1 bike - 2 purposes - help me gear this properly
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 4,349
Bikes: Felt TK2, Felt Z5
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
14 Posts
1 bike - 2 purposes - help me gear this properly
2014 Specialized Crave SL:
Currently setup as a SS mountain bike, 34:17 which seems about perfect for the trails here. What I want to do, and plan on doing, is making it a winter commuter. Will throw on some slicker tires as the weather changes and eventually a studded setup. I would like to gear this more appropriately for the street. So I am thinking about getting a second chain and a chainring and just leaving the 17T on there and rolling it. I don't need anything super high but would like something that will let me build up a little speed on a rather flat commute. Any suggestions? The bike does have an EBB as well.
Currently setup as a SS mountain bike, 34:17 which seems about perfect for the trails here. What I want to do, and plan on doing, is making it a winter commuter. Will throw on some slicker tires as the weather changes and eventually a studded setup. I would like to gear this more appropriately for the street. So I am thinking about getting a second chain and a chainring and just leaving the 17T on there and rolling it. I don't need anything super high but would like something that will let me build up a little speed on a rather flat commute. Any suggestions? The bike does have an EBB as well.
#3
Senior Member
I ride 42:17 on my Hamilton but I think you would find that too low. A 46 or 48 chainring would be my best guess.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 72
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 4,349
Bikes: Felt TK2, Felt Z5
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
14 Posts
I don't need gear inches honestly. I just would like to see what the equivalents are depending on what you use for the rear, i.e. what a 46:16 would convert to with another set up.
#9
Senior Member
nripin's link does give development but IMHO it is nowhere near as ez to relate to as gear inches
Check this one out, its got effin everything...Catculator, the Fixed Gear Calculator
#10
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Check this one out, its got effin everything...Catculator, the Fixed Gear Calculator
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 516
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Check this one out, its got effin everything...Catculator, the Fixed Gear Calculator
Here's another good one I used to use: BikeCalc.com - Fixed Gear Calculator
I like it because you can bring up several different ratios at one time on a graph
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Virginia/DC
Posts: 1,454
Bikes: quite a few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
46/17 sounds about right to me although it depends a little on the tire size. If you're running 29ers with studs maybe 44/17 would be better.
Gear inches don't account for crank length.
Gear inches don't account for crank length.
#13
7-speed cultist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 20,093
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers)
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2792 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
517 Posts

For my fixed-gear, I permanently have a 16T and 18T installed on the flip-flop hub, and I switch between a 42T chainring in the winter and a 45T chainring in the other three seasons. So by using 42/18 in the winter and 45/16 the rest of the time, I'm able to keep using the same chain year-round.

#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 4,349
Bikes: Felt TK2, Felt Z5
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
14 Posts
Just based on the fact that this is a 34:17, using the one chain isn't feasible. I would like to go to a 45 or 46 up front so I will need a second one. I don't mind honestly.