[TheRedMantra]

I see so many 30 something tooth rings being used on single speeds. My bike is in its finishing stages and the guy at the shop thinks I should try a 42 or 44t ring. I spent my spring break in florida and rode a friends bike when I was there. I wanted to try singlespeeding so I didnt shift and had it set at 42x18 the whole time. I made it up mostly everything and had to walk a few climbs. Maybe Ill go with a 42x20, I'm not sure yet. Why do so many SSers use 32 or 34 or 36t rings? Who uses 40t+ and what size cogs do you run?

 

[shiggy]

I can not use larger than a 40 or so and have a straight chainline.

Log clearance can also be an issue.

 

[Mo Jiggy]

I use a 42x17 on the road or limestone with a 38c tire.

34x16,17, 20 or 22 for local trails.

-Mo

 

[TheSingleGuy]

I see so many 30 something tooth rings being used on single speeds. My bike is in its finishing stages and the guy at the shop thinks I should try a 42 or 44t ring. I spent my spring break in florida and rode a friends bike when I was there. I wanted to try singlespeeding so I didnt shift and had it set at 42x18 the whole time. I made it up mostly everything and had to walk a few climbs. Maybe Ill go with a 42x20, I'm not sure yet. Why do so many SSers use 32 or 34 or 36t rings? Who uses 40t+ and what size cogs do you run?

Depends where you ride. Check out some of the ride photos posted, and see what people ride up. I've never been there, but Florida is REALLY flat isn't it?

I live and ride in the hills (talking about 30min climbs), and need a low gear or else my knee explodes (that is, if my heart doesn't first). Also for low-speed, technical, gnarly riding a high gear is almost impossible. 32/18 sucks for the 5 or 10 minutes I have to the trailheads, but once on the dirt it's golden.

Last point on ratio - I used to think a taller gear = faster riding/climbing, but unless it's almost dead flat I have found the opposite to be true. I can climb MUCH faster and for longer with 32/18 than with a 2:1 ratio. Plus throw in a few rocks etc, and it's no contest.

But I do like bigger rings/cogs, as has been discussed here a lot, they really do feel smoother and last longer. 38/20 felt great to me, and 38 was the biggest chainring my frame could fit in the middle position.

Hope my pre-coffee rambling help,

Chris

 

[Tracerboy]

I can not use larger than a 40 or so and have a straight chainline.

This may be idiotic, but how does tooth size change chainline?

 

[skinl19]

Get too large a chainring and you can't run it in the middle position because it hits the chainstay. Mounting in the normal big ring position would change the chainline.

 

[Tracerboy]

Get too large a chainring and you can't run it in the middle position because it hits the chainstay. Mounting in the normal big ring position would change the chainline.

Oh, that's all?!

 

[shiggy]

Yup, I can just fit a 41t without needing to space the driveside arm out for the ring to clear the chainstay. Then the chainline is off. Hard to respace a FW.

 

[Tracerboy]

OK, so this is a problem only associated with fw hubs, not cassette hubs where you can move the rear cog,..... i gets it.

 

[TheRedMantra]

Depends where you ride. Check out some of the ride photos posted, and see what people ride up. I've never been there, but Florida is REALLY flat isn't it?

I live and ride in the hills (talking about 30min climbs), and need a low gear or else my knee explodes (that is, if my heart doesn't first). Also for low-speed, technical, gnarly riding a high gear is almost impossible. 32/18 sucks for the 5 or 10 minutes I have to the trailheads, but once on the dirt it's golden.

Last point on ratio - I used to think a taller gear = faster riding/climbing, but unless it's almost dead flat I have found the opposite to be true. I can climb MUCH faster and for longer with 32/18 than with a 2:1 ratio. Plus throw in a few rocks etc, and it's no contest.

But I do like bigger rings/cogs, as has been discussed here a lot, they really do feel smoother and last longer. 38/20 felt great to me, and 38 was the biggest chainring my frame could fit in the middle position.

Hope my pre-coffee rambling help,

Chris

Ive been in arizona almost a year, and the riding I have done here is great (all 3 times Ive been riding offroad in 10 months). However, I must say that even though florida is "flat," the artificial hills and climbs etc still make for some tough rides. I wont get as much overall vertical gain on a long ride in miami, but its still hard. Eh, I can mess around with my gearing this summer. Riding every friggin day! I guess I just want to use a 42 because a 42t boone looks a lot better than a 32t . I'll figure it out. I just wanted to know if anyone else ran a large chainring in the front.

 

[Weaver]

42x18, absolutely PERFECT for my area. fairly flat with occasional hills. i'm sure i'd be lower if i had climbs longer then a mile or two however.

 

[shiggy]

OK, so this is a problem only associated with fw hubs, not cassette hubs where you can move the rear cog,..... i gets it.

May depend on the frame, too.

 

[Cygnus]

Agree that it does depend on the frame...

...shape of our chainstays, length of spindles on your bottom bracket, and the shape of your cranks. I ride a sycip on the road and can barely fit a 44 chainring without rubbing the chainring on the chainstay. i switched to a 42 to get a few mm more of clearance and scooted the bottom bracket to the drive side for a little more. you might borrow several chainrings and mount them to see what works. 42x16 is a good gear for me on the road with slicks, riding into the wind and some moderate hills. but like many others, i use a 34 chainring in the dirt.

 

[itsdoable]

I'm running a 44:22 on a converted gearie mtb hub with no problems, perfect chain line. I have a toothfairy rock ring for logs & rock, which I "use" to get over things, as opposed to having it just for protection. Keep in mind my main reason for running a 44t up front was to "use" those rings, I have several that just sit around in a box...

 

[ernesto_from_Wisconsin]

46

I use a 46/16 on the fixie, and 34/16 offroad be it 29er or cross bike. I want to try 42/18 offroad though.

 

[Hjalti]

40/23

I use a 40t rocket ring up front and a 23t White FW in back.on one side and a 15t fixed cog on the flop side. I keep two chain links to make up the diference when I flip the wheel.
Works pretty good. I had to pinch the stay a bit to make the bigger ring fit, no problems in a year.

H

 

[SpinWheelz]

46T chainring mounted on the outside position. Mated to an 18T cog that sits on a cassette freehub with spacers.