Would it be weird/possible to run 39:17?
#1
+++++++++++++++
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 349
Bikes: 2 Felt F1X's, Surly Steamroller Fixed / Free, 2007 IF Crown Jewel, 2007 IF Planet X Singlespeed
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Would it be weird/possible to run 39:17?
ok, so i'm trying to figure out the best gearing for my new steamroller. The majority of my riding will be on fairly hilly roads (vermont) and rolling, cyclocross-style off roading. i'm gonna race it too, or at least have it for my pit bike, so i dont mind hopping off the bike and running with it when/if it gets too steep. yes, i know about the cross check but i like the 'roller much better. anyway, my process to figure out the best gearing has been to take my geared bike out and find a gear that works best for the styles of riding i mentioned. well, that seems to be 39:17, which is close to a 2:1 ratio. lots of ppl seem to run a 42 up front and either a 16 or 18 in the back for this kind of riding, but i think that might be a little to tall for me. so...am i crazy? is this a weird gearing? illuminate me....
#2
SERENITY NOW!!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the 212
Posts: 8,738
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Sounds like you went about it right. It'll be slow on pavement, but for hills and off-road, it should do. You might be able to bump it up to 42/17 cuz of the straight chainline and lack of weight from a geared setup.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
#3
or tarckeemoon, depending
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,017
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My advice is to get a fixed/fixed or fixed/free flip flop hub and stick with the small chainring idea. The smaller your chainring, the bigger difference a few teeth in the back make. With some chubbier tires you could run say, 39x16 and 39x19 or 20. Definitely factor the tire size you plan to run in early. Bigger tires will raise your bottom bracket and allow for larger cranks, although I wouldn't go too nuts if you're riding fixed off road.
#4
ex-everything.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charlestown, MA
Posts: 606
Bikes: venerable surly crosscheck
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm over in Albany and I ride a 53:22 (may play around with 53:21 soon), which isn't too far off of my old 36:16. Don't worry about it, go with what's comfy.
Oh, and climbing Adirondack and Green Mountain hills on a fixed is going to make you want to die, but your legs will be totally beefy after a month or two.
Oh, and climbing Adirondack and Green Mountain hills on a fixed is going to make you want to die, but your legs will be totally beefy after a month or two.
#5
+++++++++++++++
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 349
Bikes: 2 Felt F1X's, Surly Steamroller Fixed / Free, 2007 IF Crown Jewel, 2007 IF Planet X Singlespeed
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by marqueemoon
My advice is to get a fixed/fixed or fixed/free flip flop hub and stick with the small chainring idea. The smaller your chainring, the bigger difference a few teeth in the back make. With some chubbier tires you could run say, 39x16 and 39x19 or 20. Definitely factor the tire size you plan to run in early. Bigger tires will raise your bottom bracket and allow for larger cranks, although I wouldn't go too nuts if you're riding fixed off road.
yeah, i plan to get a flipflop hub. so what you are saying is that it sounds like i am on track? ok, cool. i also read somewhere, i think in the surly blog, that it's better to have smaller chainrings and spin a little more because it stresses the drivetrain less, especially on hills and off road riding. i'm more of a spinner anyway, and i am a bit concerned about a catastophic chain failure...
#6
legalize bikes
Join Date: May 2003
Location: bucks county, PA
Posts: 1,250
Bikes: too damn many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
howdy... a bunch of my friends and i race on a SS only team. we race mtn and cx. heres a rundown of some of the ratios we run for cross-
dan 42:18
laura 39:17
peter 48:20
tim 38:17
this puts all of our gears in the 60-65 gear inch range, which seems to work pretty well for east coast cyclocross.
dan 42:18
laura 39:17
peter 48:20
tim 38:17
this puts all of our gears in the 60-65 gear inch range, which seems to work pretty well for east coast cyclocross.