SSMTBs

Re gearing chat, is it just me or are a lot of the ssmtb build I'm seeing lately running really low gearing?

Noticed it with all the NAHBS bikes recently.

34x16 isn't unreasonable?

i find around 56-58" fine for most of the stuff i do tbh. Is that considered a bit big?

Well, I know 32:16 is the 'classic' ss gear ration, if you're running 34:16 then that's bigger.

I thought a lot of the nahbs bikes looked a lot smaller, closer to 1:1 gearing.

Edit: To be fair, I have to ride 5miles to reach my trails of choice and 34x16 just gets me up the climbs there. Otherwise I'd probably go smaller.

Haha!

I'm riding 36:21 just now. Was 32:21 but was spinning out on slightest downhills.

If I didn't commute on my MTB I'd go down to 32/18, but anything lower than 32/16 on the way to work is too low. Still, might help get me up some steeper stuff...

just get stronger and lighter, don't lower the gear

I thought a lot of the nahbs bikes looked a lot smaller, closer to 1:1 gearing.

Gear inches ftw.

559 + 2 * 2.2 * 25.4 = 671mm = 26.4" overall diameter

So 32:16 on 26x2.2" = 52.8"

559 + 2 * 3.8 * 25.4 = 752mm = 29.6" overall diameter

52.8/29.6 = 1.784

34/19 = 1.789

622 + 2 * 3.0 * 25.4 = 774mm = 30.5" overall diameter

52.8/30.5 = 1.731

33/19 = 1.737

Also, 32:16 is classic SSMTB race gear, not "go exploring, ride up the Eiger" gear.

If you ride somewhere with proper hills, like Devon, you run 32:18 or 32:19 Yes you spin, but you get used to it. Guy I rode a lot with on Tour Divide (mostly shallow gradients) was running 33:16 and he stomped up most hills, and could spin for days, literally.

36x22 is my hilly, all-day gear on 29" wheels. That's a cadence of 110 rpm at 25kph, which isn't silly. Riding a singlespeed well is all about learning to pedal at different cadences. and momentum, that's important too.

Tried 30:18 on a recent steep hilly event because I had a NW 30T and no 19T. Worked out a tiny bit under 32:19 which was good.
Riding a single speed is all about coping with unbearable pain.

I got 32:20 on my ss 29

Ugly stem is ugly but i love the new riding position.

my ns surge evo, just fitted new tyres

How're the tyre clearances there?

Had a 89 Rockhopper a few years back and assumed that size of tyre was out of the question.

I'm sorry if this is an offtop, but what kind of rear sprocket does Charge Cooker 0 takes?
Is it a screw-on as on track hubs or something else? Link to a specific less than 16t piece is appreciated, cause 32:18 sucks. :)

Also are there any DIY options of 2 point spanner to work with eccentric bbs?

Cheers!

My newly finished Stooge. 32/19 & 27.5+

What's a good SS sprocket + conversion kit for a 10/11spd freehub body?

I vaguely recall Surly(?) doing fat bottom sprockets that stop the sprocket digging into freehub body splines. Is there a 'best' option for what I want? No cheap kits here, Chop.

Much of a muchness really, most of them are fat at the base to protect the freehub.
The Surly kit has nicely-rounded black, swappable spacers to adjust the chainline. Works great for me. Although you only get two variations..

Anyone used http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shopsingle.html kit?

http://www.jejamescycles.com/onza-single-speed-conversion-kit-cfd7953.html

onza single speed conversion kit
lots of different sized spacers for that perfect chainline
have two of these and can't fault them

actually that velosolo one looks nice

I'm using velosolo spacer kit and halo fat foot wide base cog. Can't fault either, but I'm not a very serious mtb'er.

I'm not either, but if I do something stupid in a year's time and ride the Worlds I'd rather buy something fucking good now.