cX SS, what gear?

[Si]

Not strictly fixed so apologies, but next best thing I guess...

If I were building a single speed cyclocross bike what gear would you recommend?
The details:
To be used on road 50% and off road 50%.
The off road will include rooty, bumpy, small rocky stuff with short sharp hills but no monster highland climbs or drops.
Tyres will be semi slicks for best compromise between off and on road (or worst of both worlds?).
My current SS MTB runs a 32-17.  Fine for off road around places like Cannock Chase but infuriating ont he road.
My current road fixie runs around 63 inches which is fine for the gently rolling countryside around here.

What I want is a nice lightweight, low maintenance, just pick it up and go no matter if the ride is to be off or on road, type of bike.  Something that is equally happy nipping around town or having a quick hour of fun down the single track in the woods.

Your thoughts are welcomed 

[rogerzilla]

63" is the traditional off-road gear, as 72" is the traditional on-road "medium gear".

[Si]

63" is the traditional off-road gear, as 72" is the traditional on-road "medium gear".

Hell's teeth, I have enough trouble with that ont he road 

[Frenchie]

I run 72'' on the road and it is short, in the summer, for speed.

[Chris N]

63" (fixed, not SS sorry Bodger) is a bit high for off road but perfect for me on road.  I can make it round Follow the Dog ok on it, but it's a little bit too hard.  I've changed to 57" now (42/20 on 37c cyclocross tyres) but not had a chance to test it out yet.

[Si]

I think that if you find 63 a little dificult on the 'Dog then I'd struggle, so I'll try a 57ish too then.  cheers.

[Chris N]

Have you got the tyres already?  I'm impressed with Schwalbe Land Cruisers - they're cheap (£11 - £13), roll pretty well on tarmac, grip ok off road (though I did wash the front end out on wet, sandy singletrack - oops) and aren't too heavy.  700x37, 42 or 47 only though, so if you're short of clearance they might not fit.

[Si]

It's being built around an old MTB frame (Zaskar) so 26inch wheels.  I guess that that makes it an MTB technically, but it'll have drop bars and narrow tyres, so more of a hybrid cX? 

Was going to go for something like a Surley Cross Check but the zaskar is lighter and the Rolf Propel wheelset that I already have is lighter than any strong 700c wheels that I can afford.

[Chris N]

Sounds interesting.  Are you still after a really short stem too?  Cinelli make a 50mm road stem: Errore

[Si]

Sounds interesting.  Are you still after a really short stem too?  Cinelli make a 50mm road stem: Errore

No, I got one in the end.  Ater trying all the on line specialists or this specialist bit o kit, the LBS had a battered old cardboard box full of them!  Always the way isn't it.

[border-rider]

I think that if you find 63 a little dificult on the 'Dog then I'd struggle, so I'll try a 57ish too then.  cheers.

I'd have said low 50s for offroad myself

I have 44" on my fixed MTB but that has 140 cranks

I've done 200 k audaxs on 59"; 63 is a nice winter road gear

The idea that it's a suitable offroad gear came from the name of 63xc.com, which Will later admitted was a mistake

[Rollo]

53" (fixed) got me round Hell of the North Cotswolds ok which is about 50/50 road/off-road and quite hilly.

[Si]

53" (fixed) got me round Hell of the North Cotswolds ok which is about 50/50 road/off-road and quite hilly.

Sounds good - that's exactly the type of off road riding I was thinking of it being capable of.