Just got my new single speed put together a few days ago, a Dawes Streetfighter. I'm loving it so far but the gearing is too tall for my ***** ass. It's at 46/16 freewheel right now. I want to try an 18t freewheel cog and also would like to replace the fixed cog on the other side with a freewheel 20t in case I ever need to climb something real steep while I'm carrying extra weight. Changing cogs is something I've never done before. Is there anything else I'll need to replace the fixed cog with a freewheel 20t and should I buy a tool to do it myself or take it to a bike shop? Also any recommendations as far as what brand of cogs I should go with? Thanks.

How much room do you have in the dropouts? Adding 2 teeth will move the wheel forward by roughly 1/4 inch. If the wheel is already really far forward, you might have to lengthen the chain.

At the same time... a few days wasn't enough for me to adapt to the relatively tall gear of my SS when I put it together.

To change a fix gear cog, you need a chain whip aka cog wrench with a chain that works on your cog and a lockring spanner. Both are good tools to have if you want to ride fixed. Then you can acquire different cogs and change gears as you like within the limits of your dropout/track end. (The Dawes has a track end.)

Ben

It looks like I might have just enough room for an 18t to work with the chain I have but a 20t would require a longer chain. And yeah, I know I would get stronger the longer I ride it as is but I've had other bikes and just prefer lower gearing. Acceleration is better for me over top speed.

I don't want to ride fixed. I'm wanting two freewheel cogs, one on each side. Edit op for clarity.

Freewheels are easy. They spin on hand tight, then will self tighten as you ride, same as road bike freewheel. By the same token, you'll need a freewheel remover to take them off when that time comes.

Two on each side?

maybe 2 total, one in each side.

However I believe they still make double freewheels, so a 4s flip flop is possible, though it'll be pricey.

lol 2 on each side, although I'm pretty sure he meant a single freewheel one each side. just go with an IGH

One freewheel on each side. Sorry, should have been more clear.

$200.00 will get it done.

I'm sure that at least one person did it.

You CAN have two on each side if you really want to. 17+19 on one side and 20+22 on the other.

FREEWHEELS ? White Industries

an old build of mine:

To remove the freewheel, you'll need the appropriate freewheel remover tool. There are a bunch of them, and the one you'll need depends on your freewheel -- there should be some indentations on the outer face of it where the splines of the tool fit into to wrench it off. You won't need any tools to put the new ones on. Just remember to grease the threads.
Original post sounds like you have a fixed cog on the other side that you want to remove too. For that you'll need a lockring wrench or pliers to get the lockring off (remember that it's reverse threaded, so turn right to loosen). Ideally you'd use a chain whip to get the cog itself off, but you can do it without using the reverse rotafix method -- basically using the frame and chain as your chain whip. Should be easy to Google instructions.

But be careful. There are some particularly cheap single freewheels with no provision for a remover tool. Once installed, destructive removal is the only way to get them off.

I can attest to this.

A shop did me the favor of installing an ACS Crossfire which had to be destroyed to be removed.


-Tim-

Huh ? I have 3 of them, and have removed them non-destructively using the proper tool. It can require removal of the axle locknut, if that's what you mean, but certainly does not need to be destroyed.

Don't go back to that shop. No destruction required.

I'm guessing that you had the 6 spline version of the freewheel. That's an ACS specific design (as far as I know).

Dave

Me? It was TimothyH that had the unfortunate situation.

If a shop sells and installs a proprietary freewheel, they should own the tool for removal.

That's who I was referring to. Hopefully that didn't strip the threads on the rear wheel. Agreed on the tool.

Dave