Cyclocross - Singlecross for trail riding

Hey everybody,
Just got my first cross bike and will be hanging around here a bit.
A local guy was dumping off his barely used '08 Singlecross and I couldn't pass it up. It is stock except for the 175mm Veluta cranks he has on it so...

It comes with 42x18......too hard for trail riding so what ratios are most people running for "non racing" applications. Also I have some old Race Face mtn compact 5 arm cranks laying around....can I replace the Veluta's with these?

Looking forward to this community..

Thanks :thumb:

I'm running 42/19 on my Singlecross. It can get a little spinny on the road but off road it's just about right.

I've found 62-65 gear inches to be just about the right spot for off-road singlespeed CX. That's not a racing gear, but it is a trail gear. Spinny on the road for sure, but small enough that you can punch over small climbs on loose surfaces.

Something like 38-17 or 42-20

Gearing depends on where you live. Where I am, there are lots of hills and the climbing is nearly constant. Off-road, I've pushed around a 2:1 ratio, 32/16. When I rode fixed off-road I rode 32/13. 42/20 and 38/17 seem a little high to me for the terrain around here. If you live somewhere a bit flatter, though, they're probably about right.

42x18 is too tall for me on soft and muddy tracks. its fine at first. but once the mud starts building up, the resistance really starts to wear you down. on hardpack, if fine, especially on a bike that does dual duty. its still manageable, but not the easiest.

Gearing depends on where you live. Where I am, there are lots of hills and the climbing is nearly constant. Off-road, I've pushed around a 2:1 ratio, 32/16. When I rode fixed off-road I rode 32/13. 42/20 and 38/17 seem a little high to me for the terrain around here. If you live somewhere a bit flatter, though, they're probably about right.


I think you are absolutely right about the ride determining the gear... most of my "cyclocross rides" involve a fair bit of riding to the trail on bike path or the road, some doubletrack/powerline road rolling hills with punchy climbs and some sandy singletrack with little extended climbing but some steep arroyo entry/exit moves. Occasionally I'll take the SS 29er out (32-20) on the same track and find that it is silly undergeared on the road. With 38-17 I have to push the cross bike up a couple steeper loose hills, but I can actually pedal the road part. Anytime you are singlespeeding, you'll have to make a compromise somewhere.