense?
Think I might start 32:18 to begin with.
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Mrs TJ and my off road singlespeeds.
Balls, that's a bit small......bugger
2:1 it's the lore. 32:16 or 34:17 or 36:18 are all acceptable.
Running 34 wibbly ring and 18 cog in the Peaks - seems just a wee bit hard, once I can ride again may try 34 wibbly and 20 for some of the longer hills.
Only ride SS year round, will have full SS on the road soon too so Podge can have a play.
Another newbie single speeder here..... Absolutely loving the silent bike. 32-18 29er but may gear down to 32-16 as a little spinny.
32x15 I'm a stubborn b*****d 😉
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/54931015@N07/10324708555/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/54931015@N07/ ]Plus one2010[/url], on Flickr
Oof, that chrome Genesis looks much better than my poo brown one
I'm riding 32:17 here in the Peak but thinking of going to 18 or maybe 19 as I'm trying to spin instead of mashing
And yay to a full suspension SS, I enjoyed mine at the world's two years back but it was a rushed bodge so had loads of room for improvement
Running a rigid singlespeed 29er on the Isle of Wight, so similar terrain to the South Downs, just not quite so much of it.
Gearing is 34:18, although the front ring is one of Tazzy's [url= http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=440&Name=Goldtec+OneKey+Rings ]GoldTec OneKey[/url] numbers.
Gets me up most stuff. Although the unholy trinity of clay-ey mud everywhere, howling winds and ebbing winter fitness have seen see me engaging the two-footed emergency gear quite a bit recently. 🙁
Any excuse...
33:18 for mincing round Cannock.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8094965452_fe8b5173c8_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/8094965452/ ]IMAG1123[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr
Ran my Giant as a singlespeed with a Rohloff tensioner for a while.
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I do wish I hadn't sold it 🙁
Currently riding this with the same Rohloff;
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I run 32-15, but I do live in Essex 😀
I saw a hill once, it was nice
Of the three full suspension SS I know of, all are giants
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Another inbred 29er.
Started off with 33:19 but now using 32:19 (Edinburgh). Also a good old square taper BB cos the cranks were cheap.
More fun than you believe:
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/kryton1957/9408627524/ ]Untitled[/url]
Genesis ioid Alfine with lightweight Hope/Crests and single speed sprocket and Soma Sparrow bars/Ergon grips for pulling on when climbing. Running 32:17. Everyone who sees it seemed to want a go. Must be the bars 😉
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Amazing looking bikes 🙂 for a shopping list I'm thinking I need:
Chain tugs due to horizontal drop outs
Bottom bracket probably XT. Will a saint fit my bottom bracket?
New 7-8 speed chain. I have a 9 speed one but I don't think it'll work
Spacers
Shimano DX cog
Will a DX cog be ok on a hope pro 2 free hub? Or should I be looking at something else?
Thanks again for the help and inspiration. Can't wait to get it finished 🙂
Yes your cog will work fine .. But maybe get a wide base sprocket to stop the alloy on freehub getting chewed ..
Superstar and halo(pricey) do them
🙂
9 speed chain will be fine at a minimum I would get;
single ring type front ring (ie. no ramps)
wide bottom rear cog
(on-one do both the above - I got good miles out of their stainless front rign and the groove armada cogs have a wide base to them)
Spacers
9 speed chain will be fine
look at Merlin for cheap BB'sa - they're doign them in their overstock sale.
you only need a chain tub on the drive side - again on-one do reasonable priced ones.
I'd suggest 32:18 for the south downs to start with/ winter then change to 32:16 as you get used to it/ and/or the trails dry out a bit.
Yes - wide based cog. Cheapo superstar, or much better get a surly or velosolo stainless steel one. Will be better value in the long run. Pair this with a surly, on one or velo solo stainless chainring and you'll have a good many miles out of them before replacement. KMC 3/32 chains too. Use lots of thin spacers, not those massive ones in the all-in-one kits. Gets your chainline spot on. Any crank/bb will do as long as it fits the cog.
Brilliant thanks guys 🙂 will have a butchers tonight and get it all ordered. Really looking forward to this!
wwaswas - Member
I always feel a bit guilty posting that pic when you are about...
34/18
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[i]I always feel a bit guilty posting that pic when you are about... [/i]
you shouldn't - I'm glad it's being used 🙂
I've got too many bikes so a second steel hardtail wouldn't get much of a look in when it came to playing eenie-meeny-miney-mo in the garage.
32 : 16 here in the Chilterns (on 26" wheels even though they're dead, apparently).
All ordered 🙂 mix from on one, chain reaction and velo solo.
Thanks for all the help! Managed to order two stainless steel chainrings from on one by mistake 🙁
Really appreciate everyone's pics and advice!
Photos when it's ready!
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/98737181@N08/12659366954/ ]IMG_20140220_132612[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/98737181@N08/ ]iamleegould[/url], on Flickr[/img]
32:18 going to 34:18 once I can figure the chain length out may need a half link....
29+ last summer
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/9052358997/ ]KramPug NB Law 007[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/9052344123/ ]KramPug NB Law 009[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
29er
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/11069563615/ ]26th Nov; RAIN! cycle 003[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
Road fixed
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/10611029556/ ]1st Nov; Fixie friday 014[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/10611069996/ ]1st Nov; Fixie friday 009[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
Also had a loan of this for a few weeks 🙂
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/11483793304/ ]21st Dec; Solstice Cycle 087[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/11571934773/ ]26th Dec; Jones Steel Truss on loan 011[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
All fun bikes, the 29+ and 29er both have gears back on them this now to be more versatile around here on the road and trails, but i will prob knock up another ridgid SS bike for the long grass of summer when they just keep going with out chain clogging etc 🙂
Kryton snap
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/parkesiemtb/11513265176/ ]image[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/parkesiemtb/ ]Parkesiemtb[/url], on Flickr