Gearing For Your Klunker or Cruiser

Hi, again.

First off, my most sincere apologies to the 94 people who stopped by Klunkers in the past 60 days. I’m sure you were sleepless awaiting my next post that has taken unforgivingly long to produce.

I’d like to say I’ve been too busy riding, but the truth is between slacking off at work and shitposting on Facebook and Threads (yes, I use Threads!) I’ve had my hands full.

(OK, checks notes… you’ve completed the fun, comic intro to set the tone and establish personality. Now what?)

If you’ve read any past posts, you’ll know I ride a Haro Klunkerson. And I do love it, still, now three months in. I ride it about once or twice a week TBH.

I also have a Surly Big Easy cargo bike, which I probably ride a bit more because I’m both lazy (it’s an e-bike) and not lazy (I leave the car behind for errands).

And I live in a hilly city. The Klunkerson’s 2.3:1 gear ratio is solid for cruising boardwalks, but it does seem a bit tall for what’s supposed to be a wheely-popping hooligan machine, right? Like, I have trouble wheeling it (either too much or too little).

I wish it was closer to a 2:1 so I could hammer the hills and lift the front tire with more control.

But would that be too spinny? What do you folks run? And why?

And how do you do it? I’ve seen some nutters run massive fronts and tiny rear sprockets, etc. But I’m more conventional.

I’m hoping for some community insight here—I got a lot of comments on by Klunkerson review, so I’m hoping maybe a few of the 100-or-so readers I get every couple of months can point me in the right direction.

Or am I being silly? Are these things like cars, the more you mess with them… the more of a pain in the ass they are?

Comment below. Much appreciated.

Oh, while I gotcha, check out these matching bikes I bought my kids for their birthday! I swear Haro is not paying me, but maybe they should be.

(Final note—bikes are cheap right now, amirite? It seems like 25 to 30% off is standard!)