So, you need adequate transportation means and wonder if a gearless cycle can be converted to a geared one to make your riding more accessible or convenient?
Gears that bicycles are equipped to enable cyclists to change speed and increase performance on different terrains. Let’s go straight to the point.
The Gearless Bicycles Benefits and Drawbacks.
Benefits:
Gearless cycles, or “fixies,” don’t have gears, and many appreciate them because they have fewer parts, making them easy to maintain.
Besides, gearless bikes are not damaged often; you will spend a little money repairing your bicycle parts when they break.
These bikes are also lighter than geared ones and more accessible to ride and maneuver.
Their derailleurs and other parts also don’t need regular cleaning and lubrication.
Drawbacks:
- Gearless bicycles are more challenging to pedal uphill; the rider must maintain a constant pedaling speed to keep the bike moving forward.
- The bike stops when you slow down; it needs continuous energy to maintain the pedaling.
- Riding a gearless cycle in heavy traffic can be challenging because you can’t change gears to ease pedaling.
- Riding these bikes in cold weather is challenging because they go slower to generate heat.
- Besides, gearless makes riding in snow or ice challenging or even impossible.
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How Can You Convert a Gearless Cycle to a Geared One?
If you have a steel frame fixie, you can spring it up to about 5mm to fit a more comprehensive hub, so first check your bike’s frame spacing.
A single-speed bicycle typically features a 120mm comprehensive hub, while a mountain bike is 135mm, and road bikes have 130mm modern geared hubs.
Nevertheless, you will likely have fewer options if you have a 120mm frame.
Internal hub gear conversion kits for 120mm frames typically have a limited range of gears and can be expensive.
Depending on your riding goal, you can use a mountain bike or standard road bike hub with a cassette if your frame is wide enough.
Check if the frame has guides for the gear cable, and buy clamp-on cable guides or zip ties to keep the line in place if needed.
You must also purchase other parts, including cassette, derailleur, gear shift, wheel, etc.
Be prepared before upgrading your bicycle from a fixie to a geared one because it can be expensive.
This is why some individuals find purchasing bikes with gears easier than going through such a delicate process.
What Gears Can You Set Fast on a Mountain Bike?
The chain.
The chain transfers the power generated from the crank arms and legs when pedaling and chainring to the rear wheel/cassette.
The more effective the tension on the chain is, the more effortless the transfer of your leg strength to the rear-wheel drive becomes.
Mainly designed single-speed bikes and internally geared hubs can generate power using much thinner chains, belt drives, and piston drives.
Quality Cassette.
The cassette is a part of the rear wheel attached directly to it to spin forward freely or backward; this part rotates the entire reel.
The gears typically range in decreasing order from left to right, and the smaller bags refer to the larger cogs. The smallest cog is the tenth, while the biggest is the first gear.
Derailleur.
One of the most complex yet vital bicycle components is the derailleur. This part produces constant tension on the chain to guide it over the next set of cogs and shift the gears when the wheel spins.
To shift between gears, the cassette rotates and catches the chain on the next shift; the process needs pedaling to function.
Shifters.
The shifters activate the mechanism you control as a rider. These parts pull the chord to slide the derailleur from left to right and the opposite sense.
Pedaling on the lower gears and more complex on the higher loads is better when shifting through your MTB.
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How Can You Make Gear Changes Easier on Your Mountain Bike?
Many cyclists feel frustrated by changing gears on their mountain bikes at first but quickly get used to it.
When changing gears, pedal forward while avoid coasting or pedaling backwards.
Also, it is essential to check the cables to ensure that they do not have any sharp bends, sharp bends, kinks or sharp corners.
If necessary, replace the pipe and the housing to avoid certain inconveniences when rading in the most remote places; finding assistance when your bike breaks down in such ares can be challenging.
Proper maintenance also ensures smoother gear changes; check your chain regularly and lubricate it at all times.
Other useful maintenance tips are inspecting cables and derailleurs for damage or wear; make sure to repair or replace any damaged part quickly.
Gearless Bicycles Final Thoughts.
That’s all about this article discussing if a gearless cycle can be converted to a geared one; we hope this blog post provides valuable information.
Many appreciate the gearless cycle friendness; upgrading your bike to a geared one is also a better option.
However, the process requires the proper skills and can be costly, so many purchase new geared bikes instead.
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