Multi-purpose?

[truckboy]

I'm thinking of setting up my old HT Kona as a SS, but was using it as a commuter before having to donate the rear derrailuer to my fiancee's bike.

I'm wondering if anybody's ever set up a SS to be a mountain bike AND a commuter. I know people make rear wheels with a fixie on one side and a freewheel on the other. I thought I might be able to use the big and middle chainrings, depending on which way I turned the wheel. I'd have a couple Sram wonder-links for chain size and a singulator thingulator.

Anybody??????????

[PutAwayWet]

Check this out from Sheldon Brown's page, about halfway down.

http://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

[truckboy]

I'm not sure what you are trying to point out. I know about flip-flop wheels. That's what gave me the idea.

I talked to my LBS guy (he does a lot of SS's) who suggested using an old derrailuer as a singulator. Jeez, what's the use in having a SS if you still have a F-ing derrailuer attached to the bike?

So maybe I'll just make it into an off-road SS.

What's the most common rear gear to use when using the middle chainring? I think mine's a 32 tooth (standard shimano 44-32-22).

If I'm asking the wrong questions, please correct me. I'm totally new to SS setup. In fact any advice is welcome. I've read some threads in this forum, and sheldon brown's site and am still somewhat unsure.

[ssnoobie]

I run 33:19. I have also run 34:20. One of the guys I ride with runs 40:23. They are all pretty much the same gearing. The ratio you choose depends on where you are going to ride and your strength. I have attached a cheesy gear chart I put together as a reference.

Where will you be riding?

ssnoob

[truckboy]

Middlesex Fells to start, but generally typical NE nastytrack like Fort Rock, Lynn Woods (both sides) 'Nam, Massabesic, KT. I like rocks, boulders and granite, and getting up it is as much fun as riding down it. I figure a pretty EZ ratio. I usually ride in "middle 1 to 3" even when I have gears.

[ssnoobie]

Middlesex Fells to start, but generally typical NE nastytrack like Fort Rock, Lynn Woods (both sides) 'Nam, Massabesic, KT. I like rocks, boulders and granite, and getting up it is as much fun as riding down it. I figure a pretty EZ ratio. I usually ride in "middle 1 to 3" even when I have gears.


I think if you pick something in the 1.7 to 1.74 range you will be golden. I ride the same types of trails you are describing, and I have found that I can make it up just about everything on the singlespeed. There is a single speed only ride at fort rock coming up. Several guys on this forum are riding it, and they may have a better recommendations for a ratio for southern NH. The guy I ride with has ridden KT and the VT50 with 40:23 with no problems. I have yet to ride either of those courses single speed.

As far as your original question about using a bike for a commuter and a off-road single speed, what about two wheelsets? That way you could have commuting slicks on one with a smaller cog and knobbies on the other with a larger cog. YOu could just use two chains to make the swapping easier. Then again, if you want a get to the trail head gear and and a trail gear there are always the eno double freewheels. You can set up with two chainrings in the front and run a single chain. http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/white-freewheels.html

[ArmOnFire]

I'm a recent convert, and did a 32x20 (1.6) for starters, I feel that I do spin out on the flats at say GBF, but at the Rock I really like this ratio. Maybe a 19 is in my future.

What I did, is ride my geared bike in a few different spots with one ratio, then the same spots with another ratio.

Try it.