[DesuL]

Finally making the jump from 8spd to SS. I know I like to pedal in a 32-11 on the current bike but wondering what other equations would equal the same gearing. I do have a 16t rear sprocket sitting around but I am in no way set on using it.

My bashgaurd will handle up to a 32T but id rather something smaller for more protection. Can someone please help me out?

 

[livetheride514]

what type of riding is this bike used for?

you're not gunna get a ratio close to what 32-11 gets with a smaller ring up front unless you use an even smaller cog in back...

I'd suggest getting a bigger bash, and running 36-14 or 36-13. that should feel about the same.

 

[Angus]

dou you plan on going up hills? Most SSers seem to prefer a 2-1 ratio, or at least thats a good place to start. When I was running a 26" SS I had a 34 In the front and had a 16,18 & 20 for the rear. I used the 18 the majority, but wouldn't hesitate to put on the Twenty if I was going somewhere with a lot of climbing, and I would use the 16 If I knew the wasn't going to be climbing.

 

[PepperJester]

^^ good points.

When I started riding single speeds, I was running on a 32X20 - it was light for around town but as I ride this bike mostly in the woods on tight single track it was a great gear. I've recently swapped out to a 32X17, Its been good so far but just as MunkeeHucker said I would not hesitate to put a 20 on for a day with lots of big hills.

 

[nvd]

Everyone I know in Durango that rides SS for serious trail use uses a 2:1 ratio (32:16, 26:13, 36:18, etc.) You can get up just about any climb and won't spin out too easily on decents. If your using it for a skate park/ street/ dirt jump rig you'll probably want the ratio a little bigger (32:14, 26:11, 36:16, etc.)

 

[Hungry_Hank]

the trails i ride have long drawn out uphills with fast short decents, so i run a 38-21. however my bike has a tall BB height and the trails i ride don't have many large obstacles, so i can get away with that big of a chainring up front.. you may want to run something more like a 34-18.. just buy a chainring for your front, and a few cogs for the back, and just mess around with your ratios untill you find something you like. you can ask as many people as you want, but you're the only one who knows what ratio you can comfortably run for the trails that you ride.

 

[McGRP01]

I run a 34-18 and use that ratio for trails, urban, park, etc....

 

[Quo Fan]

When I was figuring out what gear to run on my SS, I rode my hard tail in different gear combinations. I decided on 32:18 which is good for me and where I ride.

 

[ereotav]

i run 36-16 for urban,dirtjump and i love it.

 

[GumbaFish]

I run 34-18 on mine, I would like to have it a little higher when I want some more speed but I don't think I would want it any higher once I hit a spot where I have to climb.

 

[Anders]

i got 32-15 on my urban rig but on my xc rig im gonna go with a 32-18ish i hope, tho im limited to my chainstay and cogs i have left over

 

[bikerpunk98199]

as others have already said i usa 2:1 on mine i run a 32-16 you get pretty good clearance but if you want more theres always a 22-11

 

[Anders]

well after doing an xc ride on my urban rig with 32-15 i think ill go for 32-16 instead 18 would be way to easy