Singlespeed road riding and local hilly rides?

So over the last year, I have really gotten in singlespeed mountain biking. Well, this turned me onto running SS on my "cross" bike.
I have two chainrings, so I decided to convert it into a 2x1 with a Melvin tensioner. Got me closer to SS!

50/34 x 19t, which gives a pretty wide range, about 71 and 48 gear inches.

I really want to run a full SS or fixed road bike, but I am worried that I won't be able to do the occasion GMR/Baldy ride or Palos Verdes rides.

Any one do them? And with what gear ratio? I am thinking something in the 60" s may work.

 

I can ride nearly everything on my fixie with a 69 gear inch setup. I can manage the long gradual climbs and short bursts up steep sections. I do plan my routes accordingly. PV is just fine with this gearing as long as I circle the peninsula and forgo the switchbacks. I have never tried GMR fixed.

 

I've done the "Donut Loop" in PV. The only big climb would be up PV East.
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=47250

I have a 2 ring(53-39) 11/25 in rear setup and can make the climbs with no issues.

 

Yep, 70gi is about the go to gear for climbing and flats. fwiw

 

fixed/SS 48-16 here. Can do most hills, but some become a bitch on 3:1 gearing.

 

Jay, start off with a 65 gear ,you should have no problems with any hills, you are plenty strong for GMR

 

Wait a minute, how did you get the gear inches. I have a 29er single speed with 32t front and 18t on back.

 

Gear Inches One of the three comprehensive systems for numbering the gear values for bicycle gears. It is the equivalent diameter of the drive wheel on a high-wheel bicycle. When chain-drive "safety" bikes came in, the same system was used, multiplying the drive wheel diameter by the sprocket ratio. It is very easy to calculate: the diameter of the drive wheel, times the size of the front sprocket divided by the size of the rear sprocket. This gives a convenient two- or three-digit number. The lowest gear on most mountain bikes is around 22-26 inches. The highest gear on road racing bikes is usually around 108-110 inches. Unfortunately, the handwriting is on the wall for all inch-based measurement systems. See also gain ratios and development.
You can calculate gear inches, gain ratios, or meters development. with my Online Gear Calculator or with your slide rule

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

 

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html
This one has cadence too.

 

I live and ride in PV and attempt to find the steepest climbs (crown view, French quarter, via la Cuesta). I've done it all with 39-25 but I wanted to sit in the saddle while climbing so i got a 27t (39-27). ..but you would be fine with 39-25

 

I thought Ganado Dr was the steepest climb in PV, LOL. I'm not sure I could, or would want to ride anything steeper!

 

Try crownview just next to miraleste intermediate....

 

Well to get back to my original post!! First off there are some steep hills in PV. I definitely would not do Ganado or Crownview without my 9 speed cogs.
I didn't convert my CrossCheck to a SS/fixed. Instead, I got a killer deal on a SS/fixed Paddy Wagon so I let Kona decide my gear ratio. (42/16)
So far I have done some rolling hills on Santa Ana Cyn in Anaheim Hills (this bike gets a home at parent's place). Not too bad. I am going to get used to it before trying the PV drive loop. A lot more traffic in the PV area.

Now Chewyeti has some crazy tall gear!!

 

I just did crownview this morning on my 700c Unicycle! Pretty good climb as it just keeps going up, up, up! Just under a mile long. I usually do "the big one" which is Forrestal to Hightide, Ganado, then Crest to the top. Decent grades maxing at 16%.