fixed gear vs multi gear
- Thread starter gurkha4x4
- Start date
EuroJoe
Adventurer
probably should move to other forum
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=365&f=55
but unless you ride a fixed regularly i would think go with multi gears, unless you mean single speed which is a lot less complicated
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=365&f=55
but unless you ride a fixed regularly i would think go with multi gears, unless you mean single speed which is a lot less complicated
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
One gear bikes come in two varieties - fixed and singlespeed. A fixed gear does not allow you to coast. Wheels and feet must go around.
Singlespeeds are great, but often require a higher level of fitness for some terrain.
Singlespeeds are great, but often require a higher level of fitness for some terrain.
Cackalak Han
Explorer
I won't try fixed gear on my mountain bike, because I'm not that skilled. But my main mountain bike is a single speed which I enjoy a lot. If you can demo one, I urge you to try out a single speed, in a 29er.
Here is my bike:
"Fixies", maybe, but not all who ride fixed gear fit that description. I love my fixed gear road bike, but I don't own girl jeans, 80's sunglasses, nor tweed caps. And my bike actually gets ridden instead of being chained up at the local coffee shop!
Here is my bike:
"Fixies", maybe, but not all who ride fixed gear fit that description. I love my fixed gear road bike, but I don't own girl jeans, 80's sunglasses, nor tweed caps. And my bike actually gets ridden instead of being chained up at the local coffee shop!
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hurricane harry
Observer
I ride a fixed gear tarck bike to work in the city everyday, rain or shine. They are an excellent bike for the city, but that's were it ends.
hurricane harry
Observer
Old thread, but what do you mean? 1 High gear and 9 Low? I've been finding myself needing only 1 high gear (2nd), and utilizing the Low 7 mostly, and was thinking about converting to single, but didn't think about this option. What would be entailed in doing this?
Mainly, I just want less gear adjusting and chances of slippage.
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
A 1x9 drive train uses only one chainring up front and a nine speed cassette in the rear for a total of nine gears. The common multi-geared drive trains use three rings up front for a 3x8 (24 speed), 3x9 (27 speed), or 3x10 (30 speed) configuration. A few racing mountian bikes will now use 2x10.
The 1x9 (or 1x8, 1x10) systems are getting more popular as it removes one shifter from the system. All you have is a rear derailleur and a rear shifter.
What would be involved in converting a bike over to this system? New hub up front and removal of the front derailleur? Could I stick with my second gear up front and just use the 7 rear gears? Right now a ride a 17" Giant Boulder, I believe it is all shimano gearing, incase that would help you point me to a conversion.
twosevens
Member
Since no one else answered, I'll try to explain. First, you'll want to go to your local bike shop and ask for single speed chainring bolts and one chainring nut wrench. once you have them, using a 5mm allen key and the chainring nut wrench, remove all three of your chainrings. Then, take your middle chainring and put it back in the same place it was before removing them. Using the newly bought chainring bolts, grease the threads of the bolts and bolt on the chainring criss-crossing your tightening sequence using 44-88 inch pounds. (44-88 inch pounds would be equal to tightening till it stops and then giving it a little tweak) Remove your front derailleur if you want, or leave it on until you are convinced it is the right set up for you. Also, you might want to remove a link or two from your chain to take up some of the slack of not needing to reach the bigger outer chainring. Hope I was clear in explaining this for you, Good luck.
It's that simple? I was looking on 1x9.net something or other, and they were saying you need all kinds of stuff to convert. I'll talk to a local bike shop and see what they can do/how much it'd cost for the materials. If all that is involved is removing the other 2 gears and calling it a day, it sounds pretty easy. Thanks for the help!
twosevens
Member
I really cant think of anything else you would need. Its more about taking things off than putting stuff on. There is a part called a "jump stop," which doesn't allow your chain to jump off the chain ring, but I wouldn't worry about that since you're actually going to be running 1x7. Not much of a dramatic chain line angle with that many cogs, making your chain want to jump off the ring. But if that worries you, just leave you front derailleur on to catch your chain. Parts should run you around 10 bucks or so. Don't let the bike shop take you for a ride making you think you'll need some fancy part. I've been running a single in the front since the '90s without any problems.
alexfm
Explorer
Both my mountain bikes are geared, and I love em. I've got a late 80's Trek rigid, and a cheapo Wally World suspension bike, and I ride that thing a lot. I just recently finished (finished-ish--I still need brakes and a few other doodads) my road bike project, and It was originally a 10 spd (2 up front, 5 out back) I just pulled the derailluers and shortened the chain to fit the gearing I wanted. Bam! Easy single speed. 
alex.
alex.