SaikyoSenpai

Heyo, I've got a Giant Halfway (FD610 - the single speed version) sitting in the garage that I quite like the feel of. Feels sturdy, but still very sprite-ly when maneuvering. However, the gear ratio feels terribly low at anything over 15kph. Stats-wise, its got about a 50 gear-inch ratio. 44 x 14 gearing with 16" wheels What would yall do to improve gearing for this bike? I'm aiming for a ballpark or 80 gear-inches. Would yall add a cassette? An IGH back wheel? Or just a bigger chainring?

3speedslow

Start with whatever is cheapest and easiest to do and see how it rolls for you.

ThermionicScott 

Bigger chainring if the crank allows it. 80" is probably a tall order for that bike, but you could definitely improve the 50" or so that you have now.

tudorowen1

52 teeth should get you up to 60 gear inches..Anything bigger may get in the way of the chainstay..Look for a 13 tooth rear sprocket..Get you to 64..If you could get a sturmey archer 3 speed that would perhaps be the best..
3 speed hub with a 13 tooth sprocket and 44 tooth chainwheel would give you approx 42 ..55..75..gear inches..

tcs

If you like it enough to drop some coin on it, fit it with a Sturmey-Archer X-RD4 rear hub.

Fentuz

It all depends of the frame, if you have loads of clearance, you could multiple by 1.75 (28"/16"). a 60T chainring would give you the equivalent of a 34T on a 700c/regular hybrid bike. It would give you ~80GI with the 11T cog but, with single speed freewell, you will struggle to go small than 14T.
With 14T cog, you would be ~ 63GI with a 60T chainring
I run either 50 or 55 or 60 depending of the hills because my minivelo can run something stupid like 65T without problem but of the Helios, I would run 55T max
Note that the Dahon is setup with 48/16 on 20"; on you 16" with 14T rear, the equivalent chainring would be 52/53T. If you are fit with loads of flat terrain, you could fit a 55T Mike Crono 130BCD.

As TCS mentioned, a new hub would be better but much more expensive. I looked into that for my son Frog bike (16"), a Shimano 3 speed hub kit is ~£90/$100 and then if you cannot build the wheel yourself, you need to add labor (£50 in my case)

SaikyoSenpai

Excellent! This is all very helpful advice. I'll look into finding some of these parts and checking what fits. A 3-speed Sturmey Archer sounds enticing.

Thx all <3

Jipe

A 3 speed Sturmey Archer (like on the Brompton) will help for gear inch but will also increase the weight and reduce the efficiency (same for other cheap IGH like a Shimano Nexus 8).

If you change the rear hub, you can as well put a cassette and a derailleur (if the OLD is 130mm or 135mm, if it is smaller, it will be more difficult).

tcs

According to the study published in the International Human Powered Vehicle Association's newsletter, a three-speed hub is more efficient than the 10- and 9-tooth derailleur cogs one would have to use to get close to 80 gear inches on an ISO305mm wheel.

The OP hasn't given us a lot of information on the Giant Halfway FD610. I googled an image. It seems to have 28-hole rims, a crankset with a non-replaceable chainwheel and a rear drum brake. These complicate an upgrade.

I'll stick with my recommendation of a Sturmey Archer X-RD4 ("D" for drum brake), which will get the desired (39, 50, 64) 81 gear inches with an 18-tooth cog. AFAIK they are only available with 36 spoke holes.

mirfi

I have dealt with this on many folders. BTW, my 'sweet spot' is 65 gear inches on a single speed.

Gearing, gearing, gearing....

Are you doing the Sheldon Brown Gear Calculator? I'm a nerd and have played with this toy like a video game.....

And again, this is a repeat of previous suggestions. So, ditto and again I'm talking Gear Inches.

I'd start by first changing the rear cog to 11/12 that will give you 59.7/54.7, not bad. And should be simple to do.

Then doing the Chainring to 52 will give you 70/64 and to 60 will give you 81/74 gear inches.

Find out what fits, what's cheap and buy extra chain. Have fun.

Schwinnsta

I thought these were 20-inch bikes. No?

mirfi

Previous numbers were for;

For 16 x 1.5 / 37-305 tire with 170 mm cranks

But here's a Raleigh RSW.


This is one of the few 16" bikes I've had with good gearing. Had a SA three speed and coaster brake. Raleigh RSW, made in Japan. Quality build. Just a little too small for me.

Fentuz

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Is this a e36 compact?

Trav1s

https://mwbrown.org/2021/07/26/giant...g-bike-review/

Schwinnsta

That is a 406 rim on those.

mirfi

Fentuz,

"Is this a e36 compact?"

You stumped me with this question.

Schwinnsta

From the original post onward, this thread makes no sense.

SaikyoSenpai

Absolutely correct. The Halfway FD610 with its rear belt-type drum brake and unfortunate spoke count was looking a bit complicated. It was also one of the reasons I asked about the fellow. Just wanted to see if anyone's suggestions might inspire me to devise some workaround. Thx for the specifics on the rear hub and the cute efficiency fact too!

Ron Damon

23-78GI with 53T chainring. 55T which the frame can take no problem will bring it to 80GI

Jipe

80GI about 6.4m is still quite short, the Brompton for instance which isn't a fast bike has 7.95m standard and with short gear inch option still 7.0m.

john m flores 

That's mildly ridiculous and I love it! Really well executed!

Ron Damon

Thanks...I think...

john m flores 

Seriously, I love it. You clearly put a lot of thought into each and every piece and the result is just so cool. The "mildly ridiculous" statement is just recognizing that we small wheel folder enthusiasts are out of the mainstream and are sometime met with quizzical looks and second takes. So the idea that someone would put so much thought into a category of bikes that many look askance at is "mildly ridiculous". And I support it 100%