Single Speed Gear Combo For Turnbull?

Thinking of turning my old hardtail into a singlespeed to ride the local moderate fireroad trails such as Turnbull, Carbon Canyon, Fullerton Loop, etc..

What gear combinations would you recommend that I wouldn't have a cardiac arrest on the hills and yet can still roll along at a decent pace at the Loop? :?:

 

26? 29? makes a difference

32-18 for a 26er is plenty for the loop....
32-20 is the same for a 29er.

 

I'll assume it's a 26er, so: 32-20 to start off with, though you'll eventually get it to a 18 which is the ratio most people run on those wheels.

 

It's a 26er.

How would the 32-18 do on the Bitches at Turnbull? Stand and pedal all the way I would imagine?

I'm a bit afraid to go down to 18 or 20 in the back... when I'm currently climbing those hills with 32-32 or 32-34 on a full suspension AM bike in the 30# range

 

ill give you $20 if you can climb the 3b's with a 32-18 set up. no joke.

 

not sure where the b's are at turnbull, but i've 32-20'd the 7th avenue switchbacks on a 29er.

You'll make em for sure with 32-20 on a 26er, the more in shape you get, the harder your gearing can be.

 

Frankie (aka Ahimanic) is not the MASHING type!

Do you plan on mashing?
Do you plan on pushing a gear that is best suited for seated pedaling?

I would buy/borrow/experiment with 3 or 4 cogs....

 

In my 26" days: 32:20.
29" 32:21.

But I'm a SSpeed SSofty and like my TV reception crystal clear. You could definitely run something bigger if you're just doing the Loop. But I'm too puSSy to run bigger ratios on long climbs.

Btw, you'll be surprised the ratio you can pull with a SSpeed hardtail that's 5-6lbs. lighter than your AMbike.

 

The B's are at the other side of the ridge from 7th Ave.

The switchbacks you are referring to must be the Great Wall of China...that is much steeper than the B's. You da man and deserve $40!

Mr. Brown, I think I would be seriously kidding myself if I don't expect to stand and mash on a SS.

Very true I'm a spinner, that's one reason I'm thinking about a SS to improve on my power.

 

Chewy, the 3 B's are the climb up to the water tower, the way we've be going down from. Why we've never tried it on the SS I don't know.

Turnbull is a great place to SS. The climbs are just long enough to be fun, and not too long to be too hard where you're tired of it.

I was the same way. Built a singlespeed knowing I would have to stand to climb (which you do a lot), when normally I just spinned up things. After a few standing while climbing, I realized I feel better doing that rather than spinning, even on the geared bike.

 

If you start to go too tall a gear even when you do get stronger, your knees will suffer in the long run. Sure I can still push 34:18 or even big ring(46t) most hills, but my knees will never be the same again.

Try a few and then settle on a gearing you can live with. You may spin out on flats, but can at least climb most, if not all hills. You'll go on riding without knee issues for a long time.

 

I DEMAND to be present for your first SS (Turnbull) Ride! :lol: #-o

Trust me Frankie- You will learn to love MASHING!

 

32-18 on a 26er has been working for me most places including Turnbull. Now as far climbing the 3B's over there I never thought it would be possible for me. I might have to give it a shot. I know I will fail misserably the first 5 or 10 tries, but who knows, maybe some day.

+1 for a SS Turnbull ride.

 

if you'll accept 32-20 on a 29er... i'll give it a go

I think big red and the oaks are tuffer...

 

dude i can make it up big red with a 32 20 on a 29er, if i can do it anyone can

 

No way Dino, you're not invited!

I remember when I first started to climb the B's and I was suffering even with 22-34, then you would ride up along side me "mashing" your big gear and peppering me with mindless dribble and endless questions designed to draw more breath out of me! I shoulda spit at you with what breath I had left!

 

Ahhh.. The good ol' days!

 

Dino,

Zack WILL loan you the Roger. It's STILL geared 34-17 on 700C's!!!!

You can do it!!

 

start with a 32-18, but try it on an easy local ride that has a few challenging hills before you go ride something epic.

 

I was thinking of not replacing the cassette and the rear derailleur right off the bat...leaving the chain long and just manually set the gears and then lock out the rear derailleur movement with limiter screw.

This will let me experiment with a few gear combinations before deciding. Will the limit screw push the rear derailleur sufficiently in-ward to the 18-20 cog? Has anyone tried this and does it work?

I take it that it won't pedal as efficiently with the long chain and rear derailleur in place?

Also, I have horizontal dropouts about 1 inch long on my frame. Are dropout chain tensioners necessary? I remember way back in the BMX days I simply tension the axle by hand and just tighten the bolts.