Fixed/Single Speed Wheels Cog question.

[uEih]

Hi everybody, i'm a little new to the cycling parts so bare with me please. I have an early 80s road bike and i'm planning to turn it into a fixed/singlespeed with a flip flop hub that comes with the wheels i'm buying. What else would i need to successfully install it? The only other thing i can think of is getting a Cog and that's where i'm having problems. Since it's going to be single speed 1 side and fixed gear on the other, will i need 2 different Cogs? 1 for single and the other for fixed? Also i was thinking of getting a 16T Cog, does size matter a lot? If i'm correct the bigger the cog the harder i have to work. Same goes for the crankset correct? Someone want to help me with the the things like 70 inch gear. I know it has to do with the crank and the cog. Any information on cogs and cranks are welcomed! Thank you!!

 

[colinr]

If i'm correct the bigger the cog the harder i have to work.

Other way round. Gear lengths etc, you'll want Sheldon over here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

 

[uEih]

Ok so in the back wheel that i'm buying it comes with the wheel, spokes and hubs all together. I'll need a cog to connect the wheel with the chain right? Since it's flip flop, i'll need to buy 2 cogs, 1 single speed and another fixed?

 

[colinr]

Yes, you'll need a cog for the fixed side and another one for the singlespeed side.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

just make sure you have a back brake when running a ss freewheel, or the bike won't be road legal (but will be if running fixed).

 

[uEih]

Ohh wow i didn't know that, i'm running single speed right now with front brakes only.

 

[uEih]

Another question, i'm planning to buy some handlebars and i'll need the stem but are all stem size that connects to the forks the same? The size stem i saw was 1 1/8" and i have a early 80s Nishiki.