[E !]

I don't want to ***** foot around so just a quick Q? What gear ratio are you guys riding at the trails? I know it is relative to your style and stenght etc but, i want to get a ballpark figure. I've been riding mostly at bootleg since i rebuilt the rockhooper for trails. 32x17 and am pushing it. Sometimes literally up thesteepest of hills. The one ride i took it out at cottonwood it felt like i was riding on the road for the most part. Is there one to settle on or do you change out cogs for ides? since my bike is a convert i use a tensioner and could gear lower a bit i guess? Then again one time over a year ago i came across a guy who was riding the 2 to 1 ratio at cowboy trails? is that hard or what DOH!

 

[Redmon]

I don't want to ***** foot around so just a quick Q? What gear ratio are you guys riding at the trails? I know it is relative to your style and stenght etc but, i want to get a ballpark figure. I've been riding mostly at bootleg since i rebuilt the rockhooper for trails. 32x17 and am pushing it. Sometimes literally up thesteepest of hills. The one ride i took it out at cottonwood it felt like i was riding on the road for the most part. Is there one to settle on or do you change out cogs for ides? since my bike is a convert i use a tensioner and could gear lower a bit i guess? Then again one time over a year ago i came across a guy who was riding the 2 to 1 ratio at cowboy trails? is that hard or what DOH!

SSers are not allowed in the Vegas area

 

[rick watts]

SSers are not allowed in the Vegas area

contact tequila solo, that group has all your answers

 

[E !]

Huh?

contact tequila solo, that group has all your answers

Why not?
Rick, Those guys are machines! I've seen them riding like a freight train. I was thinking more the regular riders. I guess i'll stick with what i got.

 

[bhc]

I don't want to ***** foot around so just a quick Q? What gear ratio are you guys riding at the trails? I know it is relative to your style and stenght etc but, i want to get a ballpark figure. I've been riding mostly at bootleg since i rebuilt the rockhooper for trails. 32x17 and am pushing it. Sometimes literally up thesteepest of hills. The one ride i took it out at cottonwood it felt like i was riding on the road for the most part. Is there one to settle on or do you change out cogs for ides? since my bike is a convert i use a tensioner and could gear lower a bit i guess? Then again one time over a year ago i came across a guy who was riding the 2 to 1 ratio at cowboy trails? is that hard or what DOH!

I may not qualify as a Vegas SSer being from Bullhead City, but when I need to get up to Vegas, I take the Monocog along for a stop at Bootleg. I have ridden 32x18 and 32x20. The twenty makes the climbs easier, but either spinning out or alot of coasting. And then I have experimented with tires which changes the weight around. So how about this for a non essential question, what is the highest gear ratio at the highest temp riding so far. You will all have to come down into the hot valley of Bullhead to get in on that one.

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

I'm riding a 32x20 at Bootleg Canyon. I'll spin out when riding Caldera counter-clockwise, but in general gravity takes me as fast as I want to go when the trail turns flat or downhill.

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

So how about this for a non essential question, what is the highest gear ratio at the highest temp riding so far. You will all have to come down into the hot valley of Bullhead to get in on that one.

49x16 in 105-110 heat. But that's on the road-fixie

 

[E !]

Thanks guys

I looked at the charts and i'll end up swithing out to 34x19(46.8 in.) which is about the same in gear inches to 32x18(46.5 in.) I did ride 32x20 last year and i didn't reallly like the amount of spin(even on the climbs.) The 32x17 i have now is 49.3 in.
Which is an obvious differeance.
Ah, to hell with the mumbo jumbo.
Thanks again!

 

[VegasSingleSpeed]

The spin I don't mind. I have a minimum cadence where I don't feel comfortable spinning slower. When I was riding a 34x18 and a 36x18 (which came with the bike), I was keeping about the same cadence but completely cooking myself up the hills. The other issue is my riding partners do not ride single-speeds...when we hit arroyos or brief steep sections, they gear down and spin up it. I have to accelerate into it and sprint through it...when I was riding taller gears, I'd usually end up on their wheels half-way through the pull and have to back off (and let my knees eat it...ugg!). Now I just take my time. Annoying, however, is the smaller gear doesn't get me up the arroyos as easy as the big gear, where it's easier to sprint down and let momentum carry you back up.

Keep playing with it until you find what you like. Heck, you may find your winter gear to be different than your summer gear, too.

 

[Menny]

I don't want to ***** foot around so just a quick Q? What gear ratio are you guys riding at the trails? I know it is relative to your style and stenght etc but, i want to get a ballpark figure. I've been riding mostly at bootleg since i rebuilt the rockhooper for trails. 32x17 and am pushing it. Sometimes literally up thesteepest of hills. The one ride i took it out at cottonwood it felt like i was riding on the road for the most part. Is there one to settle on or do you change out cogs for ides? since my bike is a convert i use a tensioner and could gear lower a bit i guess? Then again one time over a year ago i came across a guy who was riding the 2 to 1 ratio at cowboy trails? is that hard or what DOH!

I run 32x18...too lazy to ever change it. It works well out at Bootleg but at Cottonwood you may spin out a little much. 2x1 at Cowboy sounds pretty tough, that climb is a pretty good grind.

 

[njcoppola]

I run a 32x18 and ride Cottonwood on a regular basis with it without any problems. Something else to keep in mind is your crank arm length, it will also affect your "effective" gear. I'd have to look, but I believe I have a short 172.5mm crankarm.

I have to say that since I've been singlespeeding I have yet to see another one out on the trails!


Neal

 

[JDay]

I am running a 34x18 and was surprised to figure out is was OK for BC. It spins out a bit at Cottonwood unless you do the NORBA loop (afraid to try that yet), everything else could probably do a 34x17 (or 32x16). All depends on whether you are a masher or spinner.

I'm building a 29er SS and will be playing a bit with the ratios to compensate for the bigger circumference.

I rarely ride my SS with my buddies on geared bikes as I know they would purposely blow me up on the climbs and drop me on the descents. I honestly don't think I'm strong enough to hang with most SS riders.

 

[E !]

34x19

I am running a 34x18 and was surprised to figure out is was OK for BC. It spins out a bit at Cottonwood unless you do the NORBA loop (afraid to try that yet), everything else could probably do a 34x17 (or 32x16). All depends on whether you are a masher or spinner.

I'm building a 29er SS and will be playing a bit with the ratios to compensate for the bigger circumference.

I rarely ride my SS with my buddies on geared bikes as I know they would purposely blow me up on the climbs and drop me on the descents. I honestly don't think I'm strong enough to hang with most SS riders.

That is what i've settled on. I rarely ride cottonwood so 34x19 works fine at bootleg for me. Lately thats all i've been riding unless i go to cowboy trails,then i bring the gears. I disagree on being blown away on the climbs. I have shaved off considerable time on some usual climbs. You going to ride that 29 at bootleg? I'd like to hear a ride report on that when you get done.

 

[PrincipalRider]

I am running a 34x18 and was surprised to figure out is was OK for BC. It spins out a bit at Cottonwood unless you do the NORBA loop (afraid to try that yet), everything else could probably do a 34x17 (or 32x16). All depends on whether you are a masher or spinner.

I'm building a 29er SS and will be playing a bit with the ratios to compensate for the bigger circumference.

I rarely ride my SS with my buddies on geared bikes as I know they would purposely blow me up on the climbs and drop me on the descents. I honestly don't think I'm strong enough to hang with most SS riders.

Apparently, you haven't been riding your SS with me. E! still smokes me when he is riding his rockhopper and I am on my geared bike. I think he is faster on the SS than his Chameleon.

 

[E !]

. I think he is faster on the SS than his Chameleon.

Yah, i think i am faster on the SS. But i'll blow up on that way before...Gotta get that
strength built up.