newbie ss gear

[soreback]

what would be a good starting ss gear combination for someone who is not in good shape and just wants to take it to wakefield? Assuming that the front will be 32, 16 or 18 in the rear?

[jabberwocky]

26er or 29er?

[soreback]

26 inch wheels

26er or 29er?

[Dirt]

Not to be difficult, but 32x17 would be great for Wakefield for someone new. Super fast doods will use a 16. The extra tooth is nice for us mortals.

[allencb]

18. When I had a 32 ring, I ran 17 because it was the "magic gear" for my Klein. When I built my 1x1, I went to 34x18.

Chris

[mabagal]

what would be a good starting ss gear combination for someone who is not in good shape and just wants to take it to wakefield? Assuming that the front will be 32, 16 or 18 in the rear?I vote for 18.

[tuba_transport]

32x18 is perfect

[eloach]

Start with 18. I run 34:18 at WF and 32:18 at FH, Quantico and EF/GWNF. I can go up most stuff with that ratio. I am in decent shape but have zero SS technique.

If/When 18 gets easy you can go to 17 or 16. 32:18 on a 26er will take you through WF at a comfortable pace without too much "spinning out". Now, if you have to ride a flat fire road or flat, straight trial, it will drive you crazy, but WF is curvy enough it's fine for me there except for the creek trail. Of course, I am just having fun, not trying to set a lap time record.

[allroy]

what would be a good starting ss gear combination for someone who is not in good shape and just wants to take it to wakefield? Assuming that the front will be 32, 16 or 18 in the rear?

Depends how you would classify your 'riding style.' Do you like to spin or mash. Single speed is the compromise between spinning out on the top end but still being able make it up the climbs. I'm somewhere in between spinner and masher and would go crazy running 32x18 at Wakefield. I like being able to get out of the saddle to power over a climb (power is a relative word here) instead of sitting and spinning up a hill. To easy of a gear you will have trouble standing and spinning. I'd say throw a 16 on the back and have a go, there will be a learning curve and you may have to walk or stop, but for the many fast flowy sections you'll be glad you have it. Give that a go for a month or two and bump down to 17 if you find you need it.

Don't know if you already have a SS, but a cassette style rear wheel will allow you experiment with gearing much cheaper.

Also 2 teeth in the front equals 1 in the back, so 34x18 = 32x17, more or less.

Main key is to stick with it, takes time to develop.
Good Luck.

[soreback]

This will be my first ss. im having an old frame converted over. I already have the cassette style hub rear wheel, and have the conversion kit. It came with a 16 and an 18 sprocket. im using the same front crankset and just going with the existing middle 32 tooth up front. my knee is still not quite over the arthoscropic surgery i had earlier this year so im not mashing anything right now. even with a healthy knee, id have to say im more of a spinner than a masher. And im not in very good shape now either.

[Mrs. Outlaw]

At Schaeffer and Rosaryville I like 32x18 and at the Shed 32x20 (on a 26"). You can always change it if you think your gearing is too easy or too hard.

[CRAIG2]

Go with the 18t to start. Yeah, you'll spin out on the flats relatively easily, and you'll be coasting on the downhills, but what goes down usually must go up. And, you're getting over surgery, so why push too hard and screw up your knee again?

[MTB_Mic]

I agree with those who have said 18t. I go with 32x16 at Schaeffer Farm and Black Hill Trails. For the Frederick Watershed (where I do most of my riding), Gambrill, and Greenbrier I go with 32x18; which also happens to be the "magic combination" for my 26" conversion, therefore not requiring a singleator (chain tensioner). But, I am a spinner, not a masher, and these aul' gams ain't what they usta be!:D

[allroy]

This will be my first ss. im having an old frame converted over. I already have the cassette style hub rear wheel, and have the conversion kit. It came with a 16 and an 18 sprocket. im using the same front crankset and just going with the existing middle 32 tooth up front. my knee is still not quite over the arthoscropic surgery i had earlier this year so im not mashing anything right now. even with a healthy knee, id have to say im more of a spinner than a masher. And im not in very good shape now either.

Go easier and build your knee back up slowly and safely.

[soreback]

thanks all. i dropped the bike off to the LBS today and hopefully in about a week, i'll have her back and can give a report.