Members Fixed Gear & SS

[clarion]

I can report that, despite the rain and floods, Phil rode the Atom with glee.

[IanDG]

[clarion]

I suspect that as soon as Superstoker sees this picture, he will be putting much effort into growing to fit it, and hten persuading you to part with it...

[border-rider]

Zeppelin in audax mode, just before the Buckingham Blinder 400 a couple of weeks ago

[kevinp]

Sorry to lower the quality of the bikes, but here is mine. First time out on it tonight 48/16 single speed until I can get another sprocket.

[Sergeant Pluck]

Interesting spanner solution 

[rogerzilla]

48 x 16?  Headbangin'

[Frenchie]

48 x 16?  Headbangin'

(grass) track racing...

[kevinp]

I thought I better take a spanner with me just in case

Would you consider 48x16 too high for normal use then ? as the 16 freewheel was all I had what do you recommend I should have on the rear.

[citoyen]

Would you consider 48x16 too high for normal use then ? as the 16 freewheel was all I had what do you recommend I should have on the rear.

Do you live in Norfolk? Are you Jan Ullrich? If the answer to both questions is no, then possibly it is a little on the high side.

Well, it would be for me, anyway. I make that about 80", so I would swap the sprocket for an 18 to give a ~71" gear. A slightly smaller chainring would also give you more options to fine-tune your gearing.

d.

[kevinp]

Thanks for that, I have been trying out the calculator on Sheldon's site and noticed it said 80" I will look out for an 18 tooth one.

[citoyen]

Worth canvassing a range of views on gear sizing - others know much more about this subject than me...

I ride a 69" gear, which as someone who's still fairly new to fixed, I find quite manageable, though it is slightly low for long descents.

This is a good tool for helping you choose your ring/sprocket combination, as it also shows equivalent gears (ie how to get the same gear inches with different chainring & sprocket combinations):
Rabbit, a singlespeed and fixed-gear cycling calculator

d.

[rogerzilla]

Thanks for that, I have been trying out the calculator on Sheldon's site and noticed it said 80" I will look out for an 18 tooth one.

48 x 18 is typical for 700c wheels.  42 x 16 is the same thing, although a bit lighter and (on the flipside) less smooth to ride.

[IanDG]

I ride 46*19.  64.5"?  On the low side  I know, but can still be a struggle into the teeth of an Outer Hebrides breeze

[Frenchie]

A 70'' is more typical for an all-rounder. I tend to ride 72'' (nominal) and a bit higher on the flat of when I race (typically 81'' - 84'' for racing).

[border-rider]

67 is the traditional all-rounder summer gear.  64 for the winter.

[oncemore]

The formula is 110" minus age in years. Well, it is for me for getting up the hill home. One of the reasons I quit fixed!

[Chris S]

The formula is 110" minus age in years.

Hell YES!

Currently, that makes me 39 years old  .

[drossall]

67 is the traditional all-rounder summer gear.  64 for the winter.

That's what I'd have said - it's what club riders always did AIUI. 72" was for early season races. People have gone well under the hour on that (= well over 25mph for a 25 mile race).

[IanDG]

64.8" fixed riding at 15-20mph is revving at about 75 - 100 rpm. Together with stop/start around town and the ease of getting a lower gear going from a standing start the gear suits me fine.

If I rode in a group more often at a higher pace then high 60's would be a gear of choice.

Going back to 1981, I did a sub 58 min,  25 mile tt on 81" fixed. I like to pedal not push.

[kevinp]

Thanks for all the advice everyone 

Roger I think it was you that posted about changing the rim position on the rear wheel so that it moves the sprocket over in line with the main ring, if it was you have you a link for that. I have read it but for the hell of me I can not find it again.

Thanks

[drossall]

Changing the rim position shouldn't directly affect the sprocket. You could move spacers on the axle between left and right to improve alignment. Then you might have to adjust the dishing on the wheel to put the rim back in the centre.

[MSeries]

Thanks for all the advice everyone 

Roger I think it was you that posted about changing the rim position on the rear wheel so that it moves the sprocket over in line with the main ring, if it was you have you a link for that. I have read it but for the hell of me I can not find it again.

Thanks

I said it, well I didn't, I said what driossal said. Not much more to be said. You may not have enough spacers to make the adjustment you need though

[Deano]

64.8" fixed riding at 15-20mph is revving at about 75 - 100 rpm. Together with stop/start around town and the ease of getting a lower gear going from a standing start the gear suits me fine.

If I rode in a group more often at a higher pace then high 60's would be a gear of choice.

Going back to 1981, I did a sub 58 min,  25 mile tt on 81" fixed. I like to pedal not push.

That made me smile - the old man always told me you pedal a bike, you don't push it.

[Deano]

My Dave Yates, for once without all the luggage and wotnot on it.