Hello, I had a question for the folks who own multiple single speed bikes. Is it wise to keep those bikes with the same gear setup for consistency or do you guys play around with different setups for each bike?

A little background: I currently own a Cannondale Capo with the stock 42/17 setup and a Specialized Sirrus that I'm planning on selling and replacing with a vintage road bike (and converting to single speed). I usually ride the Sirrus at 48/15 and shift to 48/17 on hills.

Should I have the Capo and the road bike with the same setup?

Thanks in advance.

not necessarily, it really depends on what you plan on doing with the bikes. if you really like your current gearing and the other bike will be used for the same kind of riding, then keep it the same gearing.

if you plan to (or want to keep the option open) for different riding (training, polo, beater, stuff hauling) the modify one, or both of your rides to reflect the daily-ride, and the specialized-ride

its down to personal preference.

if i had 2 fixies i would make one a townie in the high 60's and make the other into a fast bike in the high 70's/low 80's.

i have several (6) and they all have different ratios... this wasn't on purpose at first, just what i had around, but i've found i really like it. as said, i can use different bikes for different reasons. if i wanna haul ass i take a different one than if i want to cruise down to dinner without breaking a sweat

Get a flip-flop hub on your new bike. that'll give you two options. Slap a Dingle on one side, now you've got three. Add a Dingle to the other side, now you've got four.

My personal favorite setup is fixed/free. I do like to ride in the country and have been known to go just a little too far. Having ss on one side is great when you are tired.

Others like to have a racing cog and a tooling around town cog. Or one low for tricks, one high for speed.

Has anyone thought of using an internal gear hub on a fixie or SS?

Edit: found what a dingle is...lol sorry

Different tasks require different machines.

Commuter/race/long ride bike: 46/17
Polo/Trick bike: 42/17, but I'm on the lookout for a 38t chainring.