SS Racing Gear Ratio's

[Adam Alphabet]

Hey all,

Thought this might be a good idea as a resource, a place where people could share their SS Racing Gearing choices and thoughts for some of the major races.... gear inches, ring combo's whatever. I've dug around online a bit out of curiosity, read some blogs etc, but the info is all over the place. Obviously this will be personal to each rider, but to give folks an idea.

AZT 300:
AZT 750:
CTR:
TD:
etc....

[Dinodinodino]

I don't have any experience riding the major bikepacking races (planning on TD in 2016), but have done some long distance riding with the loaded bike.  I did a training ride between Lake Louise and Jasper, then back again the next day on a 29er.  It is a paved highway with a fair amount of climbing and I used 32:16.  It worked quite well.  I was able to go at a decent speed on the flats and downhills and cranking up the hills was manageable.  I think on gravel 32:18 for the TD would work okay due to the higher rolling resistance.

[robotfury]

I would sure like a single speed category to this forum! I mean, it is an entirely different beast and requires training/planning and set up that is very different from geared riding.

From all my research on the same thing - 32.17, 32.18, 33.17, 32.19, 34.22 have been used for the TD. I can name the rider by the gear choice ha ha ha. Scott has a bunch of info on SS for his TD: http://www.driven2divide.com/2012/11/19/8-tips-to-conquering-the-tourdivide-on-a-single-speed/

Shawn Gregory used a 32.22 for the AZT 300 http://shawngregorymountainbiker.blogspot.com/2014/04/2014-arizona-trail-race-300-miles-azt300.html

I am sure that kind of gearing (32 22 or 32 21) would apply for AZT 750 as well as CTR. It would be interesting to see what Alice Drobna used for the CTR. For races like the Stagecoach 400, I know Keith uses a 32.20 and he came in second in the most recent race.

[Rorr]

Go ask Alice!

[Yagi]

Go ask Alice!

Great.  Now I'll have that song stuck in my head for the rest of the week!!!

[Adam Alphabet]

Go ask Alice!

I *think* she was 32 21 for the CTR. She said she geared the same as the AZT, but could've used a 22 for CTR. Either way she was super strong!
After the CTR this year I needed a change to break up the monotony of riding so I have my bike set up SS at a 32 22 equivalent, plenty hard for my legs and steep trails (28 19 cause that's what I have). Wow. So much respect for those hammering out these long events on one gear. Different, super fun, hard.

[Adam Alphabet]

I would sure like a single speed category to this forum! I mean, it is an entirely different beast and requires training/planning and set up that is very different from geared riding.

From all my research on the same thing - 32.17, 32.18, 33.17, 32.19, 34.22 have been used for the TD. I can name the rider by the gear choice ha ha ha. Scott has a bunch of info on SS for his TD: http://www.driven2divide.com/2012/11/19/8-tips-to-conquering-the-tourdivide-on-a-single-speed/

Shawn Gregory used a 32.22 for the AZT 300 http://shawngregorymountainbiker.blogspot.com/2014/04/2014-arizona-trail-race-300-miles-azt300.html

I am sure that kind of gearing (32 22 or 32 21) would apply for AZT 750 as well as CTR. It would be interesting to see what Alice Drobna used for the CTR. For races like the Stagecoach 400, I know Keith uses a 32.20 and he came in second in the most recent race.

Great info in there. I found the same in my readings.. In the ~52 +/- gear inch range for the TD.

[jehsohn]

I used 36X19 for Tour Divide and it was pretty perfect. Most climbs were doable, walked when geared riders were walking and the part I really dreaded was the paved road sections but they ended up not being too bad. I am riding CT in a couple of weeks and was wondering what people have used for that so thanks for Alice's ratio. I couldn't find anything anywhere.

[jehsohn]

Oh yeah that was fixed gear by the way.

[SlowRide]

Oh yeah that was fixed gear by the way.

It sure was.... Here's one of Jehson in his downhill fixie position coming out of Platoro on TD'14! 

[Adam Alphabet]

It sure was.... Here's one of Jehson in his downhill fixie position coming out of Platoro on TD'14! 

 

[geekonabike]

I started the CTR w/ 32x19 oval ring & 27.5 tire. At Silverton I put on the biggest Cog I'd brought with me a 20t. It felt damn small on flat roads. Lucky for me I guess, their weren't many of those.


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[Adam Alphabet]

Ray was 34(oval)x22 on the AZT 300 this year. Smoked it under 3 days too!
http://onegear-ray.blogspot.ca/2015/04/bye-bye-monkey.html

[Adam Alphabet]

Well the AZT300 was my first ever Single Speed Race and I finished strong on a 26/18. Strange to some but it's just a smidge easier than a 32/22.
I was riding 28/19 (a tiny bit harder than 32/22) since last August after the CTR and was convinced that was the gear I was going to run in the race until less than a week before when I switched to the barely easier 26/18.. more for the mental assurance that it's 'easier' even though in reality it was barely if at all noticeable.

I think I'll be messing with combos that run larger rings and cogs as I hear they wear longer but more importantly feel smoother. We'll see.

[gbach]

Well, just to add my thoughts to this discussion.  I'm leaning towards a 36-22 for a NB attempt of the TD this year.  Without the experience to back it up, I am concerned about that 3rd week.  IMHO, a week using 36-22 seems really pleasant (~12 hr days).  But I have spent more than a few moments looking at the 19, 20, 21t rear cogs lying on the workbench.  BTW, it seems to me that larger ring/cog combos make chains last about 50%, or so, longer, at least.

[Adam Alphabet]

Thought I'd update this with one of the most massive efforts to date...

Chris Plesko's SS Divide record run this year in 15d 8h 4 min on a 2:1!  32/16. Insane!