Make shift ss/fixed

[AndyPeace]

Made an attempt last year to make a 'fixie' just for fun... but it has come in handy in this bad weather... though I did chicken out of riding fixed after my first mile in the snow and thanked myself for putting a flip flop hub on the bike! The gear ratio feels too high for the low pressure studded tires, my poultry legs and any climb above 3%. I'm gonna try anyway, but any reason not to use a chainring from a triple? currently the bike runs on 38x16. half tempted to stick with the ratio, to work my legs, but I know I won't be thinking that in the morning on the way to work

 

[smokeysmoo]

38x16!, your legs must be going like an egg whisk - unless you only ride up steep hills.

I ride 44x16 on the road, and even then only because we have some hills round here.

 

[AndyPeace]

38x16!, your legs must be going like an egg whisk - unless you only ride up steep hills.

I ride 44x16 on the road, and even then only because we have some hills round here.

I could happily do that on roads, with properly inflated tires, but with winter marathons I want to run psi as low as 25, on weighty studded tires... which adds a lot of work, or do you disagree? Maybe I'm just lazy

 

[smokeysmoo]

I could happily do that on roads, with properly inflated tires, but with winter marathons I want to run psi as low as 25, on weighty studded tires... which adds a lot of work, or do you disagree? Maybe I'm just lazy

I don't disagree at all, whatever works I say. TBH my fixed is a road bike with 700x23 slicks, so I guess I'd gear down too for an MTB with studded tyres

 

[Pennine-Paul]

38/16 gives you 64 inches,which is fine for offroad
Your'e gonna be overtaken by grannies on mobility scooters on the road mind

 

[tom_e]

I'm commuting on 62" studded at the moment. Seems fine to me - a bit high in snow, but perfectly usable on tarmac.

 

[PpPete]

Assuming a fattish road tyre, it is 64" iwhich s fine for a winter road bike.

Agree.
At 100 rpm that's 19 mph.

 

[Old Plodder]

60~65in - perfect for a single speed in my opinion, a little bit higher for a fixed, say 68~72in. Of course it does depend on your area/terrain.

 

[simon.r]

My MTB is 32/16 (2.3" tyres) which is about 52".

I wouldn't want to go very far on the road, but it's fine for a few miles between off-road sections, with a comfortable cruising speed of about 13mph.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My singlespeed was 52/16 but I've reduced it to 52/17 for the winter, and then given up entirely now that the snow has happened and have resorted to my BSO!

 

[AndyPeace]

38/16 gives you 64 inches,which is fine for offroad
Your'e gonna be overtaken by grannies on mobility scooters on the road mind

No harm in drafting the mobility scooters is there? I 've stuck with the 64" gear. It is a steady climb into work, with a few mild 3% sections. It's this I'm finding hard, that said I've not yet got off and walked, though am making 8-10mph on these sections. I'll stick with it, in the hope it does my puny legs some good.

 

[hoski]

I'll stick with it, in the hope it does my puny legs some good.

It will. At the rate my thighs are expanding, it won't be long until I give Robert Foerstemann a run for his money...

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'm running 44x18 fixed on 165 cranks, gives me a 65 inch gear which works very well on my commute and Sunday morning rides out in the countryside. Gives me 18-22 mph max, 25 with a tail wind, and I'm comfortable up to 30mph on descents.
I've ridden it all through the bad weather we've had and its been very good in the snow and ice.

 

[AndyPeace]

I'm running 44x18 fixed on 165 cranks, gives me a 65 inch gear which works very well on my commute and Sunday morning rides out in the countryside. Gives me 18-22 mph max, 25 with a tail wind, and I'm comfortable up to 30mph on descents.
I've ridden it all through the bad weather we've had and its been very good in the snow and ice.

After a couple of days of riding on 38X16, I agree it's too low for regular road use, but was perfect for the icey roads and my fitness level. Without studded tires I'd want to try a higher gear. on 38X16 I spun out at just over 20mph, if I'd have kept it fixed I think my legs would have fallen off. I'm off to rescue an oldish racing bike today, as the bike I've been riding is really my nephew's. I've enjoyed it...time to get the spanners out me thinks!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

After a couple of days of riding on 38X16, I agree it's too low for regular road use, but was perfect for the icey roads and my fitness level. without studded tires I'd want to try a higher gear. on 38X16 I spun out at just over 20mph, if I'd have kept it fixed I think my legs would have fallen off. I'm off to rescue an oldish racing bike today, as the bike I've been riding is really my nephew's. I've enjoyed it...time to get the spanners out me thinks!

You sound a little under geared. I was out this morning, did 56 miles, on the way out I was into the stiff westerly breeze that was blowing, flat out and just making 14-15 mph, Coming back in I had several occasions where the breeze was behind me and on tired legs I was getting around 23 mph, around 120rpm, if the legs had been fresh I'd probably made 25mph, around 130rpm.
The thing is that gearing is personal, what suits one rider may not suit another and you need to work out what suits you, for road use a gear around 65-70 inches makes a good starting point.