Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - running f/f with different sizes; how big a difference can you go?

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dijos
05-09-07, 10:04 AM
If you are not looking to change chains, or have your wheel fall off, as a real approximate, how many tooth difference can you run of a flip/flop hub?
I'll guess that one or 2 is ok, providing you have the room in your dropouts, but 3 or more? does anybody ride like this? I'm thinking of getting a slightly smaller freewheel, and bigger cog, maybe 2 teeth difference.

whiney
05-09-07, 10:14 AM
If you are not looking to change chains, or have your wheel fall off, as a real approximate, how many tooth difference can you run of a flip/flop hub?
I'll guess that one or 2 is ok, providing you have the room in your dropouts, but 3 or more? does anybody ride like this? I'm thinking of getting a slightly smaller freewheel, and bigger cog, maybe 2 teeth difference.


My friend had a 15 tooth cog on his bike, and I helped him to replace it with a 18t one.
We did not have to resize the chain, it was perfect.
I guess the tooth difference is 3-4 max, depending on your track ends/dropouts ...
Rattlebag
05-09-07, 10:16 AM
The distance the axle moves in the dropouts is 1/8" for each tooth difference, so for a 3 tooth difference you will need at least 3/8" horizontal length in your dropouts

lazzarello
05-09-07, 10:50 AM
working with a 15 and 18 tooth. long chrome gimpeme dropouts. 15 tooth makes the wheel go right to the end.
Yoshi
05-09-07, 10:58 AM
16 and a 13 on my bike. I used to have an 16/18 and didn't need to resize the chain (although I swapped my 46 chainring for a 47 at some point, so an 18 probably won't fit anymore).
mrRed
05-09-07, 11:03 AM
I can run between 15 and 19t on mine. I think I might be able to go one more tooth either way too, and no super long dropouts, just the regular dropouts on a Soma Rush.
Natron
05-09-07, 11:06 AM
I went from 16 to 19 on mine fine. The only thing is that you have to deflate the rear tire to get the chain and wheel off now because it's so close to the seat tube.
roadfix
05-09-07, 11:38 AM
I regularly flip my rear wheel. I run 15 & 18 fixed cogs.
trons
05-09-07, 12:12 PM
i could do 20/16 alright. 20 was way in front of the dropout of course, almost as far as it could go. im sure i could have gone to 15 if i had it...