http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Gear size for singlespeed v. fixed en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:30:38 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194604 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:50:59 +0000 steveo 194604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:)</p> <p>You <em>should</em> be able to get a big dinner plate on those cranks and I think the sprocket came from SuperStar when I bought brake pads for the mtb but sprockets are cheap as you've discovered. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194601 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:32:36 +0000 condor2378 194601@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Steveo, haha no worries, I've had a look online and can get a sprocket for about £5 but I've been having difficulty finding 165 cranks. I shall keep looking. </p> <p>Other than that, it'll be a good track bike, nice and light with sprinters bars. There were a few admiring glances. Until they saw me riding it that is! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194590 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:37:03 +0000 steveo 194590@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Errm, yeah, sorry I never thought about that. </p> <p>A sensible city gear probably isn't going to be much use on the track, especially when that sensible city gear is for a slow poke like me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194560 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:59:12 +0000 condor2378 194560@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So I took the new track bike (Giant Bowery '72) which I bought from @steveo last week to the velodrome today, and unfortunately it bottomed out far too quickly leaving me a bit left for dead, bouncing around the back with me legs going like the clappers. </p> <p>I was wondering if anyone has a 15 or 14 sprocket which they'd be willing to sell me, and I'm also looking for 165 cranks to put on the 48 ring. Need to get the ratio up to at least 86 to be competitive!</p> <p>Thanks all. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194428 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:56:32 +0000 neddie 194428@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a 3 speed Sturmey with integral hub brake (~£90). Just realised it is now 4 years old and I've never done any maintenance on it at all*. Ever. For 4 years.</p> <p>Would recommended highly</p> <p>*Aside from periodically tightening the brake cable thumbwheel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194357 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:36:00 +0000 dougal 194357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Used to ride FG 44/16 (77" per that chart) and now gone to 46/18 (69") which is much nicer from the lights going up Leith Walk but much spinnier coming down again. Would be good for a single speed though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194347 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:33:37 +0000 condor2378 194347@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A good chart for establishing ratios</p> <p><a href="http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/track-bike-gear-chart" rel="nofollow">http://www.aboc.com.au/tips-and-hints/track-bike-gear-chart</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194311 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:15:13 +0000 chdot 194311@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> I'm pretty sure the modern Sturmey 3-speed comes in a fixed flavour"</p> <p>Doesn't qualify for WC's "cheap".</p> <p><a href="http://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/products/detail/s3x-silver" rel="nofollow">http://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/products/detail/s3x-silver</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/gears-drivetrain/sturmey-archer-s3x" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/gears-drivetrain/sturmey-archer-s3x</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194310 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:12:11 +0000 kaputnik 194310@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Pondering the 3 speed hub idea, comparing it with the simplicity of singlespeed, and nostalgia for fixed...</em></p> <p>I'm pretty sure the modern Sturmey 3-speed comes in a fixed flavour </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194307 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:57:24 +0000 wee folding bike 194307@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For a while I've toyed with fitting the SA 2 speed kick back on my old Claud Butler.</p> <p>It would work out around 56" and 74" like the two speed Brompton.</p> <p>The gear cable guide is a bit worn so that hub would get round the need for a cable. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194300 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 07:43:57 +0000 Nelly 194300@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My daily ride is SS, 42/18 effective 63 inches (I think).</p> <p>Works well, spins out about 22mph on flat but still able to tackle hills with a full Carradice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194297 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 01:27:48 +0000 Instography 194297@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>52x16 works. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194296 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 23:56:48 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 194296@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:) No worries.</p> <p>When I rode fixed (for about 3 years commuting) I only ever had a front brake. Older and wiser now.... Pondering the 3 speed hub idea, comparing it with the simplicity of singlespeed, and nostalgia for fixed... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194295 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 23:49:04 +0000 skinnypins 194295@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Settled on 42 -16 fixed (so ~69", I think) here, and haven't felt the need to change in 5 years. Would agree that mid-60s would be grand. If like me, you plan on stopping using your brakes so skid patches aren't an issue, using even toothed cogs and chainrings means you can get away with chain wear for longer (according to Sheldon Brown anyway!)</p> <p>EDIT: Sorry, just realised this was a single-speed question - ignore the above! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194262 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 14:53:51 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194262@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@condor2378</p> <p>The frame is now buried under several tonnes of bed frames. And my old cast iron gutters.</p> <p>The Bike Station has a Dawes Audax frame, no marked price. Vertical dropouts, but <a href="http://problemsolversbike.com/products/category/compatibility_solutions">there's ways round that.</a> Offer them £10? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194248 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:08:27 +0000 condor2378 194248@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS Thanks, I may attempt some ninja recycling over the weekend by throwing said dragon a packet of biscuits to distract her a la @wingpigs suggestion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194245 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:01:27 +0000 559 194245@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I run a 44/17 in town </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197&page=2#post-194217 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:49:52 +0000 wingpig 194217@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I took off one of the swappable dropouts, which would make it trickier to casually re-use; I could only undo one of the bolts on the other. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194215 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:41:59 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194215@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wingpig</p> <p>Cracked frames should be struck firmly with a lump hammer on the top tube. It feels both forbidden and satisfying to do this.</p> <p>You can nibble with a hacksaw all you want, but there's always someone willing to overlook the resulting 'scratch'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194211 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:28:48 +0000 wingpig 194211@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My father-in-law has a couple of de-skipped child-bikes in his shed, originally retrieved through the illegal application of packets of biscuits or golf-chat or something, originally intended for his eldest daughter's children to putter about the garden on. I won't allow mine to touch them in case it puts him off cycling (or makes him develop a taste for attempting to ride a really heavy bike several sizes too big for him for less than ten metres with zero success, like his smallest northerly cousin).</p> <p>I was being hurried and harried to clear out, move and re-pack sheds and cupboards on the day my crashed-into Kaff frame was taken to the tip, giving me barely enough time to salvage re-usable hardware from it, never mind stick a big label on the bent chainstay or hacksaw through it enough to prevent it being re-used, so hopefully it's not been Wombled and put back to use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194208 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:17:14 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 194208@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My very first fixed was a skip bike (too small for me, then a bit of the frame developed a crack after a year if I remember rightly). A 'Tensor' with a fancy 'S' built into the gap between the seatstays (I think for 'Steel'). It was red, I stripped it and resprayed it in metallic green.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/u34E2"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/121/317264409_4f1586f4c0_z.jpg"></a><a href="https://flic.kr/p/u34E2">Fixie</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpuddinonnabike/">Anthony Robson</a>, on Flickr </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194207 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:16:54 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194207@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@condor2378</p> <p>There's a nice one in the 'metals' skip of the Dalkeith Road recycling center right now. The lady won't let you have it though, and I wouldn't tangle with her. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194204 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:05:30 +0000 condor2378 194204@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd like to know where I can find a bike in a skip to respray and use as a SS beater? Wit a slammed stem, of course, innit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194198 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:52:41 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194198@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot</p> <p>Good heavens above. We should perhaps all slam the stems of our clunkiest commuters and send them in? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194196 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:51:24 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194196@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@dougal</p> <p>"Are the cool kids riding side-saddle?"</p> <p>This is dangerous talk and could lead to a youth attempting to slam the stem of their horse. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194181 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 08:16:19 +0000 Uberuce 194181@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to run disco floofy singlespeed on 63", and since then it's tried out 63, 72, 75 and 66. </p> <p>I'd been at 66 for about a year, and it isn't too spinny downhill - just annoyingly slow - so I popped up to 72" which is better there, but is more ponderous from lights and uphill.</p> <p>I'd go low/mid 60's for an urban commuting singlespeed; the sprightliness at starting is going to make up for spinniness. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194159 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:46:31 +0000 chdot 194159@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's even a web site</p> <p><a href="http://slamthatstem.com" rel="nofollow">http://slamthatstem.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194157 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:13:13 +0000 dougal 194157@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS: Are the cool kids riding side-saddle? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194154 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:50:06 +0000 I were right about that saddle 194154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Wilmington's Cow</p> <p>The stem should be set low, yes, but to be properly slammed, it should be inverted, putting the bars beyond reach.</p> <p>May I also commend mis-matched cranks to the house? Even two right-hand ones? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15197#post-194153 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:48:40 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 194153@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well thanks for that guys, most reassuring... </p>