I am very interested in getting a single speed bike for my daily commute. But I have never ridden one and do not have any mates with a SS bike. I currently ride a hybrid with a 27-gear Shimano Tiagra - is there a gear amongst all those that I could use that would approximate to that of a SS? I need to get a sense of whether my 10-mile each way journey into town from N12 is doable on a SS, especially the return leg, which is uphill. If there is some one up in N3 or N12 that wouldn't mind showing off their bike to me and giving me a chance to ride it I'd be grateful

Cheers

daveshannon@mac.com

anything is doable...do it!

44:16 is good, i live up in archway so have that issue.

I am in N12 on Saturday but my bike is fixed and has no brakes sorry.

(Which is an absolute blast coming down Archway or Highgate Hill West)

If you can do Archway hill on an SS anything is indeed possible

What is 44:16 by the way?

I know I have three rings at front and nine at back, which would approximate to a popular SS ratio?

shit ma3k, did HHWE once brakeless - never again.

and DaveS - yeah it's doable, don't think about it too hard and choose a gear that will deal with the climb home

take care on those downhill blasts, MA3K. Enjoy N12

just try cycling in one gear,and don't change, you can choose your ratio later,
if you want to try one out just go to cycle surgery to try out a bike, all you have to do is leave a credit card

44 teeth on front, 16 on back. Or if you have a 52 front, something like 18/19 teeth rear. or look-up gear inches, something in low 70's .

Your gears would be 52-42-30 teeth at the front. (guessing)
So a good try-out gear would be middle ring and 14-15-16 at the back. (count the teeth in the back sprockets)
See which one you like best.

Choose a gear you ride in reguarly and don't shift for a few days. You can choose any gear you wnat for single speed. 44 :16 means 44 teath on the frount 16 on the back. what is important is the ratio between the two so if you don't have a 44 tooth chainring up front and 16 up back choose a combination which gives the same ratio.

If you whish to when you have found a gear you are happy with you can convert your hybrid to single speed v cheaply and easily but not to fixed unless it has horizontal drop outs. Check out Sheldonbrown.com for loads of genral bike info and termanology plus info on figer wheel / gear and single speed bikes.

Thanks, dogsballs and MA3K, that helps -- I'm going to count teeth and try a gear for my cycle home at 6pm

That's middle at the front (52-42-30) and the fourth at the back (rises 12-23)

OK I have done a couple rides now using only one gear (42:15). No truly strong compulsion to change gear. Didn't even think about touching the levers.Which is one less stress :0) Felt a bit silly with legs going like crazy when I reached 22mph on downhills. Certainly no big issue with the uphills in that gear. Might try it again on a return trip with 42:16. Made me think I do a lot of unnecessary gear changing and that I could put more into my climbs.

Thanks for the Sheldon Brown link, Tommy

If you''re okay with 42:15 try it with 42:14, see if you can still make the hills.
See it as a challenge not to change gear (it gets easier) but don't wreck your knees in the process. Change to a lower gear if you need to while still experimenting, you'll find something that suits.

What if the wind is stronger, will you manage a headwind uphill in the same gear?

...Saying that, my 18 miler has a sting in its tail on the return leg.
I am quite happy with 42:15 and 26inch wheels.

Looking forward to finishing the "project", so I can try fixed for the first time :D

What is the project?

you're also dragging all those 27 gears around DaveS, so do allow for a real SS bike to be significantly lighter. I went thru exactly the same process last year and was pleasantly surprised how 'easy' the hills were. You simply have to attack them with a 'nowhere to hide' approach. Wish I'd been braver and gone fixed sooner too....its much more fun.

yeah good point kipsy a fixed 42:15 is easier than ss 42:15 as well

Even with my 27 gears my current bike weighs 21lb, which ain't that bad - how much weight can I lose dropping 26 of those gears?

Why would a fixed 42:15 be easier than SS 42:15?
Is that because there is no coasting?

you have the momentum of always pedalling ;)

48:19 - best. More teeth = less wear. Sod SS, just throw yourself in the deep end and go fixed straight away :-)

I still end up just staring at my wheels in disbelief sometimes when going up hills fixed. Even compared to single-speed, fixed is a bit amazing in that respect. Be warned DaveS, if you do make the switch you'll probably never go back! At least not much. freewheel bikes feel positively wierd for me now.

DaveShannon:Just some old Carlton frame. It's got neat lugs but otherwise shabby.
Got problems with 26tpi thread in BB just now (plus can't get the drive-side cup out).

Biggest problem is Mr. Postie's on strike. :(
Can't get my hands on shiny hubs to try my hand at wheel building - the aim is to build the machine myself on a frugal budget.

Worst bit is, our post comes through Liverpool so probably not see anything for several months - Scouse postal workers are a liability.

I always find that I don't have as much control as I would like on a freewheel bike after riding fixed. No speed control in legs... Also used to never changing gears...

in find that may cadence is fucked up when riding freewheel and it's hard work. also the bike seems clunky and heavy

Change down, spin faster. Quit smoking. :)