I just upsized my chainwheel from a 32-43t wheel, and holy crap what a difference!! I love it though, because i can actually cruise at a much higher speed at the same rpm(duh)! I was wiped after a short 2 mile ride though, so i will definately need to beef up a little bit! god bless single speeds!

put extra coverage in your Health Ins package for your knees

Not fixed, its just single speed, it freewheels. That will change though, at somepoint in the future

what are you running in the back ?

I'm at a 42/16 right now singlespeed... probably pick up my flip flop wheel tonite after work

I find it a pretty easy gear for flats and short uphills....

jeff

43/17 is my magic number. We'll see how it works!

And I've got people sqauking about my 39/16 on 26"ers with 1.75 slicks.

Check the knees at the door!

are y'all kidding? i understand you guys are talking about ss mtn bikes, so maybe it's different for y'all, if you're climbing steep[ inclines on gravel, but really...i'm rocking 48/16 fixed on the road, and my knees don't complain at all. they feel as good as ever.

i've been thinking about lower gearing lately, mostly so i can improve my spin. knee pain/damage is not an issue affecting this probable decision, altho i do hear ppl complain after they borrow my bike.

what gear is everyone running?

-rob

42/16 on the fixie. Might be doin' a SS conversion on an old MTB before long, though. The 42/16 has me spinning on the downhills and with the wind, but it's low enough that I can do the climbs I do on the roadie bike without falling over.

On my single speed road bike, i am using the 43/17 gearing. I like it, because it makes me a better mountain biker on my multi-geared MTB. The 43/17 gearing makes it possible to get up and over anything, while not spinning out on the flats, which i recently found out since the conversion.

Presently I'm running 42/14. Hello hills, good-bye easy ride.

I've been considering dropping to a 14 or 15 in the rear on mine. What gearing did you start one (since you said that you are 'presently' running 42/14, I thought that might imply that you have switched it up a bit.)

Interesting that you've said this...

Why is that? Because in a previous post i stated the humor in seeing a single speeder blasting by a techno weenie in a race due to a busted derailluer? Well, see, i want to have a SS mountain bike, but my current lack of funds are prohibitive. For now, I like how my 43/17 SS road bike allows me to become a better rider with what i have, which is a multiple gear mountain bike.