Single Speed advise

[Yo Crashy]

Running my singlespeed 38:16. Nice gear for road and makes your knees hurt off road

 

[stevek]

Running my singlespeed 38:16. Nice gear for road and makes your knees hurt off road

Blimey! :shock: I run 36:16 and on some hills it's a struggle!

 

[Yo Crashy]

Running my singlespeed 38:16. Nice gear for road and makes your knees hurt off road

Blimey! :shock: I run 36:16 and on some hills it's a struggle!

Not too many big hills in Dorset and Ive got no worries about walking up stuff.

 

[stevek]

Ah... I see...

I have to be throwing my lungs up before I give up on a hill.

 

[DeletedUser006]

Done !

Here is it , just this second completed, I went for a 36 18 setup which feels spot on, I need a Chain tensioner though as the chain is too sloppy :cry: Can anyone advise of a good one that will fit.

Cheers

 

[amt27]

I have a Paul's Melvin tensioner, it allows me to have two front rings.

 

[FairfaxPat]

single speed

Chain tensioners suck-if you can adjust your gears to keep it tight you would be better off. Your 36-18 is a 2 to 1 ratio- if you used perhaps a 38 tooth chainring in front and / or a 19 cog in back it might just tighten up enough to ride just fine and with a 38-18 you only raise your gear ratio about 5 percent, and a 38-19 is the exact same 2 to 1 ratio you seem to prefer.

 

[velomaniac]

Try a half link chain on your existing gear set up, it will allow you to fine tune the tension. Or just fit a couple of half links into your existing chain.
Halflinks are available in both chain sizes.
2 jockey wheel tensioners are the best, if using an old deralier its best to use a short cage type such as a road bike mech as it has much less lateral flex.

Cheers

 

[messiah]

Very similar thread a few weeks back.

I posted a pic of a home built tensioner and technique from Dragon Tongue.

It looks like you don't need much to take up the tension so this devastatingly simple device would work perfectly.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23222&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

[DeletedUser006]

Thanks fr your help chaps , I will do some homework !