Cruiser Gear Ratio

[MIGZ]

What ratio is everyone running on the heavier cruisers - single speed. I am looking for the right gear ratio that will be comfortable enough to do 15+ miles.

In the past I have never worried because I have used internally geared hubs which gave me some options. for my current project I have a 2 speed kick back and want to make sure the to gears work well one for normal and the other just in case of some hills.

 

[Wildcat]

On a 26" wheeled cruiser, if the bike weighs around 40-50 lbs, a 44 tooth chain wheel with 18 tooth cog should give a easy enough ratio for 15 miles. If your chain wheel is 46 teeth, then a 19 tooth cog will give about the same easy ratio. Is the cog interchangeable on your 2 speed hub?

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I tend towards a 2.5-2.8 to 1 ratio for my own 26" bikes, but I have been told that is too high for most people.
Looking at others bikes and counting teeth it seems a 2.2-2.5 to 1 is closer to the mark.

Wildcats 44/18 is 2.44 to 1 and the 46/19 is 2.42 to 1.

Luke.

 

[MIGZ]

On a 26" wheeled cruiser, if the bike weighs around 40-50 lbs, a 44 tooth chain wheel with 18 tooth cog should give a easy enough ratio for 15 miles. If your chain wheel is 46 teeth, then a 19 tooth cog will give about the same easy ratio. Is the cog interchangeable on your 2 speed hub?

I tend towards a 2.5-2.8 to 1 ratio for my own 26" bikes, but I have been told that is too high for most people.
Looking at others bikes and counting teeth it seems a 2.2-2.5 to 1 is closer to the mark.

Wildcats 44/18 is 2.44 to 1 and the 46/19 is 2.42 to 1.

Luke.

Gents,

I can swap out the cog I'll be running a 39T chain wheel, so I guess i have to look for a 16 or 17 T cog?

I may have one., I'm afraid the 21 I have on now will be too big.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

39/21 is 1.85, ideally with a 39 you could have a 2.43 with the 16 tooth, 17 is 2.29 so a bit lower, all depends on what you want...

Luke.

 

[Bicycle808]

What kickback hub are you running?

 

[MIGZ]

Hub is a SA S2C

 

[MIGZ]

I found out the smallest i have is an 18, I have to try and find a 17 and 16 just to see which one works best.

I think this will be a trial & error to get it right.

I did a quick search online and could not find a 17T for a coaster brake hub. Anyone have one ?

 

[whitefiretiger]

Check out kids bikes they get some oddball coaster cogs. Seen as small at 15t on a 16" girs bike and was able to use it on the coaster on my 26" cruiser.

 

[MIGZ]

I've started to ask around.

 

[whitefiretiger]

If you have a bike co-op near by you could probably find any size made.
Good reminder to go cog hunting next time I go to the co-op.

 

[Bicycle808]

Sturmey's are direct/overdrive. A 39/16 will get you a 63"/87.5" set of ratios. At 87.5", your overdrive will be like running a 54t front with a 16t rear.

It's your bike, but that's really high. And 63" ain't all that low, either.

If you keep the 21t, you'll be rocking 48"/67". I think you said you have a 18t; at 56"/78", I think that'd be a good starting point for longish rides on pavement.

Incidentally, I'm building a Worksman with rim brakes and a Sturmey s2 for use offroad; starting with a 38t/22t, which'll get me 45"/62". On the low side, but it's gonna be a heavy bike for the trails, so...

Good luck with the build, Migz. Just remember that the s2 shifts UP @ 1.38x the direct drive...

 

[bikejunky]

What's on the 26" quad? And shoot from there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[clamdigger]

SA cogs here; http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/sturmey-archer-parts.html I do not know if they fit S2C though.

 

[Bicycle808]

Current Sturmey cogs come in three basic flavors, as far as compatibility with the driver:
-s3x cogs for the fixed 3 speed...
-oversized cogs for the 8 speed hubs.
-everything else.

S2C hubs take the "everything else" variety. Incidentally, Shimano/SRAM/KT/Sturmey-Archer coaster/IGH cogs all have the same 3-tab pattern/size, and are interchangeable.