Far Rider

I recently started running a 60 inch gear on my homebuilt offroad singlespeed bike. Most of the time I can ride except over the steeper sections, where riding a low gear is almost as slow as walking, anyway.

What gear are you guys using?

SamHouston

It depends entirely on your terrain. I could ony suggest that if you're walking there could be room for improvement in your selection. However as I don't know what sort of steep is steep to you it's hard to say. I never walked when racing geared bikes, I've never waked an SS recreationally by the assumptions I got racing, that I ought not have to walk. Still it could be necessary with your terrain.

Far Rider

The uphills are long and steep enough to where a lower gear would be nice for riding up. The problem would then be maintaining speed on the downhills and level ground. I have good speed now in the flats compared to last year, when I was riding a lower gear. I am going as fast as I want to in the flats now but again, I am sacrificing the climbing ability. Short hills don't bother me.

I have seen pictures of singlespeed races where the riders were running up the hills rather than riding, so I guess I need to rephrase my question: given the choice between having speed in the flats and being able to climb anything, which would you rather have?

SamHouston

Personally I'd want to rely on my cadence in the flats and stay in the saddle on the climbs. I think it'd result in improved performance to complete the climbs and allow you to increase your gear inches incrementally as your climbing improved over a season.

Far Rider

Good points, and I can see why that would work. As it turns out, I have a larger rear cog that will work with this particular setup I may try.

I neglected to mention that I have a totally new riding area this year, so I am learning as I go here. Thanks for the advice.

Kiecker

Singlespeeds actually have 3 speeds: go, stop, walk. Use them accordingly and to your benefit.

yonderboy

Run-ups are put in races as an added challege. The hill is not steep enough that you couldn't ride up it. It's just faster to run up it.

That said, I usually choose the gear that I can ride up the steepest hill, but not spin out so fast on the flats. If it's flat, I'll ride around 2.1:1 (55"). If it's steep, I'll ride 1.6:1 (41"). I ride with a cassette hub and a bunch of cogs.

One of the reasons I like riding singlespeed is that it forces you to find the flow of the trail--that point where you're maintaining or gaining speed--without pedalling. With proper technique, you can accelerate out of corners without ever pedalling.

invicta

i agree, the just about perfect gear for single speed mtb is hovering somewhere around 2:1. 32:16 is ussually pretty safe, its fast enough to keep decent speed but low enough to allow climbing all but the granny gear and big ring in the back climbs

seely

I enjoy 32:17 on a 26" wheel or a 32:18 on a 29" wheel.

invicta

Kiecker, i thought the 3 speeds were sit stand and walk

redfooj

2:1 is a good starting point just like 42:16 is for road

i personally run 33:17 on 26"

jim-bob

I like 38x20 (free) or 38x18 (fixed), offroad.

On pavement that bike is either 38x15 fixed or 38x17 free.