First Singlespeed Commute

Gags

Well, I finally scored the brakes for my singlespeed project (Thanks Hippy
for the front ones) and today was my first commute to Southbank along the
Yarra Trail (23 km or so each way).

It was certainly different and made me work a lot harder on the uphills to
keep my cadence up to a reasonable level. I also found that I was out of
the seat for the steeper hills which I usually change down and spin up (say
goodbye to the chicken legs hopefully).

The only downside was that I found that I had to glide on downhills where I
would normally push it faster (running a 32T front chainring and a 15T rear
cog). I was also "maxing out" on the flats and hitting a speed where I just
couldn't pedal any faster. I think I might try a 14T or 13T on the back
sometime later this week.

Anyway, using an old bike frame, total cost was $80 (for V brakes, rigid
forks, brake cables) with the rest of the parts coming from the bike or my
parts bin.

I reckon that today was my first ride of a single speed in about 20 to 25
years or so when I traded in my Malvern Star for a Three Speed Dragster
(with T bar shift and huge sissy bar).

Ride on,

Gags

Parbs

Gags wrote:
> Well, I finally scored the brakes for my singlespeed project (Thanks
> Hippy for the front ones) and today was my first commute to Southbank
> along the Yarra Trail (23 km or so each way).
>
> It was certainly different and made me work a lot harder on the
> uphills to keep my cadence up to a reasonable level. I also found
> that I was out of the seat for the steeper hills which I usually
> change down and spin up (say goodbye to the chicken legs hopefully).
>
> The only downside was that I found that I had to glide on downhills
> where I would normally push it faster (running a 32T front chainring
> and a 15T rear cog). I was also "maxing out" on the flats and
> hitting a speed where I just couldn't pedal any faster. I think I
> might try a 14T or 13T on the back sometime later this week.
>
> Anyway, using an old bike frame, total cost was $80 (for V brakes,
> rigid forks, brake cables) with the rest of the parts coming from the
> bike or my parts bin.
>
> I reckon that today was my first ride of a single speed in about 20
> to 25 years or so when I traded in my Malvern Star for a Three Speed
> Dragster (with T bar shift and huge sissy bar).
>
> Ride on,
>
> Gags

Ride on Gags.

I managed to include another little section of singletrack on my singlespeed commute tonight. Not a very long section, probably
less than 50m, but in the city I'll take all I can get.

Parbs

Koon Yong

Gags wrote:
> The only downside was that I found that I had to glide on downhills
> where I would normally push it faster (running a 32T front chainring and
> a 15T rear cog). I was also "maxing out" on the flats and hitting a
> speed where I just couldn't pedal any faster. I think I might try a 14T
> or 13T on the back sometime later this week.
> Ride on,
> Gags



Welcome to the club Gags!

I would strongly suggest that you move up to a bigger chainring then a
smaller rear cog especially if you're using some sort of tension device.
You're more likely to throw the chain yanking up those hills on a small
cog. If given a choice, always go with more teeth then less to achieve
your desired gearing.

Cheers Koon



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hippy

>Originally posted by Gags Well, I finally scored the brakes for my
>singlespeed project (Thanks Hippy for the front ones)

No wuckins!

>It was certainly different and made me work a lot harder on the uphills
>to keep my cadence up to a reasonable level.

Yep.. feel the burn! I've got big legs though so do most hills seated
unless I'm trying to go really hard upwards..

>The only downside was that I found that I had to glide on downhills
>where I would normally push it faster (running a 32T front chainring
>and a 15T rear cog). I was also "maxing out" on the flats and hitting a
>speed where I just couldn't pedal any faster. I think I might try a 14T
>or 13T on the back sometime later this week.

My problem exactly. I need to gear up. I would suggest to you though to
put a bigger chainring on rather than a smaller rear cog. More teeth =
better engagement and slower wearing parts. There's almost no teeth left
on my chainring so soon I'm going to fit a 34T or 36T and leave the 15T
on the rear or move up a little, depending on how it feels.

hippy



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Koon Yong

hippy wrote:
> >
> My problem exactly. I need to gear up. I would suggest to you though to
> put a bigger chainring on rather than a smaller rear cog. More teeth =
> better engagement and slower wearing parts. There's almost no teeth left
> on my chainring so soon I'm going to fit a 34T or 36T and leave the 15T
> on the rear or move up a little, depending on how it feels.
> hippy



Hey Hippy,

I reckon you've been ridding enough SS to go to at least a 42x16.

Go on ... you know you want to ...

Koon



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hippy

Koon Yong wrote:
> Hey Hippy, I reckon you've been ridding enough SS to go to at least a
> 42x16. Go on ... you know you want to ...



The street fixie will be geared something like that. I think the
chainring in the groupset was 48 and the cog was 17 or 18?

As for the SS, it will depend on what chainrings I can find for it. I
didn't actually think about going that high but it's worth a try I
suppose. You've only got one set of knees.. better to use them to their
fullest potential early, right?

hippy



--

warrwych

Gags wrote:
> Anyway, using an old bike frame, total cost was $80 (for V brakes, rigid
> forks, brake cables) with the rest of the parts coming from the bike or
> my parts bin.
> I reckon that today was my first ride of a single speed in about 20 to
> 25 years or so when I traded in my Malvern Star for a Three Speed
> Dragster (with T bar shift and huge sissy bar).
> Ride on,
> Gags



Hi Everyone

have been lurking for sometime during my lunchbreaks ;-) and all this
talk of single speed projects is just too much for a gal to take!

I have an old repco supalight tucked away out the back of the house and
I keep thinking what am I going to do with that?? Now I know ;-) Thanks
for the inspiration!!!

Looking forward to hearing how you progress Gags.....



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Koon Yong

hippy wrote:
> The street fixie will be geared something like that. I think the
> chainring in the groupset was 48 and the cog was 17 or 18?
> As for the SS, it will depend on what chainrings I can find for it. I
> didn't actually think about going that high but it's worth a try I
> suppose. You've only got one set of knees.. better to use them to their
> fullest potential early, right?
> hippy



Good Luck with those chain rings ... last year I wanted a 36 or 38T ring
for offroad use and my LBS guy recommended blackspire DH rings.

I waited 2 mths for that ring and the distributor kept spending one in
the wrong BCD. Finally, we said ?%&$ this, and that was the end of that.

Anyway, I now run 44x16 with slicks (almost 1.5 years now)... it's a
very doable gearing and not as tough as you might think. Your legs will
adjust to the gearing and eventually your knees won't hurt anymore. On
most days, I feel more strain on my calfs then I do in my knees ... more
so because I don't warm up before my commute.

cheers Koon



--

cfsmtb

Gags wrote:
> I reckon that today was my first ride of a single speed in about 20 to
> 25 years or so when I traded in my Malvern Star for a Three Speed
> Dragster (with T bar shift and huge sissy bar). Ride on, Gags



Congrats! Don't believe my short commute 'round to the new place on a
BMX with flat tyres matches up to your achievement. But hurt though,
even attempting to stand the pedals just made the whole enterprise more
painful.



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flyingdutch

Koon Yong wrote:
> On most days, I feel more strain on my calfs then I do in my knees ...
> more so because I don't warm up before my commute.
> cheers Koon



You forgot to mention you live in a hill-less part of Melbourne

I tried 42x16 on my project SS (the wheel is going great. tanx!) but
have gone back to a 38T and put some slicker tyres on. now i just need
some narrower rims than the Rhyno that was on it so I can go back to
using my Fatboys again

Heck, Im even thinkun of doing the 'Hippy-cum-courier' thang and getting
a FUX bag as rack pannier is a pain for so much out-of-saddle stuff



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hippy

>Originally posted by Koon Yong I waited 2 mths for that ring and the
>distributor kept spending >one in the wrong BCD. Finally, we said ?%&$
>this, and that was >the end of that.

I've heard similar stories before.. so I guess it applies to Oz too.

>Anyway, I now run 44x16 with slicks (almost 1.5 years now)... >it's a
>very doable gearing and not as tough as you might think.

Are there many hills in Kuala Lumpur? I wanted to keep the GT on the low
side for improving my spin and because it does get used off-road a bit.

If Vegemite/UndieSoiler gets built soon enough I can leave the GT's
gearing alone and use the bigger gearing on the fixie..

hippy



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hippy

>Originally posted by flyingdutch Heck, Im even thinkun of doing the 'Hippy-cum-
>courier' thang and getting a FUX bag as rack pannier is a pain for so
>much out-of-saddle stuff

Copycat from Ballarat! :P

Backpacks, etc. are heaps better than panniers, unless the load you need
to carry doesn't fit in a backpack.

hippy



--

Koon Yong

flyingdutch wrote:
> You forgot to mention you live in a hill-less part of Melbourne
> I tried 42x16 on my project SS (the wheel is going great. tanx!) but
> have gone back to a 38T and put some slicker tyres on. now i just need
> some narrower rims than the Rhyno that was on it so I can go back to
> using my Fatboys again
> Heck, Im even thinkun of doing the 'Hippy-cum-courier' thang and getting
> a FUX bag as rack pannier is a pain for so much out-of-saddle stuff



Yes Dutchy,

I do admit that my commute is rather hill-less ... but I have done more
"hilly" rides on the weekend and they've gone fine. It all boils down to
spinning. the faster you can spin, the less it hurts.

How big are the fatboys? I run a 1.7 on that same rim ... had a 1.6 once
too I believe.

Cheers Koon



--

Koon Yong

hippy wrote:
> >Originally posted by Koon Yong
> Are there many hills in Kuala Lumpur? I wanted to keep the GT on the low
> side for improving my spin and because it does get used off-road a bit.
> If Vegemite/UndieSoiler gets built soon enough I can leave the GT's
> gearing alone and use the bigger gearing on the fixie..
> hippy



errr ... I don't live in KL ... I'm right here in Melbourne Australia.

But I have been to KL and there are some nice slopes in the country ...
but road conditions are pretty bad, so fatter tyres are a must IMO.

Cheers Koon



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