 Mine's not really a steed, more of a lame donkey. I'm weak, so I run 18:32 all the time. Could probably use 16t for some events & summer, but can't be arsed swapping.
16t should be fine for normal fit people tho', 17t a decent compromise.
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I use 32:18 There are pros and cons for 16 and 18 rear sprockets but personally I think you have more to gain and less to lose with an 18. You'll still spin out on the flat with a 16 but the 18 makes the short sharp climbs we tend to do on night rides a bit easier, especially in gloopy mud I'll probably give 32:16 a try this spring when things dry out a little I have a spare 16t sprocket you're welcome to try out for a few weeks 
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 how do i find out what teeth are on my rear cassette (SRAM PG950 11- 34) so i can see which gear i need to use to see how hard single speeding is??? i know my middle ring is 32 but can't seem to find any info. on what each rear cog is???
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dunno 'bout SRAM, Shimano normally have the 't' number stamped on each cog, can be vary hard to see under the muck & grease though. If you find one number, all the other cogs should be numbered a row. Probably easier to just count them though, it's normally a middle one, depending whether there's 7, 8, 9 (or however many there are nowadays).
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 Been running a 16/32 setup, great on the flat and ok on inclines, but slipping/spinning out on wet climbs, may swap it to 18 to increase the RPM for tonights bog fest. Tad breezy up here in the dales..
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| Edited: 19/11/09 11:44 |
Blowing a gale here in Bradford too... I'm hoping to make it out tonight but it will be a late decision when i get home... I'll have a look at the cogs when i get home...but considering as soon as there is even a threat of uphill (sometimes even tricky level terrain!!!) i'm on the granny ring i know it wouldn't be a gear i could comfortably use throughout a ride anyway...might be interesting to see how far i got though...
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 depending whether there's 7, 8, 9 (or however many there are nowadays).
That made me laugh out loud. 
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my geared bike still on 7spd, was never convinced about this new fangled 8spd idea. I like it under my rock.
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I have 1x8 spd on the scott, too fiddly for the purists tho'. I would be happy with single speed if I had stronger knees.
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I'm not convinced by the singlespeed is bad for the knees argument. Most of the time when I'm pedalling on my SS I'm standing up, which results in far less lateral force on my knee than if I'm pedalling sitting down, as my legs are straighter. Although I suppose I'm pedalling harder with a slower kadence on a SS...
important to keep knees warm in the chilly months though
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Been running a 16/32 setup, great on the flat and ok on inclines, but slipping/spinning out on wet climbs,
errrr, directional tyres now fitted the right way round, should help.
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checked out my cogs and they are numbered as follows... 34, 30, 26, 23, 20, 17, 15, 13, 11 so the nearest i could get would be 32/17 (basically 15th gear)...which i know i'd never be able to get around with...but i'm gonna try it next time out just for fun...i bet i wont make it 100yds
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you'll surprise yourself what you can with that ratio, once in the frame of mind that your only option is to just pedal harder. Worse than the pain of climbing is the annoyance of spinning out on fast slightly-sloping downhills... You'll need to stand up for most hills, then your body weight does much of the work. It can take a few weeks for the legs to get accustomed to all the standing, it'll ache at first. Remember a proper conversion has the advantage of direct chain line - lower friction, shorter chain - more direct take-up, no chainsuck, plus a few pounds less weight with all the shifters & cogs off. Riding 'without shifting' is harder than the real thing, nevertheless, it gives rough idea of the amount of masochism needed.
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| Edited: 20/11/09 03:54 |
 Good fun last night even with a bit of a breeze We must remember not to mention the lack of punctures in the pub in future, it seemed to jinx mr m's van. Hope you made it home ok.
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 Lots of fun last night, thanks Rob Madam Muck thanks for the info on Bingley harriers i'll give it go. And I can still do the Otley Chevin Trails and Ales Ride on sunday Thanks,
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 talking of Bingley harriers, this saturday (TODAY)(21st) at 2pm at Fishermans pub Bingley is the Cyclist vs Runners race up and round shipley glen/baildon moor and back again. Come along and spectate or race yourself.It's a good laugh for under an hour.If you're the slightly masochistic sort!
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| Edited: 21/11/09 10:49 |
Thursday was my first proper singlespeed outing. The actual conversion is easy, spent longer browsing for cog and tensioning kit than fitting it. First impressions confirm Rob's thoughts - its definitely a bit harder and standy up peadaling it taking little getting used to. While I'm not unfit, I lack strength, so removing the option of thumbing down the gears on the climbs should be a good thing? In the mud and clart it works as well as anything else with gears without the potential for drive train fouling up, the reduction in drive resistance is quite noticable. For the stuff we do mid week I will stick with it as long as I'm fit enough but the reality will probably be I can't be arsed to refit gears, mechs, shifters,cables....
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 The next Chevin Cycles Trails and Ales ride will be on Sunday 22nd November starting at 10:00 from Addingham – opposite the Fleece pub. We will ride over to Skipton, Flasby, Hetton ,Rylstone and back over Barden Moor to Bolton Abbey and back to Addingham. Click Here Please bring some lunch and appropriate clothing. It going to be hard to avoid some mud so please wear appropriate clothing. Expect to be out for about 4 hours.
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 Well done Gingerflash on Bingley, I bottled it and it was ridiculously hard. and well done Yoda on the cyclists harriers. I was talking to the main man at Wharfedale Harriers last night and he was telling me of a night fell race from addingham to the top of Beamsley beacon in the new year, what he didnt tell (officially) is that its a cyclist v harriers race so all bikes are welcome!, keep an eye on the wharfedale harriers web site for news of a fantastic event. the other good part of the event is that the return from beamsley to Addingham is via any route! Oh and he has asked me to help organise a night cyclists v harriers race on the chevin too! Ric B, I dont know a single physio that agrees with you.
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| Edited: Today 12:25 |
i was there Ed! although i am now a Vet 40 for this cross season apparently  so was in the earlier ladies and old people race... kirsty was there too... were you there? didn't see you although saw plenty of crosstracks skinsuits... (erm, are they actually available to purchase?)
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