General Cycling Discussion - Need some help with a sprocket swap

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The Messenger
05-04-10, 07:37 AM
My wife is looking for a little more speed on her Trek Cruiser. Stock it comes with a 38t chainwheel and a 18t cog. What would be the best way to get a little more top speed? We cruise at around 15mph, but her feet look like she's going 120! :lol:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/cruiser/classic/classicwmn/

cyclist2000
05-04-10, 08:48 AM
you might be able to get a smaller rear cogto put on the hub.

or replace the rear wheel with a 3 speed coaster brake wheel.
The Messenger
05-04-10, 09:14 AM
Yeah, I'm thinking a 3 speed hub might be the best bet.

frankenmike
05-04-10, 03:18 PM
I have a hunch that converting to a 3-speed coaster brake rear wheel would cost more than half what you paid for the bike. Personally, I would try a smaller cog first-should run under 20 dollars. If that is not satisfactory, perhaps a new bike is in order. (Yay!)
DieselDan
05-04-10, 04:09 PM
You can only get a cog that is 2 teeth smaller, a 16T, but you can get a larger chainring, possibly up to 44T.
BlazingPedals
05-04-10, 06:54 PM
You could get a crank with a bigger chainring, but it'd mean losing the chain guard. TANSTAAFL - tell the wife that her high cadence is why it's easy to pedal. If she wants more speed, get her another bike.
ddez
05-04-10, 07:13 PM
Even a drop to a 16T would make a lot of difference. I certainly have experienced that. It would get her out of the 50's and into the 60's gear inches. Cant give you exact gear inches as i dont know wheel size so i figured it out with both 26 and 700's. You might have to shorten up chain by a link or so but easy job to do. Changing the chain ring has to be by a lot more teeth to get same result and costs more.
Ive always had at least one s/s bike in my collection,and its pretty common for most s/s people to ride it somewhere in the 60'S