Touring - Setting up a singlespeed for touring?

Not because I am die hard, but because I would rather tour on my steel IRO Angus than my Scott Addict R3. Any advice on how to set up a singlespeed for touring?

I just want to cycle from SF to LA. I want to go light and very basic. I am most concerned with choosing optimal gearing for climbing. Any thoughts? I have read that I can put a climbing cog on my flip/flop wheel a long with a cog for flats and just alternate. Any experience with magic combinations? I have also read that I can just carrry a few extra chainrings and just put one on when necessary.

If you have any advice, links, photos etc, I would greatly appreciate it.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=aOqe&doc_id=339&v=3#7484
Here is alink to someone who has done cross country on a single speed.

That route along HWY 1 (I'm assuming that's your route) is very hilly, short steep hills, one right after another. Couldn't think of a worse place for a single speed, but then again I cannot for the life of me understand the attraction to single speeds in general, oh well to each his own. Pick a low gear or bring good walking shoes.

My advice: Only tour in areas that are flat as a pancake with no winds. If not, go ahead and schedule that knee surgery.

Why single speed on a loaded bike? the weight difference wouldn't even be detectable.

Not because I am die hard, but because I would rather tour on my steel IRO Angus than my Scott Addict R3. Any advice on how to set up a singlespeed for touring?

I just want to cycle from SF to LA. I want to go light and very basic. I am most concerned with choosing optimal gearing for climbing. Any thoughts? I have read that I can put a climbing cog on my flip/flop wheel a long with a cog for flats and just alternate. Any experience with magic combinations? I have also read that I can just carrry a few extra chainrings and just put one on when necessary.

If you have any advice, links, photos etc, I would greatly appreciate it.

I've toured on a Quickbeam, I set it up with 40/32t chain rings and a 18/16t White Industries double freewheel on one side and a 22t freewheel on the other. OK so its not really a single speed anymore. With only a single chainring you won't get much gear range as you'll be limited by your the length of your chain and drop outs. Most of the time I found 42/16 (67.5") to be an ok touring gear. When I came to some serious hills I went down to 32/22 (39"), and if it gets really tough you can always walk.

I just want to cycle from SF to LA. I want to go light and very basic. I am most concerned with choosing optimal gearing for climbing. Any thoughts?
You could do it... if you ride all the way down the Central Valley and completely avoid the coast. :P

Just to give you an idea: going from Big Sur to San Simeon is about 70 miles, and probably close to 10,000 feet of climbing on that day alone. You'll have at least 1 other day like that, and there really aren't any flat days along that route.

Pick up the Adventure Cycling map; it's got the elevations. (It also avoids some rather troublesome spots, like Route 1 outside of San Luis Obispo.)

If it is of any assistance: I did that route a few months ago with 40 lbs of stuff and 28 gear inches as my lowest gear. So unless you want to walk up the hills -- which you might be OK with of course -- I'd aim for 28 to 30 inches.


All that said: I can definitely understand why you would not want to tour on the Scott; single speed just isn't much of a better plan. But if you can afford an Addict R3, then heck -- you can afford to buy yourself a Surly LHT and sell it when you're done with your tour, right? :D

I've toured on a Quickbeam, I set it up with 40/32t chain rings and a 18/16t White Industries double freewheel on one side and a 22t freewheel on the other. OK so its not really a single speed anymore. With only a single chainring you won't get much gear range as you'll be limited by your the length of your chain and drop outs. Most of the time I found 42/16 (67.5") to be an ok touring gear. When I came to some serious hills I went down to 32/22 (39"), and if it gets really tough you can always walk.

"OK so its not really a single speed anymore." OK it's not a single speed anymore and if you want to change gears, you stop and do in manually. This reminds me of the old Monty Python silly walk routine, you go through all this effort to cripple your bike to two gears, when you could leave it alone and have 27 gears, easily accent any hill and enjoy your trip. I'm back to not having a clue as to the attraction to single speed bikes, can anyone explain or is it some kind of Zen / Faith thing that cannot be explained???????

Single speeds are a lot of fun to ride! I've a fixed gear track bike I set up for road riding (put on a front brake). My fixed is super liteweight, and pretty darned fast, a bunch of fun. Great excersize because your allways moving. Great to learn good pedaling form as well.

I would never tour on one.

I'm back to not having a clue as to the attraction to single speed bikes, can anyone explain or is it some kind of Zen / Faith thing that cannot be explained?
Both are mechanically simple, low maintenance, and excellent for any use if you live somewhere flat.

I think you could do flat tours just fine with an SS/fixie. I can totally see it in Holland or Flanders. Scenic Route 1 in California is, well, kinda "not flat" and thus not a good fit for SS. :D

Toured on a fixed, 62" gear, 25lbs of stuff. Was fine on the flats, very fun.

But like was said I wouldn't recommend on rolling terrain, your knees will suffer. Flip-flopping wheels is far from practical, and you wouldn't get a reasonable range since a correct gear for climbing is low. Unless you have a double ring like above, or a surly dingle set-up (with which you wouldn't have to flip the wheel).

But... this becomes kinda complex, gears are much simpler. On the other hand, some have done the PBP fixed or SS...

You could do it... if you ride all the way down the Central Valley and completely avoid the coast. :P



I want to go up the Grapevine on a SS.

Assuming you are going to ride the coast, it's pretty much up and down, so I suggest gearing fairly low. Forget the "dingle speed" setup (two sets of gears) - I doubt there are too many sections where the grade is consistent long enough to justify the extra hassle. If you are already in San Francisco, change your gear ratio to something around 2:1, load up the bike, and try riding the Headlands loop, Mt Tam, or some other ride to test the idea before taking off.

I have 4 bikes and only one has multiple gears on it. For those of you who don't get it, well, what can I say? But I do need to dispell a myth - it isn't that hard on the knees if you just stand up when climbing.

No need to flip flop.......set it up as a 2x2 and your low gear will be plenty low.....as long as you're not hauling 40 lbs of gear. :D

why not consider a 1x9 ?

why not consider a 1x9 ?

1x9 is a bit extreme when it comes to chain angle, I think a 1x6 or 1x7 would be a bit better. I have a bike set up 42 in front and a 13-32 6 speed freewheel, 87" to 33", works nicely. Still I really enjoy touring singlespeed and I'd recommend a gear around 60", so 42x18. This is ok on the flats and will get you up most
gentle hills. You have to freewheel down the hills and get of an push up some steep stuff, but I don't mind that. FYI I keep my gear load around 20lbs.