Single Speed Gearing
 

So, I got a Globe Roll 1. Love it. Super simple, hard to steal parts, low maintenance. Its a single speed with a 42t chain ring up front, and a 17t rear. Problem is, there is this mile long mankiller of a hill on my way back home. Is it possible to gear it a little better for my environment? I live sort of in the foothills, where nothing is really flat. The bike is great for all of my commuting needs, except the mankiller. And no, I don't want to buy a bike with a derailleur.

Yes. Put a smaller gear on the front, a larger freewheel on the back, or both. You might need a new chain as well if you go to a larger freewheel.

Check out this link to see what different gearing options would do for you.

http://www.bikecalc.com/speed_at_cadence

Here's another good resource that includes some charts to help you figure out what gearing you'd need for a given incline.

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/gears.htm

If you gear for the hill aren't you super spinning out everywhere else?

As a SS rider I totally understand the anti-derailer vibe. But If I lived in the hills... I'd own a geared bike.

Just thought of something else...

Does anyone make a flip/flop hub that can take a freewheel on both sides?

Slay the mankiller.

btw, I don't necessarily want to gear for the hill, just make the hill a man-punisher instead of a man-killer...

My flip-flop hub take a freewheel on both sides, I think it is a Formula hub. The freewheel threads and the fixed sprocket threads are the same, but the freewheel side does not have the threads for the lock ring. You could also use something like this: http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1555

there may be, but I think you can fit a freewheel on the threads of the fixed side.

Right now you're at about 65 gear inches, which is pretty low already. You can try an 18t freewheel, but I think any lower gear and you won't be able to get anywhere very fast unless you're a real fast spinner

What's the spacing on the Roll? Surly makes a 135 free/free flip-flop hub.

The good news is it isn't a big investment to try it. 42-17 is a pretty low gear already, freewheels are cheap, $20 or so, they're easy to swap, the tool is like $5. I have a surly set and formula set and you could run them flip flop with freewheels on both side. I say try the 18 you should be able to do it with no worries about chain length. I think that's a pretty small gear for the flats, but if it's rolling everywhere you go it might be just the ticket for you.

Tough it out. The killer hill will become tame w/repeated climbing. Unless it's like an 18-20% grade 42/17 is plenty low. One consideration is getting a Schlumpf dual gear bottom bracket, but they're pricey

http://www.schlumpf.ch/sd_engl_technische_daten.htm

If you also have a geared bike or can borrow one of similar design to your SS bike, try riding up the hill and experimenting with the gears until you find the highest gear that still makes the hill acceptible. Check what gear combination you are using and divide the rear gear by the front ring and multiple the result by "the anwer to everything" (42) and that will tell you what rear cog you need to put on your SS. So if you find it is okay to ride up the hill using a 39 chain ring and an 18 cog, then (18/39)*42=19 - you need to put a 19 cog on the rear of your SS.
If the test bike has different length crank arms from your SS, (for example 170 mm VS 165 mm) it slightly alters the calculation, but only by about 1/2 a cog tooth.

I used to feel that way about the two hills on my commute, but i've suffered through them countless times and now they're a piece of cake... mostly. I'm running a 67GI, so its not much more than what you are. My advice is try to get some good momentum and a steady cadence just before you start up on the hill, and GOOD LUCK.

When I started commuting I was really out of shape and there was one fairly short hill of only about 200 m that I couldn't bike all the way up in my lowest gear. Now I ride up it effortlessly, but every year, usually around May, I see a few newbie commuters walking the last few meters.

Assuming you're just against derailleurs and not gears in general, you could always go for an internally geared hub. Not to mention--if you wanted to go this way--there's a three speed fixed gear from Sturmey-Archer out now. Sram has at least one hub gearset that switches from fixed to free with a few wrench/screwdriver turns (I forget which).

Good advice

Lame advice