If you want to get a higher speed there are three ways switch to a different gear ratio.
Are all single speed bikes fixed gear.
However not every single speed bike is a fixie.
Your top speed on a single speed bike is limited due to your gear ratio.
Now we said that a single speed and a fixed gear could be the same bike.
They both have a 1x crankset and one rear cog.
They re easily confused partly because they look nearly identical and partly because fixies often have flip flop hubs that allow them to also be single speed bikes.
In this guide we will explore all the ins and outs about the best gear ratio for fixed gear or single speed bike.
It s harder to pedal on a fixie.
This means that the cog will turn whenever the wheel turns.
Before selecting the right mount for you it s helpful to note the difference between a fixed gear fixie bike and a single speed.
A single speed is a bike with one cog but the cog is not fixed to the wheel per se.
Coasting is all about being able to ride downhill or moving on momentum without having to pedal the bike.
The rear cog is joined with the rear hub.
Two of the most common fixed gear ratios are 44 16 2 75 and 46 16 2 88.
In other words all single speed bikes have a simple and efficient straight chain line from the crank to the rear gear on the wheel.
Some single speed bikes come with a flip flop hub that means the hub is double sided.
You can coast on a single speed bike but you can t coast on a fixie.
The single speed can either be a freewheel or a single speed spacer kit on a traditional hub.
As we can see from the above examples there s the principal number formatted as aa bb 44 16 or aa bb 44 16.
Similar as fixied gear bikes the speed is decided by the gear ratio you have on the bike for the same person.
Every fixie can be considered a single speed bike.
It s easier to ride a single speed bike because pedaling is easier.
However there s an important difference between the two.
On a single speed you can coast and that makes corners a little bit easier.
Commuter bikes fixed gear mountain bikes fixed gear road bikes city bikes cruiser type bikes track bikes and bmx bikes are some of the many different kinds of bikes that fall under the category of single speed bikes.
Common gear ratios for fixed gear bike.
A fixed gear bike or fixie lacks the freewheel option of a single speed.
Coasting is when you ride without putting your feet on the pedals.
A single speed bike is any type of bike that does not have multiple gears but instead just one single gear or speed.
Single speed bikes have a single gear that is attached to the cog that allows coasting.
Let s understand these numbers in depth.
There is no coasting riding without pedaling on a fixed gear bike.
Fixed gear bikes have a rear cog that is fixed to the rear hub so they do not have a freewheel.
A single speed bike is one of the most common and perhaps the oldest type of bike and bike mechanism in the market.