single speed question

[TrailSquirell]

i'm about to say screw it with my rear drailer, i'm runnin a 42 tooth up front, any ideas what gear i should buy for the rear?? any advice is welcome

[steef]

The answer is subjective based on the trails you ride. I'd say try a 20, first.

[TrailSquirell]

i mostly do the park, urban, freeride thing so... i have no clue what gear ratio i should use lol

[mtnbykr]

so... i have no clue

what kind of bike??

[soupboy]

Well, 2:1 is a general place to start for 26" wheels. That's more for XC riding. For urban and park you may want taller gearing for stronger acceleration into stunts and ramps.

You might want to try different front and rear rings. If sticking with a 42t front you could get a 21t Surly or Endless cog for the rear to start with. The larger the total tooth count the better wear you'll get.

Running a smaller front rear combo (32/16 por ejemplo) will give you better chainring clearance on obstacles.

Have fun.

[wanderingrobots]

i remember you talking about riding a hardrock in another thread. I have a hardrock comp, set up ss. i have a 16t in the back, and i just put the chain on the middle ring. The chainline is almost perfectly straight, and it has really worked well for dirt jumping/street stuff. i love it, no more chain falling off, lighter, feels tougher to me. i would recomend doing it

[TrailSquirell]

i have an se racing x4 flyer 26", its an 05

i like the smaller cog in the front idea, but then id be set up for trials pretty much.

i've been thinkin of goin down to a 32 on the front and maybe a 16 or 17? i do need that top end power for doin stunts like i do

[flombe]

i have an se racing x4 flyer 26", its an 05

i like the smaller cog in the front idea, but then id be set up for trials pretty much.

i've been thinkin of goin down to a 32 on the front and maybe a 16 or 17? i do need that top end power for doin stunts like i do

32:16 is pretty much the standard 2:1 ratio for 26 " wheels. It will give you good clearance too. You may want to go 34 on the front if you will want more top end speed as previously mentioned for hitting ramps, etc. Dump the small ring, put the size of your choice on the middle and replace the big ring with a bash ring and you should be set as long as you get your chainline straight.

It is easier to swap out rear cogs than rings to change the ratio by the way.

[mtnbykr]

32:16 is pretty much the standard 2:1 ratio for 26 " wheels. It will give you good clearance too. You may want to go 34 on the front if you will want more top end speed as previously mentioned for hitting ramps, etc. Dump the small ring, put the size of your choice on the middle and replace the big ring with a bash ring and you should be set as long as you get your chainline straight.

It is easier to swap out rear cogs than rings to change the ratio by the way.

what he said...

[stoneage]

I have a flip-flop hub with a 17 on one side and a 20 on the other. 34 front. Like everyone has said, 2-1 is the 'norm' for riding most trails around here. I use 'four two oh' for ski hill races and places like Fruita.

[TrailSquirell]

i only have a 42 tooth on the front with a chain guid, i use to run double bash gaurds with a 36 on my saints but i got rid of them cuz they striped my hardrock frame out, didn't want to take a chance with the new bike (the se). i like the rim flip gear idea, website to get it at? still gota find myself a chain tensioner, unless i'm givin one by my friend...

[soupboy]

To be clear, the flip-flop hub only works with V brakes or cantis, not discs.

Get a 21t Surly cog and give it a shot. With the chain wrap of a 42:21 set up you might not even need a tensioner.

i only have a 42 tooth on the front with a chain guid, i use to run double bash gaurds with a 36 on my saints but i got rid of them cuz they striped my hardrock frame out, didn't want to take a chance with the new bike (the se). i like the rim flip gear idea, website to get it at? still gota find myself a chain tensioner, unless i'm givin one by my friend...

[stoneage]

i like the rim flip gear idea, website to get it at?
Here is a company that makes exact copies of the old Bullseye hub from the 70's. The hub has NEVER had a reported failure, theirs or Bullseyes. I am on year 15 with mine, and they have been on three different bikes. Never replaced the bearings either.
Bulletproof (http://www.peak.org/~fixin/personal/fmu/php/products.php)