Hi
I would like to make a single speed light weight road bike. What size chain ring
would I use on my crank?
I would like to make a single speed light weight road bike. What size chain ring
would I use on my crank?
Chain ring size for road single speed
beerski
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
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12,294 Posts
Depends on how fast you want to go. 42 or 44 seems to be common on commuter style bikes, with 16 or 18 in the back. If you can go faster, 48 is quite normal.
edit:
play with this a bit.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/
edit:
play with this a bit.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/
Joined
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19 Posts
46x16 (about 77 gear inches) works for me. Pretty fast with decent acceleration for urban riding. If my area were more hilly, I'd up the cog.
bf
bf
42x14 on the old steel gardin, freewheel'd not fixed.
But I've got light spinergy wheels on it (albeit with heavy armadillo tires!)
Even swapping other rings I've found that 3:1 ratio on roadie wheels was always best for me, could spin out at the top but crank hard up grinders, all good.
Also ran a 42x13 for a bit, but hurt more on the climbs and when loaded down.
But I've got light spinergy wheels on it (albeit with heavy armadillo tires!)
Even swapping other rings I've found that 3:1 ratio on roadie wheels was always best for me, could spin out at the top but crank hard up grinders, all good.
Also ran a 42x13 for a bit, but hurt more on the climbs and when loaded down.
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3,960 Posts
Very hilly where I live. 46/17 is what I use. Then again, my bike is lighter than air it seems, so that helps a little.
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2,077 Posts
and your drivetrain wears unnecessarily quickly...Chasem said:
i use a 46x17 in the summer when i am feeling fast and go to a 46x18 in the winter for my fixed gear.
for my longer distance "touring" crosscheck i find a 44x18 with a freewheel to work quite well.
both allow me to climb pretty well without being totally spun out on the flats.
in the future i am gonna set up a 53x21 to use some of the pile of road chainrings i have laying around. i find big chainring combos make for a really smoov drivetrain and i like that on my bikes.
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12 Posts
I often run 42 x 17 with a freewheel. About 65 gear inches with 700C x 25 mm tires. Not so fast on the flats, but I can climb all the hills in my area. And I can coast downhill - wheeee!
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12,294 Posts
another tool for figuring out gearing and stuff:
http://eehouse.org/fixin/fixmeup.php
http://eehouse.org/fixin/fixmeup.php
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732 Posts
I like my 47/19 (170mm cranks, 700x23c) on my fixie.
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153 Posts
48/19 on my track bike, but if I'm going a long distance on a paved trail, i use 48-14
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
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