Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - what gear ratio for urban mtb

I'm just curious to know what ratios you guys were running for urban riding on your ss mtbs. I live in Brooklyn so I don't have hills to deal with but I need something quick. I know we all have our preferences, but I would appreciate some ideas.

I mostly use the bike for commuting, but I like to play weekends.

I'm not rolling a MTB... but my street fixie has a 44:16 on it... it's cool on flats, or downhills.. but the uphills kinda suck... maybe an 18 or 20 on the back would be better for whatcha wanna do....

jeff

I still have the default 38x18 on my monocog and I feel thats too low 90% of my city riding. I was wondering what others were running too..

You could use a flip-flop hub and run a big gear for cruising and a small gear for trails or play. On my 700c Crosscheck I've got enough room in the drops to run a flip-flop that allows 42x17 and 42x21

46X16, riding around nyc

42x15 here on 700cc road bike conversion. Terrain is mostly flat with gradual but long up hills and the occasional steep bastard hill. If find it's quick from a full stop.

Cam

I'm running 46/16 on my urban assualt bike (MTB). Allows me to keep up with traffic. On my road fixie I run 40/14.

40x18 in oakland, 40x20 in san francisco.

this is on 26" knobbies.

My old coaster braked MTB runs at 38/12, which works out to about 77.5". However, it's a bit high for most of my needs. Usually it's about 71". My fixie is 68".

I have 40/16 and find it perfect for Long Island. 40/14 is next.

I'm just curious to know what ratios you guys were running for urban riding on your ss mtbs. I live in Brooklyn so I don't have hills to deal with but I need something quick. I know we all have our preferences, but I would appreciate some ideas.


During some trial runs, I had my MTB semi-converted running 32/12 and 32/14 on 175 cranks. I was using a stock Shimano 9 speed hub with spacers, tension was accomplished with a Singulator, which made the cog change a breeze.

This was mostly paved road / gravel trail riding, with slight inclines. 20-30 mile hops.

I've converted the rig back to its original 7 speed (it's my commuter/crap weather bike) and am seeking out garage sale victims for the final transformation.

I run 42/16 on my SS 1x1. It seems to be a good combo for around here. Of course this is Kansas but we've got a few hills and climbs. And then there is always the wind.
Now this is the gearing I run for mostly urban riding. I switch it around for real trail riding or racing.

Wow, I must be a puss, I run a 34/16 with low profile knobbies around pretty flat ol' Melbourne. I spin out a lot, but it's all about using your SS to DEVELOP a spin, not push a 50rpm cadence and pretend you're HeMan.

Plus, arriving somewhere panting like a you're about to die doesn't impress dah laydeez.

Okay, enough jocularity. Really, you need to just start with 2:1 and go from there. 2:1 is perfect for offroad XC, so chances are you'll need higher for urban/commuting/dicking around. Converting a Shimano DX hub to 135 is cool because you can run 2 cogs on the back and try out a few different combos, and I guess a flip/flop would give you the same effect.

42/16's really not to bad around here. I think it's a nice trade off between spinning out and muscleing it out. That's why I like one gear bikes. They work you at both ends of the spectrum. I think this helps out even if (Heaven forbid) you're riding a geared machine and can't shift for some reason. I suppose the bottom line is everyone has to experiment a little to find out what works best for them and for what they do with the bike.

MTB with 1.4 slicks, 42X14.

Like sipperphoto, I am talking urban road bike. But I am riding a 43 x 14. It paces well and sure it take a little bit of work on hills, but what's wrong with a little bit of work?

thanks for the tips, now I really need to get out of this office.

for me on my 700c road fixie:
42x15 when i was in Brooklyn
42x15 now in SF

-D

My '88 Peugeot mtn fixie is 48X20 (63") although I've never actually had it off-road yet!

I run 42/16 on my SS 1x1. It seems to be a good combo for around here. Of course this is Kansas but we've got a few hills and climbs. And then there is always the wind.
Now this is the gearing I run for mostly urban riding. I switch it around for real trail riding or racing.

Holy crap! I'm in Wichita. Now there are two people with single speeds here.

My SS is 32:16 with big fat tires for the snow. Fixed is 52:21 for little wimpy knees like mine.

i just bought my first fixe - i ride in chicago so mostly flat. after reading the combinations I am interested to see what you think about a 52/16 ratio. my geared bike is in the shop to be fixed so I dont have anything to compare to - i never counted the cogs on that bike. starting off is pretty tough but once I get up to speed crusing seems ok. my main concern is stopping now as this is my first fixie!

52x16 is way high. Try a 44 in the front and keep a brake on. Your knees will thank you.

I'm just curious to know what ratios you guys were running for urban riding on your ss mtbs. I live in Brooklyn so I don't have hills to deal with but I need something quick. I know we all have our preferences, but I would appreciate some ideas.

Are you running skinny slicks, wide cruiser tires, or knobbies?


With a single speed, i'd run a lower gear than the equivilent fixed, as you can do the spin-rest-spin-rest high cadence thing. I run 42X18 on WTB mutanoraptor 2.4"s as a play bike, though if i did more technical riding, i would drop the gearing.

When i had 1.25" slicks, i ran 44X16.

It really depends on the tires

A 1.0 slick is different to using a 2.5 maxxis hookworm

I doubt the OP is still here. He was a newbie in 04 and still is. I also doubt the newbie who brought this thread back to life is actually on a MTB. Not too many 52 chainrings on MTB's.

I run a 44x16 on my fixed gear, but I have a mtb with 32x15. super high spin, so it's more of a chilling/coasting/movie returning bike. I'd probably change it but it fits the vertical dropouts perfectly without a tensioner. I have commuted a few times on it, though, and it's been surprisingly fun. Plus, it kills hills like no other.

52x16 is way high. Try a 44 in the front and keep a brake on. Your knees will thank you.

51x17 fixie, in Chicago. i thought the ratio was smaller when i got it, 48x17, but i realized otherwise soon after. i've been thinking about getting a smaller front chainring, but then again, on the other hand i try to convince myself that it will pay off later... plus i'm broke :)

anywho, i only encounter a few hills, mostly small bridges over rivers, and i'm usually over them with only a few painful revolutions. also, sometimes its hard to get going from dead stop. so...who has some money to donate to the "save my knees" foundation?

you are right i am not on a mtb, sorry i didnt notice that -i was searching for info and found this site. I appreciate the feedback. i have a road bike. 62" frame. the crank is 170mm. wheels are 27" x 1 1/4". contintental gatorgrip tires (i know nothing about tires). i just relooked at the rear cog and it is 15. so i have 52x15 which gives me a 93.6" which from what i am reading is way to high. I bought the bike from a great bike shop that puts together all kinds of old bikes. I will take it back and have him reduce the front to a 44 or 46. I can ride comfortably as is once I get up to speed but I am sure the starts are going to be tough on my knees. thanks for the advice.

53x18 , roughly 72 gear inches, in San Francisco (Mission/SOMA). fast. no spin out on downhill, remarkably good for small climbs, but i am on an aluminum frame.

39x16....feels a little low most of the time. it probably won't once it snows, but we're not there yet.