48/16 Pain
#1
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48/16 Pain
Right now at the height of this single speed craze there is a plethora of single speed brands, Vilano, State Bicycle, Windsor, Schwinn, Gavin, etc... One thing that I find common amongst these companies is that they all carry 48/16 gearing! I don't know if I am being soft but I live in a very hilly city, I find that everywhere I go I find that with my Vilano SS I am just over geared. Is there a reason why these companies choose this gearing? Is a generic 16 tooth cog that much cheaper than a 17-18? Is less tooth chain ring that much more money? i changed the 16T cog to a 19T cog and my life is easier
#3
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48/16 is a reasonable compromise between the hipster/hill bomber gears and something practical. They do this so that neither crowd rejects their bikes on account of the gearing. I believe the IRO's come with 46/16
#13
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Cogs are cheap. I see it like buying a guitar with crappy strings and replacing them with better ones.
Same goes for handlebars... Can't believe people base their choice of bikes based on something that can be replaced for $20-30.
Same goes for handlebars... Can't believe people base their choice of bikes based on something that can be replaced for $20-30.
#19
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but my point that i was trying to make is, it's crazy b/c of this SS fad there are so many new bike companies making SS's and current companies entering the SS market. i was at my LBS the other day and saw that fuji has an SS out right now. And b/c a lot of my internet browsing history is a lot of bike stuff, on youtube and gmail i get ads for bike SS companies that seems to pop out of nowhere.
and it's funny b/c all these companies provide the same product, cheap steal or what they is is 4130 frame 48/16 gearing, and your choice of handlebars. I would not be surprised if all these companies got their frames from the same factory.
and it's funny b/c all these companies provide the same product, cheap steal or what they is is 4130 frame 48/16 gearing, and your choice of handlebars. I would not be surprised if all these companies got their frames from the same factory.
#23
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I feel your pain OP! Don't let it stop your fixed gear and SS dreams. Go to your local bicycle shop and have them install a chainring/cog that will be reasonable for you. You will be spinning in no time!
#25
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When I first got my Kilo TT set up, and asked that they put a freewheel on it, they only had 16t freewheels so I was riding 48/16. Are 16t more common than bigger ones? I have no idea.