Singlespeed on a geared bike.

[J4CKO]

Got bored with my normal regime so just stuck the bike in as high as a gear as I can turn from standstill, big front cog and the 5th of nine down on the back, rode like that all the way home, quite enjoyed it, had to work hard, legs were very pumped when I got home and I think I shall do it again tommorow as it felt like when I first started and I felt like I had a proper workout grinding up hills, out of the sadle rather than flicking up and down at the slightest change in gradient.

Is this pretty much the same as riding a single speed or is it subtley different in some way, obviously having the presecence of mind and willpower not to change gear being part of it, but that aside ?

 

[RedBike]

It's subtely different.

The first thing you should hopefully notice with a single speed is it's noticably more efficient. Not only is the drive-chain more efficient and the bikes lighter too.

Fixed wheel seems even more efficient again. You get this real sense of momentum. At times it's almost like the bikes helping out by doing a bit of the pedalling for you.

 

[J4CKO]

But is it enough to see whether it suits me and then if I get one I get additional pleasure for the reasons you outlined ?

My legs feel nicely "used" tonight, the ride home felt "Earthy" and satisfying, like the feeling you get from climbing a hill but on the flat.

What kind of ratio is typical ? I was on the big front cog and middle of nine at the back, it felt quite a high gear, was comfy at about 16/17 mph and about done at 22 on the flat.

 

[Joe24]

Work out your gears, rather then just stick it in one that feels right.
It is good though, same as riding singlespeed, but with the weight of gears.
Fixed is much better though.

 

[RedBike]

Before I went out and brought a SS I did exactly the same as you. I spent about a fortnight doing all sorts of daft things lto determin what sort of ratio I needed. (I was completely wrong.) Riding single speed is nothing like riding a geared bike and not changing gear.

Big cog at the front, middle of 9? - I'm sorry but without a little bit more information about the type of bike I can't even guess at the ratio you were using.

For a road bike (700c wheel) you would normally be looking at about something like 48x18 (=2.67) or 42x16 (=2.62). Gear teh bike lower if you like to spin. Up the ratio if you like to time trial and your route is flat.

The above ratios will very approximately give you 20mph at a cadence of 100rpm. You max speed (while pedalling) all depends on how quickly you can spin. Realistically you'll find anything over about 25mph involves spinning like the clappers.

 

[J4CKO]

48 at the front, its apparenty an Sram PG 950 11 - 32 Cassette, so I think its 18 on the back (its in the garage, will check properly later), 700 c wheel.

48/18 Calculator says 2.66

Does that sound right ?

 

[GrasB]

Ride in that gear for a month & find out if you can really deal with it. I cruised on 54/17 & thought that'd be a great gear to start with. WRONG inside 4 days I was forced to drop into 42/21 or drive to work, I then started at 42/16 & worked up to 42/14 (aka 80" give or take) where I've been riding for the past almost 6 weeks now through +35mph headwinds. Needless to say I'm sold in this gearing & it's certainly what will be on the freewheel side of the flip-flop hub when I get my track bike on the road.

 

[J4CKO]

Whats the 80" thing ?

 

[RedBike]

48x18 sounds bob on. Thats roughly the ratio most single speed bikes wil come with.

You'll also probably find single speed / fixed bikes have shorter cranks to allow you to spin quicker and again the drive-chain is more efficient making it easier to spin.

If you can cope with that sort of gearing on your exisiting bike you'll have no trouble when you move to a track bike.

 

[RedBike]

One revolution of the pedals moves the bike forward by 80".

It a calculation based on the wheel/tyre size and the gear ratio.

 

[GrasB]

Gear inches is one, popular, method to compare actual gearing across bikes which is independent of wheel & tyre size. My mountain bike runs a 48/17 arrangement with 26x1.25" tyres (69"), if I were to run the same chain ring & sprocket on my cyclo' bike I'd have a 7% higher gear, 74", due to my 700x23c tyres having a larger diameter.

 

[gaz]

Got bored with my normal regime so just stuck the bike in as high as a gear as I can turn from standstill, big front cog and the 5th of nine down on the back, rode like that all the way home, quite enjoyed it, had to work hard, legs were very pumped when I got home and I think I shall do it again tommorow as it felt like when I first started and I felt like I had a proper workout grinding up hills, out of the sadle rather than flicking up and down at the slightest change in gradient.

Is this pretty much the same as riding a single speed or is it subtley different in some way, obviously having the presecence of mind and willpower not to change gear being part of it, but that aside ?

Don't tell me you cycle in london, and go south on the a23 through brixton and streatham?

 

[2Loose]

Joe24, do you live on the top, Standhill road level, if so, what is your gearing...I heard you mention the punchbowl, so from town you must deal with atleast one sizeable hill....

 

[J4CKO]

Ahh, get it now, cheers Redbike, surprised I picked something even vaguely appropriate !

 

[J4CKO]

Don't tell me you cycle in london, and go south on the a23 through brixton and streatham?

No, Cheshire countryside, was that a recognition based on snippets on here or just a typical london Singlespeed type slight ribbing