Single speed gear ratio question
Discussion
Just purchased a genesis Day 01 cyclocross flatbar with flipflop hub. It is one of the most beautiful bikes i have ever seen let alone owned. Maybe thats just because its mine now.
It was a choice between this and the charge plug.
Both have 42/16 gear ratios i believe And yet the plug seemed like a better ratio resistance wise. I plumbed for day 01 because i liked the look of it better and i think it has a better frame. Charge make their own frames.
So i cycled 7 miles home with it and soon realized i was freewheeling most of the way after short bursts of power. It has great acceleration but top speed is very low. I got some lovely continental slick tires put on in the shop because the cyclocross knobbly ones were even slower.
I know i'm going to have to change the cog but i'm wondering how great the difference is between 44/16 and 46/16. Everyone has told me that 44 is brilliant but obviously 46 has a higher top speed still.
I don't think i'll be riding fixed any time soon as i like to freewheel in different situations. I opted for single speed for maintenance and aesthetics really with the choice of fixed if i want.
So i'm getting a lovely brooks saddle next month as the genesis one is like a razor compared to the charge one. I'm also getting a higher gear ratio but i'm not sure whether to go for 44 or 46. I ride a 12 mile round trip 5 days a week with one long hill. Any views on either the 44 or 46 would be appreciated.
I must say that for my fairly flat commute between catford and elephant and castle i love the simplicity of the single seed bikes.
It was a choice between this and the charge plug.
Both have 42/16 gear ratios i believe And yet the plug seemed like a better ratio resistance wise. I plumbed for day 01 because i liked the look of it better and i think it has a better frame. Charge make their own frames.
So i cycled 7 miles home with it and soon realized i was freewheeling most of the way after short bursts of power. It has great acceleration but top speed is very low. I got some lovely continental slick tires put on in the shop because the cyclocross knobbly ones were even slower.
I know i'm going to have to change the cog but i'm wondering how great the difference is between 44/16 and 46/16. Everyone has told me that 44 is brilliant but obviously 46 has a higher top speed still.
I don't think i'll be riding fixed any time soon as i like to freewheel in different situations. I opted for single speed for maintenance and aesthetics really with the choice of fixed if i want.
So i'm getting a lovely brooks saddle next month as the genesis one is like a razor compared to the charge one. I'm also getting a higher gear ratio but i'm not sure whether to go for 44 or 46. I ride a 12 mile round trip 5 days a week with one long hill. Any views on either the 44 or 46 would be appreciated.
I must say that for my fairly flat commute between catford and elephant and castle i love the simplicity of the single seed bikes.
Only you can decide which is the most suitable, as it mainly depends on how strong your legs are, and how steep the hills are that you ride. Having said that, there's not a lot of difference between 44/16 and 46/16, about 3.5 gear inches assuming you haven't changed the stock 35mm tyres on the Day One.
I run 42/18 fixed and 42/20 free on my singlecross, and wouldn't entertain anything higher due to the hills around here.
I run 42/18 fixed and 42/20 free on my singlecross, and wouldn't entertain anything higher due to the hills around here.
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