Single speeders chime in!

[cruisehard]

Thinking about swapping out the rear cog on my Electra Cruiser 1 to a 18t instead of the stock 22t cog. How much of a difference would there be going from a 22t to an 18? I've never messed with gearing before. Also, what gear ratio do you guys prefer and why? I'd like to hear some personal testimonies. (I Already read the Sheldon Brown article on gear ratios etc.)I find 44/22 is good for a bike that weighs over 35lbs, like on my Electra Rat Rod, but the Cruiser 1 is a bit lighter, and I seem to spin out on flats/decents more so than the other.

 

[c.p.odom]

Go big or go home!
My Rat has a 56 tooth chainring on it.

 

[cruisehard]

Go big or go home!
My Rat has a 56 tooth chainring on it.

Ok.... :roll:
So what's on the back?

 

[c.p.odom]

I might have left that out on purpose, it's a 24 or 26, can't remember.

 

[cruisehard]

haha...that is big!

 

[rydr1]

Hey, im getting ready to do some more rear cog swaps on a few of my bikes.

It all really depends on your comfort level and where you are riding. The Electra is under 30lbs, so I would honestly try an 18t cog. I believe all the Electra Coaster chainrings are 44t. I currently have the stock 44t front and 22t rear on my electra coaster and I like how smooth it is, but I also have not gone through any steep hills. You will notice a small difference if you get a 20t, but a noticeable difference will happen when you install an 18t cog.

If you want to trade cogs let me know; I have an 18t and a 20t.

 

[cruisehard]

pm sent on the 20t cog ryder1.
Think I'm gonna bite down and go for the 18t...don't know if like to pedal harder or just faster. :?

 

[socal_jack]

If you play with any of the gear calculators on the web, you can generally figure a 1 tooth change at the rear is like a 2 tooth change on the front so going from 22t down to 18t would be roughly equivalent to going from 44t to 52t up front.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Mine's a 22 in front, and I think 18-20 rear, whatever huffy gives you stock.....lol. The front is actually a 44 tooth with every other tooth ground off for that skiptooth look.

 

[cruisehard]

If you play with any of the gear calculators on the web, you can generally figure a 1 tooth change at the rear is like a 2 tooth change on the front so going from 22t down to 18t would be roughly equivalent to going from 44t to 52t up front.

That is good to know. All this gear ratio vs inches calculating is pretty new to me.

UPDATE:
Well...I had the 18t slapped on there earlier today and hated it! I was mashing like crazy up those hills...it would be ok if my bike was about
15lbs lighter...got the good 'ol trusty 22t back on there......for now. Maybe I'll try a 43t chainwheel and 19t cog? All these options are making my head spin!

 

[deorman]

http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/g ... ble26.html

 

[cruisehard]

Thanks for the link deorman.

 

[Bigcam59]

I switched the cog on my Electra to a 19 tooth. I'm happy with it.

 

[socal_jack]

If you play with any of the gear calculators on the web, you can generally figure a 1 tooth change at the rear is like a 2 tooth change on the front so going from 22t down to 18t would be roughly equivalent to going from 44t to 52t up front.

That is good to know. All this gear ratio vs inches calculating is pretty new to me.

UPDATE:
Well...I had the 18t slapped on there earlier today and hated it! I was mashing like crazy up those hills...it would be ok if my bike was about
15lbs lighter...got the good 'ol trusty 22t back on there......for now. Maybe I'll try a 43t chainwheel and 19t cog? All these options are making my head spin!

That was a big jump, not surprised you didn't like it. Here's a good app for singlespeeds alot easier to run "what ifs"
and more easily see the result than a cluttered table.

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html