Up-rating a chainring

Coming up to my one year anniversary of switching to single speed.

I've got a 2010 langster with the OTP chainring which is 42T chainring with a 16T rear hub.

I've gotten used to this gear ratio, but i think im ready to go up a step since I'm having no trouble tackling the hills on my commute, but could definitely use a higher speed on flat/downhill.

Since i am pretty oblivous to this sort of thing I have a few questions:
1)is it as simple as buying and fitting a new chainring? is this a DIY job or bike shop only
2)will I have to lenghen my chain? I have a few spare links that were taken out when i had my chain fitted, will these have be put back on
3)how much of a difference will going up to 46T or 48T make in pulling away from the line?

Any general help or advice greatly appreciated

Change your rear sprocket - cheaper and easier. If your rear hub is a flip flop you could put something else on the other side and still have your old gear available.

Don't hurry to change up though - spin FTW!

I've got the bog-standar flip flop hub it comes with, so do i change the sproket on this hub?

yeah get spinning, i'm on silly low gearing now compared to when i started riding, still as fast though*

*no really

Don't change both the chainring and freewheel at the same time, try a different chainring with your current freewheel. Then if you need to change your freewheel.

1.) Yes just buy a chainring with the right BCD and a chainring tool, and you should be able to do it yourself. (Assuming you have a crank puller to get the cranks off the bottom bracket in the first place.)

2.) Yes most probably you will have to lengthen your chain.

3.) I would say it will feel a little tougher at first, but you will get used to it.

1.) Yes just buy a chainring with the right BCD and a chainring tool, and you should be able to do it yourself. (Assuming you have a **crank puller to get the cranks off **the bottom bracket in the first place.)

no understandee

Get a new chain whatever you do. Since you have a flip flop you could run 2 free wheels on it while you decide which your prefer (although this is quite noisy)

Don't change both the chainring and freewheel at the same time, try a different chainring with your current freewheel. Then if you need to change your freewheel.

1.) Yes just buy a chainring with the right BCD and a chainring tool, and you should be able to do it yourself. (Assuming you have a crank puller to get the cranks off the bottom bracket in the first place.)

2.) Yes most probably you will have to lengthen your chain.

3.) I would say it will feel a little tougher at first, but you will get used to it.

don't listen, change sprocket first, then chainring if needed

Small changes in the amount of teeth too. You may be surprised by the difference a single extra tooth can do.

Change your rear sprocket - cheaper and easier. If your rear hub is a flip flop you could put something else on the other side and still have your old gear available.

Don't hurry to change up though - spin FTW!

I agree with this guy

42x16 to 48x16 will fuck you up.

42x16 to 48x16 will fuck you up.

This is what I'm afraid of, I was hoping for a bit of guidance on what a decent "next step" gearing would be.

Is there forum consensus on what the best sprocket upgrade would be from a 42:16 to is?

Get a new chain whatever you do.

its a bitch if i have to spend another £30 on a chain, but its probably for the best since the added links wont be worn to the same degree as the rest of the chain (which is less than a year old) so it will cause uneven-ness and probably more wear.

But if i go for a smaller sproket does this mean i can keep my chain, or should i jsut give up on keeping the chain?

42:15 is a good start

a new chain doesn't need to cost more than a tenner

its a bitch if i have to spend another £30 on a chain

Whoa, what kind of baller chains are you rocking? Some Mr T shit? Chain should cost you about a tenner. You will be doing your new sprocket/chain ring a diservice by using a chain which by the sounds of it is more than a year old. Change the chain whether you have resultant slack or not.

Whoa, what kind of baller chains are you rocking?

Ok I'm vain, i like my chains like i like my women, tight. and blue.

I run shadow conspiracy interlock V2 in blue, if there is a decent blue chain out there for a tenner I'm all ears!

Here's a pic of it:

thread ends

dies

If Automan had a bike, this is what it would look like!

I like to think of it as my super low budget lightcycle.

Its mainly for the side on visibility at night

Is this your outfit for riding too?

weather dependent

red chains are faster

only when matched with red pedals. its a science thing

White chains are faster. Especially when covered in grime to hide the white. While lightning innit

Coloured chains are just wrong. I only have a coloured chain because that's all the shop had. Sram make a perfectly good 1,1/8th chain for £9 (PC-1)