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I’d like to play in a few CX races this year and with minimal investment will use my Charge Grinduro.
It currently has a 44t chain ring with 18T SS freewheel. This is likely to be tough to race in small muddy races, so what ratio freewheel would be best?
And, am I right to change the freewheel (its an expensive one beginning with B cant remember the rest) to protect the current one?
Thanks
57" gear works for me. Used to be 38x18 now on 40x19.
i use 38/18 too which i've found a good gear for both mucking about and racing over the years, your mileage/legs/fitness may vary
it can be easier to change a chainring than a screw-on freehwheel 🙂
I think I used 40x18 for my SSCX expeditions earlier in the year. I ended up being a tiny bit overgeared through the Koksijde sand dunes, but it was about right for the typical UK course.
It can be very course and season dependent. At the final melting snow mud swamp of a race I was worried 36:17 would be too low (and even that turned out to be too high).
If you want to do ratio swaps then try and work in jumps that total 4 teeth = 1 chain link more / less so that you don't have to make major moves of wheel and brakes. Can also run the same main chain with two split links and have a selection of different length chain offcuts to join between them.
Great thanks, I think I'll try 38/18 and see how it goes.
I think thats a standard 5 bolt chain ring on there ( http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-grinduro-single-speed-adventure-road-bike/), so that and a pair of Baby Limus set up tubeless should do.
I only race myself but I run 36:17 on my fixed gear (59GI) and find it perfect for fire roads and easy single track.
I top out downhill at around 35mph and get can up every hill in my area while cursing along at 18mph on flattish stuff.