single speed ratio ?

[Carlos Fandango]

I'm planning to convert an old hardtail to single speed. The front ring has to be a 42, so what
should i use on the back ?

TIA C

[David Brown :O\]

If you are talking about off road riding then the norm is 52" (2/1) so you would want a 21 tooth
rear. When I used to ride on the road on a fixed wheel I used to ride in the mid 70's. My botched
single speed is in pieces as the moment but it was a 32 front on a 16 rear. My current bike I have
changed from a 21 gear to a 7 gear and I took off the outer and inner rings so am again left with
a 32 front.

BTW with a 52" gear you have to either spin like crazy or freewheel down hills.

--
David Brown :o) http://kitemap.co.uk/stack

[Carlos Fandango]

My middle chainring is knackered so I'm going to use the outer 42, however, there is an option of
the inner 26.

If I keep to the 2:1 ratio are there disadvantages choosing one of the others ?

C

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:26:28 +0100, "David Brown :o\)" <news@parkcourt.co.uk> wrote:

>If you are talking about off road riding then the norm is 52" (2/1) so you would want a 21 tooth
>rear. When I used to ride on the road on a fixed wheel I used to ride in the mid 70's. My botched
>single speed is in pieces as the moment but it was a 32 front on a 16 rear. My current bike I have
>changed from a 21 gear to a 7 gear and I took off the outer and inner rings so am again left with a
>32 front.
>
>BTW with a 52" gear you have to either spin like crazy or freewheel down hills.
>
>--
>David Brown :o) http://kitemap.co.uk/stack

[Eatmorepies]

"Carlos Fandango" <leavemebe@bt.com> wrote in message news:3f4e4372.23004078@news.intra.bt.com...
> My middle chainring is knackered so I'm going to use the outer 42, however, there is an option of
> the inner 26.
>
> If I keep to the 2:1 ratio are there disadvantages choosing one of the others ?
>
The 26/13 combination will reduce weight and use a neater chain length but with quite a large
crossover angle on the chain. The front 26 will probably wear out quite quickly.

The 42/22 will again give a non straight chain line but the sprockets should last longer.

Buy a new 32 tooth sprocket. Get the best chain line.

John

[David Off]

Carlos Fandango wrote:
> I'm planning to convert an old hardtail to single speed. The front ring has to be a 42, so what
> should i use on the back ?

My single speed has 44/18 - quite difficult on steep hills but I still pass many a lycra clad
'racer' on it :-)

[David Brown :O\]

"Eatmorepies" <wigglestopPLUG@lineone.net> wrote in message
news:biltf4$b2sh3$1@ID-109188.news.uni-berlin.de...
> The 26/13 combination will reduce weight and use a neater chain length but with quite a large
> crossover angle on the chain. The front 26 will
probably
> wear out quite quickly.

Not only that but you will go through chains like butter.

> The 42/22 will again give a non straight chain line but the sprockets
should
> last longer.

And so will the chain.

> Buy a new 32 tooth sprocket. Get the best chain line.

Agreed.

--
David Brown :o) http://kitemap.co.uk/stack