|
MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - Singlespeed
|
|
Decided to finally build up another SS, need gear advice... (12 posts)
|  Decided to finally build up another SS, need gear advice... | KavuBiker
Jan 12, 2004 6:44 PM | | What gear combo would be good for commuting/trail riding.
I plan on riding mostly rolling terrain (some steep climbs, but I'll suffer through those) in AZ. However, most of my commute is flat, so I need a gear that will allow me to also get around without spinning out too much.
On my old Kona Kaboom, I was running a 34:16 and it was alright for around town.
I was thinking of running an ENO hub (fixed/free) and use a low freewheel gear for trail riding and a high fixed gear for road. How much of a difference can I run in cog sizes while maintaining the same chain length?
Oh yeah, the bike I plan on building is gonna be a salvage project. I hope to find a cheap old steel frame and a pair of dirt drops (I have a want ad in the MTBR.com classifieds for the dirt drops). Also, I'd like to run some old school parts just for fun (I love the old anodized stuff).
This bike is gonna be my main ride for awhile (until I can save up for a DH bike). I've been off the bike for awhile (broke old Kona, then other bike stolen, then dislocated shoulder on borrowed bike). I'm going insane not riding, especially now that I'm living on the side of South Mountain!
Any info/suggestions/comments are welcome!
Thank you!
KavuBiker
(SS all the way!) |
| no such animal | club
Jan 12, 2004 6:54 PM | | commuting on the road, something around 65" or so
singletrack up to and including 52", usually less
steep climbs whatever you can muscle
I should think any gear that allows you to clean moderately steep singletrack will leave you spinning your butt off and feeling like a target on the road.
you need two bikes: A SS for trails, a road fixed gear for commuting. You'll enjoy fixed gear more than SS on the road, fixed adds a new interesting beneficial dimension to pavement travel (and singletracking if want to up the bar)
That's why I use two rear cogs, one for road, one for singletrack, with a derailleur as a tensioner; and two chainrings, the "main" one for singletrack and road, and a smaller granny for the steeps. I use 3 different gears, manually shifting among them as needed. I don't ever use the small/small, though I guess it's usable. |
| Figured as much, but worth a shot... | KavuBiker
Jan 12, 2004 7:01 PM | | Seen some pretty innovative stuff on this board.
I'm still thinking of running the 34:16 I was running on my old SS. Seemed pretty good for trails/commuting. I need to work on my spinning anyways ;).
This bike is gonna be more commuter friendly for now though until I can get another ride. Then its gonna be on the trails!
My dream SS would be a Ti 29'er SS with Dirt Drops...
KavuBiker |
| another solution..... | hu-man
Jan 12, 2004 9:37 PM | | 1) find a combination of ring/cog that allows you to run a chain without a derailleur. This will all depend on what frame you use. If you have forward facing dropouts, all the better. Allows you some adjusting room for chain tightness. Googgle Fixed Innovations for a graphical program that allows you to find out what combinations of ring/cog will work with your chain stay length.
2) pick another ring/cog combination that has the same total tooth count. It should run with the same chain length. By chosing your ring/cog combinations you can switch between road and off road gears.
example - on my bike with vertical dropouts i have 32/18 and 34/16. I flip the bike over and lossen the QR. This allows enough wheel movement to switch the chain from one gear combo to the other. |
| with that ENO hub you should be able to take up the slack... | redhaze
Jan 13, 2004 1:01 PM | | between 2 different ratios with the same total tooth count. like a 34:16 and 30:20 both total 50 and I bet that ENO hub would be able to absorb the difference.
A potiential problem is that your chainline at the rings would be different, but there may be some slight spacing mods that can be done at the ENO freewheel/fixed side to improve chainline straightness.
For the above example, both ratios are too low, 34:16 around town is as a fixed gear is probably too low, and 30:20 is a real low SS trail gear. but perhaps you can figger something out. I bet you can. Let us know what works for ya!
bike ON
bob |
| Still not sure what I'm gonna do... | KavuBiker
Jan 13, 2004 2:07 PM | | Thinking of maybe just getting an old steel frame and having the Spicer EBB conversion done (disc mount too).
Or I might get a Surly Karate Monkey. 29'er SS with discs and drops..that's my goal!
Oh yeah, and to anyone out there...I'm looking for a set of Purple Cook Bros cranks. I found set on www.bikepro.com, but I think that they are out of business (I haven't called them). Anyone have any info?
Also still looking for a set of WTB Dirt Drops (still have an ad on MTBR.com for this).
Thank you!
KavuBiker |
| Alright, I think I've decided on what I'm going to do! | KavuBiker
Jan 13, 2004 6:46 PM | | I'm going to find an old steel frame (LBS can help here) get the Spicer EBB Conversion. However, I've decided to use two different rear wheels and ditch the ENO. I like the idea of the ENO, its just not practical for my application.
What I've come up with is to run two different rear wheels (one fixed, one free). The fixed is going to be a small track cog for commuting and the free is going to be a large cog (like 20 or 22T), probably a Boone Ti (they are sooo sweet).
For the rest of the bike, Avid Road Disc Front, V-Brake Rear - Aero Road Levers, Dirt Drops (or Salsa Bell Laps if I can't find any Dirt Drops), Whatever other components I can scrounge.
Can't wait! I'll try to post pics when its done if anyone is interested!
Thank you!
KavuBiker |
| instead of... | gspot
Jan 13, 2004 6:59 PM | | the road disc and v rear, run 2 discs, and use the dia compe 287- v levers. these are road areo style levers whith the right cable pull for v and mech disc brakes. If you run you suggested setup, they you'd have to dick around with a pulley dealie for the rear v brake. too much work, IMO. the eaisers way is to go front and rear discs with diacompe 287v brake levers. get gene spicer to weld on a fear disc tab also.
sounds like a fun bike! |
| Yeah, I was going to do that but... | KavuBiker
Jan 13, 2004 7:19 PM | | It all depends on what frame and how much is in my budget.
I have to say though that Spicer's prices are pretty d@mn good considering what they do. I'm impressed already.
I was hoping that I could find a steel frame that could fit 29" wheels with at least a 2.1 Tire (and a disc fork that could fit the same) for cheap. That way, I could run it as a 29" SS trail bike and then toss some 700c Disc wheels on and voila! I also have the Fixed Disc Road bike I wanted! If anyone out there can hook me up, that would be great. Otherwise, its off to the LBS to see what they can do.
KavuBiker |
| you can still use one wheel... | Hollywood
Jan 14, 2004 4:15 PM | | flip flop hub
small track cog on one side
20t White Ind. freewheel on the other.
ebb to take up the slack. (if it swings enough)
was that already covered? I'm losing it, switching betw. old & new boards. I need a Tylenol.
HW |
| Sorta, but not quite... | KavuBiker
Jan 14, 2004 5:00 PM | | Not sure if the EBB would be able to take up the slack.
Looks like it's gonna be a lot of experimenting.
Thanks!
KavuBiker |
| Sorta, but not quite... | sysop
Jan 25, 2004 11:55 PM | | Frame Material: aluminum
Frame Angles: 70.5 head, 73.5 seat
Sizes: 13", 16", 18", 19.5", 21", 22.5"
Colors: Ball-Burnished/Black, Blue/Black
Fork: Rock Shox Pilot C, 80mm travel
Rear Shock: Not applicable
Brake Levers: aluminum linear-pull
Handlebar: Bontrager Sport
Stem: Bontrager Sport
Headset: 1 1/8" threadless Aheadset
Front Der: Shimano Alivio
Crankset: Bontrager Sport, 22/32/42 teeth
Rear Der: Shimano Deore SGS
Pedals: aluminum cage
Tires: 26 x 2.20" Bontrager ACX |
| |
|
|
