16 vs. 17 vs. 18 teeth freewheel??
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16 vs. 17 vs. 18 teeth freewheel??
i am converting to singlespeed and have no knowledge on the number of teeth on a freewheel and how it affects the ride...so can you help me out by giving me advice on what each number of teeth(16, 17 , 18) would be meant for and why one more or one less tooth would make much of a difference
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I've read Sheldon but only have the experience of riding on a 16 tooth cog. I would like to know from those who have ridden on these what their experience is. How do they differ?
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
Last edited by gbarchus; 07-04-08 at 04:51 AM.
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Yo Slick. It will depend ona few things 1. what type of riding you plan to do. Flat/hills/city???
2. what type of rider are you big strong powerful fella or a lightweight spinner "pantani" type. I ride a 42X18 due to my hilly region. I only ride it as a donut/coffee bike.
Good luck
2. what type of rider are you big strong powerful fella or a lightweight spinner "pantani" type. I ride a 42X18 due to my hilly region. I only ride it as a donut/coffee bike.
Good luck
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I've read Sheldon but only have the experience of riding on a 16 tooth cog. I would like to know from those who have ridden on these what their experience is. How do they differ?
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
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I've read Sheldon but only have the experience of riding on a 16 tooth cog. I would like to know from those who have ridden on these what their experience is. How do they differ?
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
...also, one tooth up or down on the chain ring? I'm riding 45/16 now and have heard it better to run same (odd/even) number front and back. So, do I go 46/16 or 45/15. From the charts I can see the difference. But, one way is cheaper than the other. Why pay for a mistake when there's so much experience here.
What's your feeling?
Gale
On my Peugeot singlespeed I've run a range of gears but found a sweet spot at 42/16. But it depends on what your using the bike for, your conditioning, equipment and the conditions your riding in.
In general you can't go wrong between 65-70 gear inches
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
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Changing the rear gear size is a big deal definitely. I just went from 48/16 to 48/17 and I have alot more acceleration
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Your ideal gear ratio ultimately would depend on your fitness level and your local terrain. About 70 gear inches is a good starting point.
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16 is harder than 17 which is harder than 18.
No one can tell you what is better for _you_. Go try it. And to echo other posters, 1T jump in rear cog is much larger than a 1T jump in chainring. Do not try to go 2t +/- in one go unless you know exactly what you're doing.
No one can tell you what is better for _you_. Go try it. And to echo other posters, 1T jump in rear cog is much larger than a 1T jump in chainring. Do not try to go 2t +/- in one go unless you know exactly what you're doing.
#11
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I ride a 42/17, and tried a 42/16 also, on the flat stretches I like the 16, but it makes the hills tough for me. If my area was all flat riding, I'd go with the 16 tooth cog. But as everyone already stated, there are so many variables (terrain, level of fitness, desired speed, etc...) free wheels are cheap, try both.
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i changed from 46/15 to 46/17 and it was immense. freewheel is an 18t but i have yet to use it. found the 17t fixed to be more fun
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Those are mostly the 3 cogs I run on my Surly, buy them all.
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Noticeable? Yes.
Dramatically so? No.
Keep in mind that your wheel needs to be repositioned in the dropout slot when you change cog size. Typically, you can only accommodate a 2-3 tooth change before you run out of slot and need to change the length of your chain.
Dramatically so? No.
Keep in mind that your wheel needs to be repositioned in the dropout slot when you change cog size. Typically, you can only accommodate a 2-3 tooth change before you run out of slot and need to change the length of your chain.
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I use this site a lot for gear ratio info.
Bicycle Bike Gear Ratio Speed and Cadence Calculator
Just type in your chainring number in the first section and then 16, 17 in the second section. It will show you the differences in cadence vs speed....so you know how fast you'll be spinning on the cranks at different speeds. Gives you a better idea of the differences.
Bicycle Bike Gear Ratio Speed and Cadence Calculator
Just type in your chainring number in the first section and then 16, 17 in the second section. It will show you the differences in cadence vs speed....so you know how fast you'll be spinning on the cranks at different speeds. Gives you a better idea of the differences.
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I started with 46/17 about 4 month ago. Not i am up to 48/17. I would advise on 17t freewheel. I bought mine at Excess Components Pro Series freewheel | Retrogression I also have shimano and white industries. Excess in my opinion better than shimano. For only $20 plus shipping you can not go wrong. White industries better than all of them, but you looking at $80.
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then whenever anyone replies to an old thread, they get called out on that, too!
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There is a big difference between appending a new question to an old thread and answering someone seven years later.
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I told them that so they would know in case no one else replied to the thread. And I did not even do it in a dick-ish way. Any other complaints?
Last edited by Noli Timere; 09-18-15 at 08:42 PM.