exas
06-08-07, 12:09 AM
does smaller wheels mean less distance traveled per revolution of the crank arm?
Folding Bikes - single speed for folding bike
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Fear&Trembling
06-08-07, 02:19 AM
I ride a fixed folding bike and it is a 52/13 combination giving 76 gear inches. This works for me, but I don't tackle any steep hills. I don't think you would need to gear down significantly, but you might, depending on the terrain (I cannot climb out of the saddle as well on a folder). However, once you have become accustomed to riding a folding bike you may be able to use the same gears as on your big-wheeled ss.
Can you borrow a folding bike with gears and see which combination suits your route(s)?
does smaller wheels mean less distance traveled per revolution of the crank arm?)
No, but you do need different sprocket combinations. On my fixed 700cc bike I ride 48/16 (81 GI), but due to the smaller wheels you need bigger chainrings and smaller cogs for taller gears.
Can you borrow a folding bike with gears and see which combination suits your route(s)?
does smaller wheels mean less distance traveled per revolution of the crank arm?)
No, but you do need different sprocket combinations. On my fixed 700cc bike I ride 48/16 (81 GI), but due to the smaller wheels you need bigger chainrings and smaller cogs for taller gears.
James H Haury
06-08-07, 09:35 AM
I ride a fixed folding bike and it is a 52/13 combination giving 76 gear inches. This works for me, but I don't tackle any steep hills. I don't think you would need to gear down significantly, but you might, depending on the terrain (I cannot climb out of the saddle as well on a folder). However, once you have become accustomed to riding a folding bike you may be able to use the same gears as on your big-wheeled ss.
Can you borrow a folding bike with gears and see which combination suits your route(s)?
No, but you do need different sprocket combinations. On my fixed 700cc bike I ride 48/16 (81 GI), but due to the smaller wheels you need bigger chainrings and smaller cogs for taller gears.I recommend loose screwsBicycle small parts for larger chainrings and custom freewheeels BmX and derailluer.
Can you borrow a folding bike with gears and see which combination suits your route(s)?
No, but you do need different sprocket combinations. On my fixed 700cc bike I ride 48/16 (81 GI), but due to the smaller wheels you need bigger chainrings and smaller cogs for taller gears.I recommend loose screwsBicycle small parts for larger chainrings and custom freewheeels BmX and derailluer.
geo8rge
06-09-07, 02:49 AM
Sheldonbrown.com has a calculator. Harriscyclery.com has a nice fixed gear area. Surley has a fixed gear cog with 2 gears on it.
LittlePixel
06-09-07, 04:18 PM
If you get the right combination of gears you should be able to get something that feels comparable. I have a 20" wheeled Raleigh Twenty and a 700c wheeled Peugeot that both run fixed gear; both run with identical 'gear inches' and as such are very comparable in terms of cadence needed, climbing ability and cruising speeds. Naturally you will notice subtle differences based on the different feel of different sized wheels (Acceleration, gyroscopic stability are greater, smaller on less wheeled bikes but I'm sure you can make a transition to small wheeled folders without it being a trade in the feel you have with your singlespeed.