Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 46x16 vs. 46x18?

I just started commuting on my bike to work. It's only about 3 miles from my house to work. Getting there is easy, since it's mostly a slight downhill ride. However on the ride back, it's mostly a gradual climb. I just started riding again, but it really takes a lot out of me. I'm running 46x16 at the moment, and I'm thinking about switching to 46x18 during the week when I'm commuting. I went for a 10 mile ride on mostly flat roads and I was fine.

Is 46x18 noticably easier than 46x16, or should I be looking at a larger chainring?


Now I have the IRO fixed/free flip flop. I have the 16 on the fixed side. I know I need a cog and a lockring, what other parts are involved? What tools do you need to do this yourself?

Now I don't plan to be swapping out my cogs all the time, but I'm going to head to my local bike shop/school and have them help me do it (should I decide to go with the 18).

if you're looking at the chainring, look smaller, not bigger.

I ride 46x16 and used to ride 46x18 (and I still have the 18t cog on the other side of my hub). They are appreciably different (almost 8 gear inches I think). I used the 18t cog when I lived in a hilly-er area when I first started to ride fixed. It worked out pretty well, although now I just stick with 16 for the most part, even when I'm in hilly areas.

Yes, switching to an 18 will be noticably easier. You may need to add links to your chain, or simply buy a new chain cuz you're going bigger. Possible tool needed for this is a chain tool. You can probably re-use the lockring ya got on your hub now, and just get a new cog.You will need a chainwhip ( make sure it's the right size as your cog, there are two sizes) to get the cog off and a lockring tool for removal and installation of....well...the lockring. G'luck. Oh...and get some good grease. Clean and re-grease your parts before installation.I mean bike parts, of course. ;)

Check the chart/

1 jump on cog size is a larger jump on inches develpment - effort needed - than 1 jump on ring size.

And cogs are cheaper, unless you have a ring already lined up or something