Okay I'm going to be running a single speed on my Transition TransAM and I'm just wondering what everyone is running. I really have no clue on what I should run. I was thinking of an 18t in the rear and maybe a 22 in the front. Does that sounds about right? I'm in pretty good shape so I don't want something to easy.
well, i been running a SS fer a little more than a few years now and have pretty much kept to a 2:1 ratio (34 front, 17 rear).
You are talking mountain bike here right? On a 26", most will run 32:18 or 20. Try your middle/middle which should be a 32 in front(3 ring crank setup) and gear 5/middle on your rear cassette if you run a 11-34 cassette. That'll give you an idea what it will feel like on flats as well as climbs. I run a 34-19 on 26"
Sorry yes on my mountain bike, a 26". K thanks. Ill try that out on my Kona when I take it out again.
Your gonna spin out too easily with a ratio of 22-18. I run 30-18 on my 26er but most run slightly taller by a couple teeth.
I run a 32/20 and about to change into 34/20 on a 29er. Haven't ridden a 26er so don't know much of the difference between the two.
Keep in mind your geared MTB will probably be much heavier than the SS, so running the equivalent gear ratio on your geared bike won't really give you the same feel. It will feel much harder.
I prefer to climb seated so I run a 34x22 I'd run a 34x24 if I could manage, but my rear sprockets don't come that large and I can't get a 32 chainring on my crank I typically spin at 100-120 RPM so the smaller gear doesn't bother me too much. At 100 RPM on a 26" wheel it would be 11 MPH with the 24 tooth rear instead of the current 12 MPH with the 22 tooth I have. I know folks running a 2x1 ratio but for me that would be like 15.5 MPH if I could ever turn 100 RPM but most can't and end up something like around 80 RPM which is still only 12.4 MPH
Okay so since were on the topic of single speed...you need a rear single speed hub right? not just any hub?
Not really. The only thing I noticed with SS specific hub is the spokes are evenly dished on both sides of the hub - making it a stronger wheel? I use a regular hub and switch out the cassette for a cog (+ spacers) if I want to use it for SS.
Yes any crankset will do, I bastardized my XTR crankset and use it on my SS. It's a matter of finding the 'chain-ring' with the correct BCD spacing that will work for your crank.
I'll say this now, when yer pulling around a tight switchback on the downhill, a 2:1 will set you up just right.....
i run a 32-18 or a 32-17, but it all depends on what fits you. Too easy and you spin out, and too hard, you wear yourself out or cant clear a hill. I've done lap by lap comparisions and i've always done best in a race running 32/18. I could still hit just about the same top speeds as i did running a 17, but i felt less fatigued and did better overall.
Possibly, but having an easier ratio for the climbs will make the rest of the ride much more enjoyable. Most of your time is spent climbing anyways, unless you just shuttle.
