Really easy gearing, how low would you go?

[bonker]

I'm setting up an old fixed as a SS for my son to take to uni. Problem is he's at Aberystwyth which means up hill all the way there and downhill all the way back. I found a 20T freewheel for the back (I had a 16T when it was fixed fixed) but I don't think it's going to be low enough. The next option is a 32T chainring ( currently a 46T) but I think that going to be far too low.

Thoughts?

 

[KneesUp]

It doesn't sound like the terrain is suited to a single speed to me!

 

[KneesUp]

To add more usefully - I went to Uni in a hilly place and had 52/39 and 11-24 and basically gave up riding because it was uphill to lectures and I didn't like arriving so knackered. 39/24 on 700c is 43" gearing. So lower than that if it's really hilly, but I'd give serious thought to some gears because if it's really hilly the gear you'd need would be hopeless on the flat.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I go as low as the short but steep hills on my commute and my leg strength/fitness will allow. This means I have to spin like a bandit on the flatter bits. I'm beginning to think walking up the three steep bits isn;t such a bad idea if I can run taller gearing on the flatter parts.

 

[welsh dragon]

I don't know about what chain to have, but I live about 20 miles away from aber and its bloody hilly believe me. Everywhere around here is. There are very few flattish areas. To get to a flat bit, you will have to look on google, and you would have some distance over hilly terrain to travel to get there.

 

[byegad]

An old SA 3 speed hub was what I used to use in Durham City. I fitted the largest rear sprocket I could lay hands on meaning top gear was just about OK on the flat and I had two gears for climbing. I spent most of my time grinding up hills or flying down them free-wheeling.

 

[montage]

Having visited aberystwyth, I'd try and knock something up with gears and a downtube shifter - the cost and maintenance shouldn't be too much at all

 

[tyred]

Shove a Sturmey in it. This is why they were invented.

58 - 60" gear is about as low as I would go for fixed. Cruise on the flat at around 15 - 18 mph, low enough to climb most things but a Sturmey would definitely make more sense.

 

[ThaiGuy]

Where I live is frequently steep in some places and I run 46:19. It's a bit of a pain having legs like a tornado coming down the other side, but beats getting killed on the way up.