cleaned the chain with this gadget i picked up. way better then my old method of degreaser and a bunch of shop rags.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...roducts_id=789

 

Just a quick comment on this... Its a little simpler/cheap to do the cog, but going to a larger chainring would be the better choice for increaing the ratio if you can do it. Some frames may have interference between the chainstay and a larger sprocket though. Increasing your overall tooth count will make for a smoother and more efficient drivetrain. 48T is a pretty good all around size, but if you're running a 42 or 46 or something like that you might consider starting there. I use a 48t with a a5t cog for squirtin around town on one side and a 13t for hustles and races and stuff. I'd like to switch to a 52t ring (and appropriate cogs) though, its noticeably rougher when I'm running on the 13 side. Just a little food for thought.

 

I've used those on mountain bike chains, they work pretty good. Does that one work with 1/8" chains though?

I use my sonic cleaner from harbor freight (already have it for cleaning car parts), it works great but kind of overstrips the lube out of the chain... takes a while to get everything lubed up and running silky smooth again...

 

I'm currently running 48T upfront and 18T in the rear so, would running lets say 50Tx20T possiblee or just simply run 50Tx18T ?

I'm not good at all when it comes to gear ratios and what not.. lol

 

Screw around on this thing for a little while:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

Use gear inches for your units, its the most relevant for what you're trying to figure out. 50t is kind of an oddball size chainring, but you'll see whats around as soon as you start shopping.

I like to run ~100 gear inches when I plan on really haulin *** and ~85 for just cruising, really only because stopping in traffic with a gear that tall can be pretty taxing. But I also never have to climb any serious hills, aside from maybe sprinting up a 7 floor parking garage from time to time so you need to take that into consideration.

There really is no right gear, its all about whats most comfortale for you, your riding style and the conditions you ride in. You'll probably have to try a few different ratios before you find the one you like best, and even then that's most likely going to change over time and as your skills and tastes evolve. If you find that you can't get around comfortably with one ratio at a time, then maybe single speed just isn't for you.

But in your case it sounds like you want a taller gear for sure. Since you have a decent sized chain ring already, I would start by buying a smaller cog and a chainwhip and lockring tool (Shimano makes a combination one, make sure you get the 1/8" one). 48/18 is kinda short if your not doing tricks and whatnot. Maybe start at 16?

 

^ koo yeah i'm not doing any tricks on it.
yeah imma go ahead and get myself a 16 and see how that one feels. i like the smoothness on this one but i like going a bit faster and i like to occasionally sprint burst and it feels as if this cog is holding me back a bit.

but i do like it for cruising around town. i'll just take off the single speed ( never used lol ) and put the 16 on that side and throw a couple of miles on it and see how she feels.

 

48 is about as big as you can go on a regular run of the mil set of cranks anyway.

 

instructions say it can be used with 3/32" or 1/8". the brushes are big and the sponge inside is small. did wonders to mine. i had sludged on crap from a flat dirt road adventure. clean it rite off. maybe a different degreaser as i had to change the fluid twice. chain went from crusty to white again

 

i never clean chains, i just buy new ones. 16+ years of competitive cycling, its just not something i do anymore lol.

 

im cheep so im forced to clean.

new cap my gf made me. she's going to school for fashion design so she knocked this out in a afternoon.

 

another pic of my new bullhorn wrapped in cinelli cork bar tape. plus the fiance single speed project, 70's schwinn le tour mixte made from 4130 cromo.

 

im going to start looking for a 3rensho frame.

 

Where's the pics people. Im kind of tired of seeing that same conversion over and over and over. No offense and ****.

 

its cool. im a pic *****. saw a surly steam roller for sale on cl chicago. thinking about sending him an email. its dirt cheep

 

same here. and my commute to work is uphill and into the wind. sucks, but then again, my bike has gears. i just don't get the fixie obsession. they look cool, but in practice, not so much. to me it's like driving a car that's permanently in 3rd gear.

 

^ lol. i'm not into the whole hipster thing but my track bike is koo i'm trying to sell it so i can get my 2010 fuji or GT

 

just baught a fixedgear shirt that says "my ride kills hipsters"

 

selling my DAWES ! $350 local pick up 90011
( the complete one lol ) its a 56

 

Kinda like driving around in a lowered Honda with no air conditioning and stiff *** suspension... And much in the same way, I'm ready to build a road bike. I'll most likely never quit riding a track bike, but I'm ready for a daily

 

Been riding my road bike, sold the IRO.

Been loving it, and go so much faster. Although, I do crave building up a nice true track bike for actual track use, something like a bridgestone or nagasawa.

 

im getting ready to pick up a 57cm mariushi kerin frame. its probably 25 years old. my goal is to build an old school japanese frame with new components.

bought some big keirin drop bars for my cannondale though. just going to use that to bang around the street and take the maruishi to the track. lucky enough to have a velodrome 20 mins from my house.

 

That's pretty sweet. closest one to me is about 3 hours away in Ft Lauderdale or some crap.

 

its cool, its semi-outdoor, open roof. all the guys keep their bikes at the track hanging in a locker room.

this is is tachikawa but its pretty identical to this place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuYbS1_lkFw

 

Up a hill, I would say 5th gear haha. I just prefer it more and feels better to me and I can't really explain why. It'd be stupid to have one though if you live in an area with a lot of hills...like driving a slammed Honda in a small town with only dirt roads.

 

It's in Cooper City, I was just there a few weeks ago for the Track State Champs, Masters category.





From the top of the embankment.






I don't know how to post facebook videos, or think you can but I have a vid of a Cuban defect(world class) pulling a sub 1:10 kilo time. Guy was roasting those tires, but eventually beat out by a guy who was former Junior World Champ by a few tenths.

Which was this guy in the anatomy suit, didnt get a vid of his run, but he won. Got a really really low 1:09 kilo time.