One bike--two rear wheels to swap--three possibilities

[Caaah]

Let me just propose something possibly insane, or possibly genius. :p

I have been puzzling over the idea of having one 16 inch folder with two rear wheels that I could swap out. One would be a Sturmey Archer 8 speed and one would be a flip/flop singlespeed/fixie.

Is there any reason why I can't do this? Ignoring for a moment the chainline rub on the frame problem that could creep up on my Curve (because I could always jump ship for a Downtube Mini), could I live with a 55 gear inch fixie, or would it be too low-geared? I am very happy with a ~35-108 range on the SA 8, so I was thinking I could do a 50t front 19t rear with a smaller, non-big apple tire for the SA. That would give me, with a 50t front 13t rear and a big apple tire (which makes the wheel size a little bit bigger), about 55 inches (I think the tire inflation makes it slightly subjective).

And I could always put a slightly bigger rear cog on the single speed side. Is my thought process totally off here? I'd love to hear things I'm missing.

Thoughts? Objections? Fruit you'd like to throw at me?

[Dynocoaster]

It is possible and I would like to see it when it is done. Just measure twice and purchase once.

[Sammyboy]

55 sounds a little low, but you can get 11t track cogs. My question is, how much difference in chain length will the dropouts let you have? And even if you can't, thinking about it, 55 probably isn't too bad on something like a Mini. Definitely interested to see how this comes out.

[rhm]

To do this with a 16" wheel, Id want a hub that has a 1:1 ratio near the middle of its range (which rules out the Sturmey 8 speed hub) and takes a 14T cog (which rules out a Shimano Nexus). So, maybe a Sturmey 5 speed hub. With a 56 T chain ring --which is the largest I'd be able to find-- you'd have a range of 36 to 81 with the 5-speed hub and 54 gear inches in single speed mode. This way you wouldn't have any chain problems; no need for a chain tensioner, no need to add or remove links when you switch wheels.

[trueno92]

i believe the strida matches your gear ratio, minus the fixie fetish. its definately rideable and the small wheels accelerate fast and allow you to climb hills pretty easily.. you much more so since belt skip will be non existant.

i find it kinda low tho, and wouldn't mind it being pushed a bit higher..