Kind of a what bike thread?

[martint235]

I currently commute on a single speed having switched to that late last year from a Giant road bike. However, I'm not enjoying my commute much. It could be because the drivers are crap but I think it's cos I can't get enough speed out of the single speed.

I also have in my stable a mid 90's Giant ATX 850 mtb. Now I used to commute on this many years ago, it's still in working order and still has Cityjet tyres on it. It's a 24 speed but commuting I've only ever used 21,22,23 and 24. I just took it out for a spin of two miles and I was shattered trying to maintain my SS speed up the mile long slight incline but it did seem better going downhill on it. The reason I stopped commuting on it was that my commute went up from 10 miles to 12 (which it still is) and it just felt too far although at that time I wasn't off riding 100 milers either.

So do I stick with the SS or kit the MTB out as the commuter and hope I get fit enough to maintain my current average speeds? I assume an added bonus would be that being able to push the MTB around 12 miles at 16mph will mean when I'm back on my road bike at weekends I'll be flying

P.S. I also have my eye on a disk braked Kaffenback road bike when my CW runs out in Sept

 

[biggs682]

go single speed

 

[ColinJ]

Why don't you just put a bigger gear on the singlespeed?

 

[jazzkat]

If you want more speed +1 for upping the gearing.
I've faffed about swapping gearing on my fixed and have settled on a gear that works for me. What I've found is that past a certain speed it's my ability to turn the pedals rather than the gearing that's the problem.
Maybe go up one tooth on the back (which could be a pretty big jump depending on your chainring) and see what happens.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Why don't you just put a bigger gear on the singlespeed?

^this.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Or convert the mtb to a 1 x 8 maybe with a close(er) ratio cassette and put a bigger chainring on the front so that your SS gearing is pretty high (lower gear) on the cassette giving you lots of headroom?

 

[raleighnut]

+1^^^^ but also go for thinner slick tyres pumped up "ard"

 

[martint235]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure about changing the gearing on the SS as although I don't have any big hills on my commute and I'm not a slouch going up what's there, going to a 48 front or 15 rear may make the hills there are trickier.

As to the MTB, the tyres are max as it is. And I'm not sure how skinny a tyre I can go to on a standard MTB 26" wheel.

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure about changing the gearing on the SS as although I don't have any big hills on my commute and I'm not a slouch going up what's there, going to a 48 front or 15 rear may make the hills there are trickier.

As to the MTB, the tyres are max as it is. And I'm not sure how skinny a tyre I can go to on a standard MTB 26" wheel.

26 x 1.25 should be about minimum but treadless, in conjunction with a less widely spaced gear block (11-21?)and dropping the 2 inner ring and front mech to save weight.

 

[MacB]

You could change the SS to a 1x6/7/8 fairly cheaply if it has the fittings or you could bung in a hub gear, maybe a Sturmey 3 speed geared high. Take whatever your preferred cruising gear inches are and make that your gear 2. So if you like to SS/cruise in 72 inches then your gear 1 would be 54 inches and your gear 3 96 inches. The spread is 75%, 100% and 133%, Sturmeys are relatively cheap, easy to maintain and pretty bombproof

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure about changing the gearing on the SS as although I don't have any big hills on my commute and I'm not a slouch going up what's there, going to a 48 front or 15 rear may make the hills there are trickier.

As to the MTB, the tyres are max as it is. And I'm not sure how skinny a tyre I can go to on a standard MTB 26" wheel.

Walks to shed...

looks at slicks...

Walks back...

Conti Grand Prix 26" 1 1/8th. I ran them on a rigid fork bike at 110psi front 120psi rear...

google says chain reaction sell them...